Arwa al Sinaidi makes her mark in Omani drama

As Oman celebrates Omani Women’s Day throughout October, rising actress Arwa al Sinaidi represents a generation of women pursuing diverse ambitions across the arts, business and other professional fields. Her journey into acting began unexpectedly, with an opportunity to step onto the street theatre stage that would eventually open doors to Omani television drama.
Her first performance came during the inaugural Sandan Festival, when she was asked to help present a street theatre production. She took on the role of a hypocritical clown, a psychologically complex character with elements reminiscent of the Joker.
What began as an effort to rise to the occasion became a turning point. Three months later, she was nominated for another production and won her first award for Best Supporting Actress at the inaugural Dhofar Festival. Soon afterwards, an invitation from Oman Television led to an audition and her entry into television drama.

She credits director and mentor Yousuf al Haj for guiding and encouraging emerging actors, helping young talents find their footing in the industry.
Among her most significant projects are the Omani series Al Madyunair and Al Qafir, each offering a different acting experience. The former introduced her to social comedy and realism, while also bringing her wider recognition among audiences. Viewers began addressing her by her character’s name, Shaikha, a response she sees as evidence that the role resonated with them.

However, it was Nasra, her character in Al Qafir, that left the deepest impression on her. Playing an orphaned, travelling shepherdess from the Shawan community required considerable time and effort to develop the character’s personality and emotional depth.
For Arwa, Nasra also embodied the resilience and generosity of Omani women, making the role particularly meaningful. The public’s response helped establish her name among audiences of different ages.
Looking ahead, she believes Omani drama has a distinctive cultural identity, landscape and heritage that could appeal to audiences beyond the Sultanate of Oman. Reaching a wider regional audience, she argues, requires stronger scripts rooted in Omani society, alongside greater opportunities for emerging talent. She welcomes initiatives offering auditions to new performers, describing them as an important step towards developing the industry.

Acting, however, is only one part of her professional life. An entrepreneur before entering the arts, Arwa is also a certified trainer who delivers entrepreneurship workshops and works on feasibility studies. She serves as a business developer at a helicopter company and owns and manages A&M Café.
She attributes her ability to balance these responsibilities to prioritising tasks, managing her time and building a reliable team. Rather than viewing her different careers as competing demands, she treats each as an opportunity to renew her enthusiasm.
Her ambitions include taking on psychologically complex film and television roles, exploring socially relevant stories and participating in Arab co-productions that represent Omani talent. She is also considering a new business project.
In the month of Omani Women’s Day, Arwa’s journey offers a reminder that professional paths need not follow a single direction. Her advice to young Omani women is to welcome unexpected opportunities, invest in knowledge and resist limiting themselves to one role. Sometimes, she believes, the chance to step in and save a situation can become the beginning of an entirely new journey.