Omantel, Sohar International Join Force to Support Women Entrepreneurs

Omantel and Sohar International jointly hosted the fourth edition of Aamali Talks at Al Bait Al Sharqi in Muttrah, bringing together Omani women entrepreneurs and business leaders. The event provided a platform for participants to exchange experiences, discuss business challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration and mutual support.

Organised to mark Omani Women’s Day under the theme “Women Supporting Women in Business,” the session highlighted the importance of mentorship, professional networks and knowledge sharing in expanding women-led businesses.

The latest edition also marked the first collaboration between Omantel and Sohar International on Aamali Talks, an initiative aimed at strengthening Oman’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs and helping them develop and grow their businesses.

Key Highlights:

• Omantel and Sohar International hosted the fourth Aamali Talks to support Omani women entrepreneurs.
• The session highlighted mentorship, networking and knowledge sharing to help women-led businesses grow.
• The partnership combines digital, telecom, banking and financial solutions to strengthen SMEs in Oman.

The partnership combined digital and financial perspectives to help business owners better understand the resources available to support their growth. The discussion featured Maimoona Al Shaibani, Founder and Managing Director of The Retail Academy, and Dr. Badriyah Al Fahdi, Co-founder of the Maternal and Fetal Care Centre. Maryam Al Amri, Founder and CEO of Matterz Group, moderated the session.

The speakers shared practical lessons on building networks, scaling a business and mentoring the next generation, agreeing that the right introduction can change a growing business’s course and that today’s connections can become tomorrow’s partnerships.

Commenting on the occasion, Shaikha Al Awfi, General Manager of Marketing Communication at Omantel, said: “Women-led businesses are a vital part of Oman’s economic growth, and their success depends as much on strong networks as on great ideas. Aamali Talks creates that network, bringing together experienced leaders and emerging entrepreneurs so knowledge and opportunity flow both ways. Our partnership with Sohar International adds a valuable financial perspective to this platform, and alongside it, we continue to provide solutions that help SMEs operate efficiently, reach more customers and grow with confidence.”

Omantel and Sohar International provide SMEs complementary support in the areas they want to develop their businesses: digital and telecom solutions to help run their businesses more efficiently and better serve their customers, and banking and financing solutions to help finance their ambitions. Both partners are extending this support beyond the product with Aamali Talks, providing an opportunity for entrepreneurs to share knowledge, forge ties and consider new partnerships.

 Abdul Qadir Al Sumali, Chief Retail and Wealth Management Officer at Sohar International, said: “Women entrepreneurs and women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in driving economic diversification, strengthening competitiveness and supporting sustainable growth in the Sultanate of Oman, in line with Oman Vision 2040’s aspirations to build a diversified, innovation-driven economy empowered by national talent. At Sohar International, we believe that supporting women’s entrepreneurship extends beyond providing financial and banking solutions to fostering an enabling business ecosystem that connects women with the knowledge, opportunities and strategic partnerships needed to transform their ambitions into successful and sustainable enterprises.

Our collaboration with Omantel reflects our commitment to strengthening synergies among national institutions and advancing collective efforts to empower women entrepreneurs, expand their growth opportunities and enhance their economic participation, reinforcing their role in shaping Oman’s future.”

Aamali Talks has been around since then to enable entrepreneurs and SME owners to interact, share experiences and discuss opportunities for growth. The focus of each edition is on issues that are relevant to entrepreneurs, and the fourth edition focuses specifically on the role of women in supporting each other through mentorship, knowledge sharing and business collaboration.

Omantel's partnership with Sohar International aligns with their shared goal of empowering Omani businesses and advancing the growth of OMFIs. The organisations' aim is to help women-led businesses access technology, financial services and professional networks, thus contributing to a more competitive business environment and the economic development of Oman.