Oman Marks Omani Women’s Day 2025 Under the Theme “She is Oman”
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman will celebrate Omani Women’s Day on October 17 under the theme “She is Oman,” highlighting the essential role of women in shaping the nation’s identity and driving its development. The annual observance honours women’s achievements across all sectors and reaffirms the country’s institutional commitment to gender equality and female empowerment.
Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development, stated that this year’s theme embodies Oman’s recognition of women as key partners in nation-building. “This designation reflects women’s fundamental partnership in building Oman’s present and future,” she said. “Omani women represent a cornerstone of national development, benefiting from both royal support and their own demonstrated capabilities.”
Oman has made significant progress in advancing women’s rights through constitutional guarantees of equality and a robust legal framework. Recent reforms include extended maternity leave provisions in line with international standards, comprehensive social protection coverage, and administrative reforms such as independent passport issuance for women.
The Ministry of Social Development’s Social Work Strategy (2016–2025) provides evidence-based policies guided by human rights principles to promote women’s participation and development. Targeted initiatives have been introduced to enhance leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion.
The “Tasmu” programme has trained 50 female leaders from the public, private, and civil society sectors, while the “Tamkeen” programme has supported 202 women entrepreneurs through business training, financing, and mentorship. The “Wiki Omani Women” initiative has documented the biographies of 100 prominent Omani women on global digital platforms, enhancing international awareness of their contributions.
Across the governorates, 68 women’s associations with more than 13,500 members are engaged in community development and skills training. The Ministry provides ongoing technical and administrative support to ensure the sustainability of their initiatives and strengthen partnerships with public and private sector institutions.
Omani women have also achieved growing international representation, holding key positions such as membership in the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2023–2026), the UNICEF Executive Board (2024–2026), and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (2025–2028). Omani professionals also serve in leadership roles at UNESCO, the Arab Women Organisation, and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO).
Specialised initiatives such as the Female Inmate Empowerment Programme (2020–2025) focus on rehabilitation and social reintegration through vocational training and post-release support mechanisms.
The annual celebration of Omani Women’s Day underscores the Sultanate’s comprehensive approach to promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality. Through coordinated national efforts, Oman continues to empower women as active contributors to the nation’s sustainable development and as role models for future generations.
