We are still in the midst of celebrations of Omani Women's Day, which is celebrated on October 17 every year.
Women are known to have always had resilience, so now the focus has been on empowerment.
If in the past empowerment depended on self-motivation, today the government takes immense care in providing opportunities to women.
What is empowerment?
It is about having freedom to make their own choices and thrive in every aspect of life. Empowerment can happen on personal, social, economic, legal and political levels.
Let us take a look at the different ways women can be empowered: One of the most important means of empowerment is educational empowerment. It could make all the difference when an individual has access to quality education at all levels, from primary to higher education.
Vocational training and skill development had been emphasised from the early years of the modern renaissance of Oman.
Encouraging STEM education — science, technology, engineering, and math — is important, say the educators. Along with all this, promoting financial literacy and digital skills is a necessity today.
Another area is economic empowerment. Equal access to employment opportunities and fair wages are basic needs. Oman has been successful in enabling workplace rights like maternity leave and equal pay. A young woman, while we were discussing this aspect, pointed out that, "Yes, there is equality in wages, but there is a slight concern about equal job opportunities."
On the other hand, women have been leaving a mark on entrepreneurial spirit.
What support do women entrepreneurs need?
The support could be in the form of microloans, mentorship, grants, etc.
Political empowerment is an integral part of life today, and it can be in the areas of participation in politics and decision-making processes as well as representation in parliaments, councils and leadership positions. Voting rights and political education become part of an individual's growth.
They say social and cultural empowerment are significant because they challenge gender stereotypes and cultural norms that limit women.
Legal empowerment happens when there is awareness of legal rights, in addition to access to justice and legal protection against violence, discrimination, etc.
Access to affordable healthcare, including maternal and mental health, empowers a woman further.
Psychological and emotional empowerment includes building self-esteem, confidence and self-awareness and promoting mental health support and therapy in addition to creating safe spaces for expression, healing, and growth, including mentorship and role models for guidance.
Is there a gender gap when it comes to the digital world? That is why digital empowerment will deal with bridging the digital gender divide. Tech skills such as coding, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity are essential in today's world.
Obviously empowerment is not a one-size-fits-all solution — it is about removing barriers and giving real choices. Empowered women contribute not only to their own lives but also to families, communities and entire economies.
Maybe we need to truly analyse the general statement that women have limited access to capital and funding.
Could it be true that investors often favour male-led startups, whether consciously or unconsciously? And another issue is that women may have less collateral or financial history to secure loans.
Apparently venture capital firms and angel investors are overwhelmingly male-dominated, which can affect decisions and risk perceptions.
In a recent corporate event highlighting the startups, women stood shoulder to shoulder with successful projects that already had secured financial and professional backing.
There are several entrepreneurial projects that have been established, and a key factor to keep in mind is diversification of the economy, and the key areas include renewable energy (solar, wind and hydrogen), logistics, tourism (especially cultural and eco-tourism), and agriculture. There are also initiatives such as the Oman Technology Fund and other programmes from the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development. Universities and government agencies provide incubators, mentor networks, and training programmes to help entrepreneurs develop business plans and secure funding. We recently saw the project of Be'ah. Meanwhile, ASMED supports a network of 18 business incubators that provide physical space, technical support and guidance to nurture new ventures.
In 2025, the SME development fund, Inma, allocated RO 25 million for SME financing, extending repayment periods to eight years.
With opportunities out there, what we need are innovative ideas to create a new path for oneself.
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