Sohar International Partners with Lahunna to Support Women SMEs

Sohar International has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lahunna Oman to strengthen women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Sultanate. The agreement, signed on August 23–24, 2026, will see the bank support Lahunna Oman’s Siraj SME Mentorship Programme as its Main Partner.

The partnership aims to equip Omani women entrepreneurs with practical business capabilities, financial knowledge and market opportunities to help them scale established ventures. It aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which identifies economic diversification and a stronger SME ecosystem as important drivers of sustainable growth.

Key Highlights:

• Sohar International partners with Lahunna Oman to support women-owned SMEs
• The Siraj SME Mentorship Programme provides 22 weeks of structured business guidance
• The initiative advances Oman Vision 2040 by promoting women’s entrepreneurship and economic diversification

The MoU was signed by Dr Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi, Chief Marketing Officer at Sohar International, and Shatha Salim Al Maskiry, Founder of Lahunna Oman.

The Siraj SME Mentorship Programme will run for 22 weeks and target Omani women who own registered, revenue-generating businesses that have operated for at least one year. Participants will receive structured mentorship from experienced professionals, alongside workshops focused on financial literacy, business planning, decision-making and growth strategies.

A key focus of the programme is financial literacy, with participants gaining practical insights into evaluating opportunities, preparing for expansion and improving financial decision-making. Workshops at Sohar International Academy will connect entrepreneurs with banking specialists, industry professionals and other experts.

The programme will also provide access to relevant markets and networks, helping participants identify opportunities to expand their reach. An initial assessment will help determine individual business priorities, with mentorship linked to implementation and measurable progress. The programme will conclude with a Demo Day, where participants can showcase how the experience has influenced their business strategies and priorities.

Al Raisi said that financial literacy should be viewed as a practical business capability rather than simply an understanding of numbers. He highlighted the contribution of women-owned businesses to Oman’s economy and linked the bank’s involvement to SMEs' role in job creation and economic diversification.

Al Maskiry said the initiative seeks to turn women entrepreneurs’ efforts into measurable growth and scalable businesses. She also highlighted the wider economic impact of successful women-led enterprises, including job creation, increased in-country value and inclusive economic development.

The collaboration builds on an earlier partnership between Sohar International, Lahunna Oman and Visa through the She’s Next programme, which concluded in April 2026. The initiative awarded a total prize pool of OMR 38,000 across three categories to support Omani women-owned businesses. Lahunna helped develop eligibility criteria, assess more than 270 applications, and mentor finalists.

The new Siraj programme shifts the focus from a competition-based model towards sustained mentorship and long-term SME development. Through the partnership, Sohar International also aims to better understand the evolving needs of SMEs across sectors and use those insights to strengthen offerings in areas including payments, working capital, business finance and corporate services.