NIZWA: A passion for natural products has become a successful business. Shafiqah al Omairi, founder of Shatha Soap, specialises in handmade natural soaps from the plants of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar.
Looking at each soap that was displayed in a recent expo for small-scale enterprises, one could imagine the long journey it had taken, beginning from nature and culminating in a carefully handcrafted product. The display extended beyond handmade soaps to include a diverse collection of perfumes, traditional incense, body lotions and natural oils, reflecting the richness and diversity of Oman's locally made products.
Al Omairi said her journey into soap-making began through PDO's Banat Oman Programme, which trained a group of women from Al Jabal Al Akhdhar in the production of natural soap. She described the programme as the starting point of her journey, after which she continued attending specialised training courses to develop her skills and diversify her range of products.
She joined the programme with a dream of building a business she could be proud of despite the challenges. Inspired by the variety of herbs found in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, she started dreaming of a factory dedicated to natural soaps and skincare products while creating a sustainable source of income.
Al Omairi said, "Natural soap making was still a relatively new industry in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar when I launched my business in June 2016, making it one of the area's pioneering projects. What began as a fun process of blending plant oils with local herbs gradually developed into a passion and a source of livelihood. Today, the project produces a wide range of handmade natural soaps, as well as skin and hair care products rich in plant ingredients known for their nutritional and antioxidant properties.” The first product she introduced was olive leaf soap, which received positive feedback from customers and encouraged her to expand the business.
Her work has also received official recognition. In 2022, Shatha Soap won the Rural Women's Agricultural Projects Award presented by Al Dakhiliyah Governorate during Omani Women's Day celebrations. The project was also honoured during the 2026 Rose Season for its contribution to promoting locally made products and entrepreneurship in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar.
The project relies on herbs harvested from Al Jabal Al Akhdhar. The herbs are carefully collected, washed, dried and ground before being incorporated into the soap. Seasonal herbs are dried and stored before grinding to preserve their quality and natural benefits.
Producing a single batch of soap takes a month. The process begins by blending natural oils with the soap mixture before adding herbs and pouring the mixture into moulds. After being left to solidify for a day, the soaps are set aside to dry. Once fully cured, they are cleaned, wrapped, labelled and stored before sale.
Although a few simple tools, such as an electric mixer and silicone moulds, are used during production, Al Omairi said the process remains largely handmade, with every bar carefully crafted, packaged and prepared by hand.
During the 2026 Rose Season, Al Omairi also opened a retail outlet for her products in a traditional heritage house in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar. She described the experience as highly successful, allowing visitors to discover the products in an authentic Omani setting while supporting local artisans and small businesses.
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