Rural Dhofar 2026 Exhibition Opens to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

The “Rural Dhofar 2026” exhibition will open on August 10th at Atin Square in Dhofar, with a focus on economically empowering rural women and promoting Omani products in local markets. The exhibition aims to create greater opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs and productive families to showcase their products and strengthen their presence in the market.

Organized by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dhofar, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Dhofar and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the exhibition is being held as part of the Khareef Dhofar Festival. It will continue until August 15, providing visitors with an opportunity to explore a wide range of locally produced goods.

More than 60 participants, including women entrepreneurs and productive families from across Oman, will take part in the exhibition. They will display a diverse range of agricultural, fishery and food products, along with honey, dates and cosmetics made from natural ingredients. The exhibition highlights the quality and diversity of rural Omani products while providing producers with a platform to reach new customers.

Key Highlights:

• The exhibition empowers rural women by creating new entrepreneurship and market opportunities
• It promotes diverse Omani products from agriculture, fisheries, food and natural resources
• It supports rural businesses through training, financing and sustainable development

The exhibition aims to enhance direct marketing opportunities for rural products, increase the income of productive families, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and highlight the role of rural women as active partners in achieving food security and sustainable economic development.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a diverse program of specialized workshops covering topics such as quality and added value of rural products, sustainable production, the "Rural Product" financing program, and the role of women in achieving food security. This program aims to transfer expertise, enhance the capabilities of female entrepreneurs, and develop their projects.

The "Rural Dhofar 2026" exhibition also provides an opportunity for the public and visitors to learn about successful entrepreneurial experiences in the rural sector and to purchase local products. This aligns with the Ministry's efforts to develop rural communities, enhance the added value of national products, and solidify the concepts of sustainability and economic diversification.

The initiative also comes as Oman continues to strengthen opportunities for rural women through value-added agricultural activities. In Dhofar, a camel milk processing project supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources is helping rural women develop skills in production, quality control and marketing. The project has already trained and empowered 20 women in its initial phase, highlighting the importance of connecting rural producers with value-added markets.

Agricultural diversification is also creating new opportunities for rural communities in Dhofar. A government-backed Arabic coffee cultivation project in the governorate aims to revive coffee production in the mountain areas of Sadah, Taqah and Mirbat while creating additional income opportunities for farmers. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen local production and diversify agricultural activities in the region.