Everybody speaks of empowering women but Oman has already achieved it to a great extent. The Sultanate is a shining example to the whole world in women empowerment. Here women move around with confidence in public places and are well respected in the society. In fact, they occupy the top positions in government and private sector in the Sultanate and are among the policy makers.

There are also many successful women entrepreneurs in Oman. Modern Omani women is educated and dreams of a successful career. She also gives equal importance to family, traditions and religion.

“The representation of Omani women in the ranks of senior government positions is thirteen per
cent which even surpasses Western standards,” pointed out Lujaina Mohsin Darwish, Joint Deputy Managing Director, MHD LLC, Oman, in an exclusive interview to Oman Vistas. “Omani women are represented in all employment sectors, be it government, private or their own business. Furthermore, the Sultanate of Oman has catapulted women to unprecedented heights by appointing them in senior political positions in Oman’s Council and ministries,” she added.

“I am pleasantly surprised to see the way Omani women have been empowered today,” opines Maitha Al Mahrooqi, General Manager, Oman of Gulf Air, in another exclusive interview to Oman Vistas. She came back to Oman after spending 16 years abroad studying and holding responsible posts in reputed companies. “In Oman we are seeing economic growth and lot of projects are going on, which will all translate to opportunities for the enterprising women,” she said.

The country offers immense opportunities for women who are willing to take up the challenge. There are plenty of opportunities for women now, says Munira, Abdulnabi Macki, DGM HR and Corporate Support, Bank Sohar. “The trends have changed and women have entered into all the fields of business. We have women entrepreneurs now, who have reached great heights in
their field. Even otherwise, there are a lot of opportunities for women in the private as well as the government sectors and we have enough evidence to prove that,” she said.

In the yore, the Omani woman was an achiever in the domestic front. “Today with social and economic changes in our society, women are making achievements in new fronts, on equal grounds with men based on knowledge and ability, says Manal Mohammed Abdwani, Director General, Planning and Follow- up, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in a special interview granted to Oman Vistas. While achievementsof women were confined to areas like nursing and teaching earlier, the socio-economic changes in the society have helped women to enter new sectors including engineering, information technology and business.

It is interesting to know what made these achievements possible. Education played the crucial role in emancipating and empowering Omani Woman. And the Government of Oman needs to be praised for taking steps to spread education among women. Following the accession of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1970, education was made available to all Omani women under a programme of continuous and rapid expansion, the most important of which was the
opening of the co-educational Sultan Qaboos University in 1986. The forward looking vision of His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has really motivated Omani women to move ahead both in the private as well as the government sector.

Women are not discriminated against in any sector. “The government under the wise leadership
of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said has taken up a two-pronged strategy to overcome any existing gender bias in the corporate world by emphasising on girls’ education and providing specific training facilities for them,” said Areej Mohsin Darwish, joint Deputy Managing

Director MHD LLC. I believe in the long run this will lead to the placement of more and more women in managerial positions in companies in Oman, she said.

Women in Oman are employed in all areas and both the government and private sectors support diversity in many ways. “I believe men and women are different, and therefore approach business differently, however ultimately the effectiveness boils down to the individual. All leaders within an organisation, irrespective of gender, are expected to adhere to the same strategy, procedures, policies, said Ghada Mohammed Al Yousef, Managing Director Modern Hospitality Company LLC and deputy chairperson of Women in Business Forum. Organisations like the Women in business forum under the Oman Chamber of Commerce are also playing a key-role in
encouraging women.

The peaceful and tolerant society of Oman has also inspired women and imparted confidence to them to take up challenges. Families are providing all encouragement to women members to take up responsibilities and excel in their field.

Women earning along with males has only strengthened the Omani family. Women holding top positions in various sectors acknowledge the support provided by their husbands. Working woman never neglects the needs of husband and children. They find time to discharge their responsibility towards the family by judicious time management.

The achievements have not made Omani women complacent. They are all set to continue their hard work and set new benchmarks.