On a sunlit corner of her neighbourhood, where the scent of vanilla drifts gently across the open air, a young Omani girl stands behind a small ice cream cart, turning simple ingredients and a family machine into the beginning of a dream.
Her name is Dhay al Siyabi and her dream began with a single machine her family had owned for years. It was once pulled out only for Eid, rented for small gatherings and used to serve relatives during celebrations. But Dhay saw more than a holiday treat, she saw a chance to build something of her own.
When she launched her small ice cream stand, reality struck fast. The Omani heat and the challenge of keeping electricity stable in an open space tested her persistence. “The heat and electricity were my biggest challenges”, she says, “but I never felt these things could stop me”. And she meant it. Day after day, Dhay returned to her stand with quiet strength, letting her determination melt away every obstacle.
What makes her stand special is its simplicity, an open location where families gather, the soft hum of the machine and the rich quality of her ice cream mixture. She takes pride in crafting flavours rooted in Omani tradition, date, coffee and blends made with care and cultural warmth. “I choose the flavours based on customer opinions”, she explains. “Together, we discover what to make next”.
As her project grew, something unexpected happened, the internet discovered her.
A few content creators and social media influencers visited her stand, filmed her pouring creamy swirls into cones, and shared her story online. Their videos captured not just her product, but her effort, her smile, and her spirit. The posts quickly spread, garnering likes, comments and messages of admiration from people across the country. Overnight, Dhay found herself becoming a familiar face on local social media feeds.
Suddenly, her small corner stand wasn’t just a neighbourhood treat, it was a local sensation.
People began visiting because they saw her online, wanting to support her, celebrate her and witness a young Omani entrepreneur thriving. Influencers, many of whom prioritise highlighting local talent and small businesses, continued stopping by to showcase her work. Their encouragement amplified her reach, helping her business grow far beyond the physical space around her cart.
But her rise wasn’t built on popularity alone. Dhay’s journey has never been a solitary one. “My family supported me financially and emotionally from the start”, she says. Her friends do too, buying ice cream regularly, cheering her on and sharing her posts. And as more people saw her story online, more customers began arriving with genuine excitement to meet and support her.
Running her business taught Dhay far more than making ice cream. She learned time management, how to market simply yet effectively and how to respond thoughtfully to customer feedback. Her confidence grew, slowly at first, then noticeably, as she became more comfortable engaging with new faces. Her participation in school entrepreneurship programmes, charity events, women’s associations, colleges, companies and even the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre broadened her exposure and sharpened her skills.
There are moments of negativity, but they barely outweigh the waves of encouragement. “Yes, there are some negative comments, but they are very few compared to the support”, she says calmly.
One day, Dhay hopes to open her own shop and eventually expand with branches inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman. “No one should underestimate a small idea”, she advises. “Small projects grow with effort and success”.
Children light up when they see her, often singing little ice cream songs as they rush towards her stand. With every scoop, she becomes a small but powerful symbol of what young Omanis can achieve with a spark of inspiration and a strong community behind them.
“I feel very proud of myself”, she says softly, “and at the same time, I feel a sense of responsibility”.
Her story is still being written, one swirl, one smile and one shared post at a time.
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