Oman has a strong tradition of holding women in high esteem; our society is proudly founded upon the equal contribution of women and men. Especially today, we are witnessing this harmony in action through the myriad opportunities our nation is providing for the Omani women to pursue meaningful and impactful careers in academia, science, innovation and public service.
The perseverance and dedication of our women is a major driving factor behind our steady advance towards our Oman Vision 2040 goals and is a testament to Oman’s forward-thinking, proactive policy that transforms empowerment into sustainable national development. Over the last year alone, our nation has risen five ranks in the Global Innovation Index reflecting a pattern of growth driven by inclusive innovation. Women are entering research, entrepreneurship and policy making at unprecedented rates and are founding thousands of businesses that will serve as the foundation of our future economy.
The rise in Oman’s ranking can be attributed primarily to proactive policy frameworks that have now matured into measurable outcomes over the last four years. Like any national strategy, progress unfolds through distinct stages. Every nation evolves through defining periods of transformation.
As we have witnessed and will continue to see until 2027, the first six years of Oman Vision 2040 represent the foundational consolidation era. This era has centred on strengthening infrastructure, governance and developing new policies, backed by academic findings and supported by revitalising reforms, to advance our innovation ecosystem. We have witnessed a notable increase in women’s participation in higher education, particularly in the sciences and engineering, over the last decade reflecting the success of long-term inclusion policies.
The policies of Oman Vision 2040 have especially enabled a new generation of Omani women scientists to pursue fields once seen as distant or streamlined, from astrophysics to biotechnology. Increased participation by women in the sciences and R&D is a strong indicator of an emerging developed economy, as reasoned through Endogenous Growth Theory, which connects investment in knowledge and research to sustained, innovation-led growth. In the second period, we can expect to witness a shift of focus to increasing R&D infrastructure, diplomacy for science and additional technical innovation, with the efforts of Omani women will promise to leave lasting impacts once again.
In my own life, many Omani women — my contemporaries, mentors and relatives — have shaped my path through their selflessness and courage in serving our country. Every Omani woman has inspired at least one person, whether her partner, her children, or her community. Brilliance is an Omani trait, embodied equally by our women, whether inherited or expressed through countless achievements. The gratitude I carry for the women who have helped me drives my commitment to give back to our society. Today, I have been admitted to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) programme in Science Policy and Diplomacy, where, as an inaugural participant, I hope to build the knowledge to serve Oman’s innovation, science and technology policy. Each step I take is shaped by the mentorship, faith and generosity of our women, whose quiet strength continues to be my guiding light.
Aziza al Mughair
The writer is a scientist
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