The woman behind Oman’s banana bread success

Kauthar al Maskari traded the certainty of a traditional career for the warmth of a home kitchen. Today, the Omani entrepreneur behind The Bananary is proving that passion, persistence and a loaf of banana bread can build a thriving business.

After graduating from university, al Maskari had envisioned a future in youth and social work. But upon returning to Oman, she found it difficult to secure a role that matched both her ambitions and desire to be present for her young daughter. Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, she decided to create one herself.

“I wanted a career that would allow me to be present for my daughter and my family while still giving me something that was entirely my own,” she says.
Although baking was never her ultimate passion, food had always been central to her life. Her father introduced her to cuisines from around the world while her aunt and grandmother nurtured her love for baking. More than anything, however, she simply enjoys feeding people.
“My passion isn’t baking itself, it’s feeding people,” she explains. “I love expressing care through food and creating moments that bring people together.”
That philosophy became the foundation of The Bananary, a home, based bakery specialising in banana bread and comforting desserts inspired by her years living in Canada. Noticing that quality banana, based baked goods were relatively uncommon in Oman, she saw an opportunity to introduce something familiar yet distinctive to the local market.
Instead of relying mainly on direct customer orders, Al Maskari pursued a different strategy, supplying cafés. She wanted customers to discover her cakes alongside their favourite cup of coffee in places they already loved visiting.
The journey, however, was far from easy.
She spent months visiting cafés, introducing herself to managers, sending follow up messages and facing repeated rejection before securing her first partnership. Support from her family, who also served as enthusiastic taste testers while she refined recipes through countless rounds of trial and error, helped her persevere.
“Rejection is part of every entrepreneur’s journey,” she says. “It doesn’t define your talent or the quality of your work.”
Today, that persistence has paid off. What began as a small home business has grown into a supplier for several major cafés across Oman. The demand generated through social media has become so strong that The Bananary has temporarily paused accepting new café partnerships because her current kitchen has reached production capacity.

One of her proudest achievements came earlier than expected when she surpassed her target of partnering with five cafés before the end of 2026. Even more significantly, the business now generates an income that exceeds what she earned in traditional employment.
“It wasn’t just about the financial achievement,” she reflects. “It was confirmation that taking a chance on myself had been worthwhile.”
Despite the growth, Al Maskari remains committed to quality, fresh ingredients and the values that inspired her business from the beginning. She hopes every loaf tells a story of courage, kindness and choosing a path that reflects one’s own priorities.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women, is simple. Start before you feel completely ready.
“You don’t have to quit your job overnight. Start small, learn as you go and allow your business to grow alongside your life,” she says.
For Al Maskari, success is measured not only by café partnerships or sales, but also by the opportunity to spend more time with her daughter while building something she hopes will inspire the next generation to pursue their own dreams.