MUSCAT: Oman will mark Omani Women's Day on Saturday, an annual occasion held on October 17 that recalls the journey of Omani women and their contributions to building the nation. This year's celebration, under the slogan "She is Oman", highlights women's contributions to the energy, environment and minerals sectors and their role in economic diversification and sustainable development. The slogan carries a set of messages about the standing of Omani women in the present and the future: as a national energy that contributes to economic diversification, as a partner in crafting solutions that support sustainable development, and as a national competence in sustaining the country's wealth and preserving it for coming generations.
Omani women's growing presence in building the nation reflects the Royal care accorded to them under His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, and Royal directives have affirmed women's standing in Omani society as a pillar of the Renaissance, a guardian of values and a nurture of generations.
New seats in Majlis Ash'shura
This year's celebration comes as His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has directed the allocation of an additional seat for women in Majlis Ash'shura from each governorate, totalling 11 seats, in addition to the general seats open for competition. The directive continues the Royal attention to entrenching the principle of Shura and developing Majlis Ash'shura, and strengthens women's participation in decision-making. The new seats will enhance the representation of women from the various governorates in Majlis Ash'shura, giving them a role in discussing national issues and shaping general policies. The step also has a dimension beyond the local framework: during its participation at the United Nations in 2026, Oman affirmed that women's empowerment is one of the national constants tied to the Basic Law of the State and Oman Vision 2040, reflecting its commitment to continued support for women's participation across the various fields of development.
Support for women's associations
Her Highness The Honourable Lady Assayida Ahd Abdullah Hamed al Busaidi, Spouse of the Sultan of Oman, gave particular attention to women's contributions during her visits to a number of governorates in 2026. The visits went beyond official meetings to include close acquaintance with community initiatives and women's projects that turn heritage, experience and knowledge into initiatives of social and economic impact. Her Highness visited the Omani Women's Association in the Wilayat of Khasab in January and the Omani Women's Association in Salalah in August. The visits affirmed the role of Omani women's associations in supporting women's skills, particularly handicrafts, and in turning them into products of community and economic value that benefit women, their families and their local communities. They also highlighted the importance of community initiatives in empowering women, increasing their participation in productive activities and passing handicraft heritage on to coming generations, creating new opportunities for women to develop their projects and support the local economy.
Energy, environment and minerals
In the energy sector, which covers oil, gas, electricity, renewable energy, hydrogen and clean energy, women's participation supports economic diversification, enhances sustainability and helps the sector keep pace with the transformations it is undergoing. In the environmental sector, women's contributions stand out in sustainability, the protection of natural resources, the preservation of biodiversity, and environmental research and innovation. Their presence there reflects the role of national competencies in addressing environmental challenges and in developing solutions that balance the requirements of development with environmental protection.
The minerals sector is a growing field for Omani women, given the national wealth it represents and its opportunities for economic diversification. Women's contributions there extend to exploration, mining, mineral-linked manufacturing and the development of value-added industries. Together, the three fields reflect a growing transformation in women's participation, through their presence in sectors linked to future energy, environmental protection and the investment of national wealth.
A message to coming generations
The annual celebration also reinforces a culture of appreciation for women's role in the stability and cohesion of society, and highlights success stories that begin within families and extend to work, creativity, production and community participation. It carries a message to coming generations of women and girls that Omani women have been and remain active partners in development and a model of perseverance and giving, contributing to the targets of Oman Vision 2040. — ONA
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