Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman celebrates Omani Women's Day on 17 October each year, a national occasion on which it recalls the journey of Omani women and their contributions to building the nation. The occasion affirms the attention and care they enjoy under the Renewed Renaissance, and the active presence they have achieved across the various fields of development and national work, reflecting their standing as an essential partner in the march of progress and prosperity.
She is Oman, in all its manifestations, comes as an affirmation of her role in the march of national development, and a highlighting of her diverse contributions in vital sectors, and the competencies and capabilities she possesses that contribute to realising the Sultanate of Oman's aspirations towards a more sustainable and prosperous future. The slogan reflects a set of messages that underscore the standing of Omani women and their role in the present and the future; she is a national energy that contributes to economic diversification and shapes the features of the future. Her achievements reflect the diversity of her capabilities and the breadth of her ambitions, just as she is a partner in crafting solutions that support sustainable development. Her contributions in vital sectors affirm the evolution of the Sultanate of Oman's march, while her national competence shines in sustaining national wealth and preserving it for coming generations.
Omani women enjoy care and attention that have contributed to enhancing their presence in the march of building and advancing the nation, as an extension of the Royal care accorded to women by the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik — in belief in her role as a partner in shaping Oman's future. The Royal directives have affirmed women's standing in Omani society as a pillar of the Renaissance, a guardian of values and a nurturer of generations.
This year's celebration comes amid a prominent national milestone that affirms the extension of the Royal attention to the role of Omani women and their participation in shaping Oman's present and future; for His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, has directed the allocation of an additional seat for Omani women in the Shura Council from each governorate, totalling eleven seats, added to the general seats available for competition.
This directive comes as a continuation of the Royal attention to entrenching the principle of Shura, a completion of the march of development witnessed by the Shura Council, and an enhancement of the active participation of Omani women across various fields. The presence of Omani women in the march of development is not confined to a particular field, but extends to positions of participation and decision-making; for the allocation of these seats allows the enhancement of women's representation from the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman in the Shura Council, and contribution to the discussion of national issues and participation in shaping general orientations and policies, thereby enhancing their presence in the paths of national work.
This orientation acquires a dimension that transcends the local framework, in light of the Sultanate of Oman's affirmation during its participations in the United Nations in 2026 that women's empowerment represents one of the national constants tied to the Basic Law of the State and Oman Vision 2040, reflecting the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to continuing support for women's participation and enhancing their contributions across the various paths of development.
Within the framework of continuous attention to Omani women, the visits of Her Highness the Honourable Lady, Spouse of His Majesty the Sultan during 2026 to a number of governorates of the Sultanate of Oman carried special attention to women's contributions in society. These visits were not confined to official meetings, but extended to close acquaintance with models of community initiatives and women's projects that reflect Omani women's ability to employ heritage, experience and knowledge and transform them into initiatives of social and economic impact.
The visits of Her Highness the Honourable Lady to the Omani Women's Association in the Wilayat of Khasab in January 2026, and the Omani Women's Association in Salalah in August 2026, reflected belief in Omani women's ability to create impact in their community surroundings. The gesture from Her Highness the Honourable Lady is an affirmation of the role undertaken by Omani women's associations in supporting women's skills, particularly handicraft skills, and opening broader horizons for them to benefit from these skills by transforming them into products of community and economic value that benefit women, their families and their local surroundings.
These visits highlight the importance of community initiatives in empowering women and enhancing their participation in productive activities, alongside preserving handicraft heritage and transmitting it to coming generations, in a manner that contributes to creating new opportunities for Omani women to benefit from their potential, develop their projects and enhance their role in supporting the local economy.
Proceeding from this standing, Omani women today move towards new horizons, resting upon the achievements they have realised and continuing their contributions in the fields that shape the nation's future. In light of this, the celebration of Omani Women's Day for 2026 sheds light on their presence in the fields of energy, environment and minerals, and their role in supporting economic diversification, sustainability and investment in the nation's resources, alongside their enduring roles in nurturing generations and preserving the Omani family and society.
In the energy sector, Omani women continue their presence in one of the vital sectors of the national economy, which encompasses oil, gas, electricity, renewable energy, hydrogen and clean energy. Their participation in these fields contributes to supporting economic diversification orientations, enhancing sustainability and keeping pace with the transformations witnessed by the energy sector, in service of national aspirations towards building a diversified and sustainable economy.
In the environmental sector, the contributions of Omani women stand out in the fields of sustainability, the protection of natural resources, the preservation of biodiversity, and environmental research and innovation, thereby enhancing national efforts aimed at building a sustainable environment and preserving natural resources for coming generations. Their presence in this field also reflects the importance of the role of national competencies in addressing environmental challenges, and developing solutions and practices that contribute to achieving a balance between the requirements of development and environmental protection.
As for the minerals sector, it represents a growing field for the presence of Omani women, given the national wealth it represents and the promising opportunities for economic diversification and the investment of mineral resources. Women's contributions in this sector are directed towards the fields of exploration, mining, manufacturing linked to minerals, and the development of value-added industries, in support of benefiting from national resources and enhancing opportunities for developing promising economic sectors.
These three fields embody an aspect of the growing transformation in the march of Omani women's participation, through their presence in sectors linked to the energy of the future, environmental protection and resource sustainability, and the investment of national wealth. They also affirm that Omani women are an active partner in the various paths of development, with the competencies, expertise and ability they possess to contribute to developing vital sectors and shaping the future.
The celebration of Omani Women's Day each year comes as a reinforcement of the culture of appreciation and recognition of the pivotal role women undertake in the stability and cohesion of society, and a highlighting of their success stories that begin from their families and extend to the fields of work, creativity, production and community participation. The celebration also represents an occasion to shed light on the achievements Omani women have realised across various fields, and the contributions they continue to make in support of the march of national development.
The celebration carries an inspiring message to coming generations of women and girls, affirming that Omani women have been and remain an active partner in development, a model of perseverance and giving, and capable of continuing achievement and participation across various sectors. This reflects their growing presence in the nation's march, and reinforces their position as a fundamental pillar in the march of the Renewed Renaissance, contributing to the realisation of the targets of the Oman Vision 2040 and the building of a future founded upon the integration of national efforts and the benefit derived from the capabilities of all members of society.
Omani women remain, with the values of giving and responsibility they carry and the competencies and ambitions they possess, an essential element in the march of construction and development, and a partner in preserving the nation's gains and the sustainability of its resources, and continuing the march of achievement across various fields, embodying their presence in the nation's identity, march and future.