Omani women in non-traditional sectors no longer an exception

Muscat - The presence of young Omani women in non-traditional sectors is no longer an exception or merely a social indicator of equality, but has become a firmly established national path supported by strategic plans that place the knowledge-based economy, innovation, advanced technologies, and sustainability at the heart of their priorities.

Young Omani talents stand out in specialized sectors such as energy and minerals, cybersecurity, chemical engineering, artificial intelligence, and medical equipment engineering, where women are no longer just partners in implementation but key players in planning, decision-making, and developing future solutions.

Several young Omani women working in these professions speak about how their daily work contributes to supporting the national economy and building the future.

Zainab bint Ali al Saadi, Director of the Health, Safety and Environment Department at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, says that the specialized training in the energy and minerals sector, and then in the field of health, safety and environment, have contributed to building a solid knowledge and professional base, which helped to understand the nature of the sector and its regulatory and operational requirements, and enabled the acquisition of the skills necessary to work efficiently within one of the most demanding sectors in the work environment.

She said that practical, hands-on training in work environments was a key factor in translating theoretical knowledge into conscious, practical application and in enhancing the ability to manage risks and adhere to safety and sustainability standards.
She added that her choice of unconventional career paths stemmed from her conviction in their strategic importance to the national economy and their pivotal role in achieving comprehensive development, as well as her desire to actively contribute to a sector where health, safety, and the environment are fundamental pillars for ensuring responsible performance, conserving resources, and promoting sustainability.

Iman bint Mohammed bin Khamis al Rawahi, Director of the Electronic Information Security Department in the Governorate of Muscat, said, “Scientific knowledge and technical skills formed the basic foundation for the launch of my career in the field of cybersecurity, as the journey began by building a solid knowledge base in information technology, which included understanding operating systems, networks, and databases, in addition to programming and systems analysis. This scientific foundation enabled me to understand the modern digital architecture and the nature of the interaction of its components, which is an essential element in understanding cyber threats and methods of reducing their risks, especially in light of the rapid digital transformation that institutions are witnessing today.”

Engineer Ibtisam bint Khamis al Halwani, Head of the Chemicals Management Department at the Department of Chemicals and Waste Management at the Environment Authority, said that the scientific and applied foundations that shaped her path in chemical engineering are multiple. She combined an understanding of all the solid scientific foundations related to the field of chemical engineering, and an inclination and interest in some fields and study materials such as (mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology), and fields of applied chemistry such as (inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, states of matter and their transformations, energy and its transformations in chemical processes, differential and integral calculus, fluid mechanics (dealing with the flow of liquids and gases), and physical chemistry, as well as the principles of applied engineering such as (thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, reactor design, process dynamics and control), to transform raw materials into products of economic value, in addition to improving industrial processes with environmental and economic efficiency and effectiveness in sectors such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, fertilizers, and the dye industry.  

Hajar bint Nasser al Shandoudi, a biomedical engineer in the private sector, stated that biomedical engineering represents a qualitative shift in the concept of non-traditional engineering roles. It transcends the boundaries of traditional engineering, which is focused on design and production, by integrating medical knowledge with modern digital sciences. Biomedical engineers need more than just expertise in mechanics or electronics; they require a deep understanding of biophysics, biology, anatomy, and data analysis software. This enables them to design precise and safe devices that directly impact human life. Thus, engineering roles are transformed from manufacturing physical products to strategic roles that contribute to improving health and medical treatment, reflecting a qualitative shift in the responsibilities and roles of engineers within the healthcare system.

She pointed out that biomedical engineering plays an integral role in developing medical devices, improving their diagnostic and therapeutic efficiency, and ensuring their operational reliability. Modern devices, such as MRI machines or ventilators, rely on the integration of mechanical and electronic components with intelligent software to analyze medical data in real time and accurately monitor performance. Biomedical engineers also contribute to designing intelligent maintenance systems and adjusting operating parameters to ensure sustained performance and patient safety.