OAB Celebrates Omani Women’s Day, Launches Program to Empower Female Leaders

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Meyyan bint Shihab Al Said, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) organized a joyful celebration for Omani Women’s Day at the St. Regis Hotel, under the theme “Empowering Omani Women: Leadership, Faith, and Innovation.” The event was attended by a large gathering of successful women, including the bank’s executive leaders, employees, clients, and female entrepreneurs.

The event included various activities, such as visual presentations highlighting the royal attention given to empowering Omani women and shedding light on their honorable roles and contributions in all fields. Moreover, the “Women’s Leadership Development Program” was launched as a new initiative by OAB to nurture national female leaders and enhance women’s participation in the sustainable growth of the Sultanate of Oman, in line with the aspirations of Oman Vision 2040.

The program is being implemented in collaboration with Springboard and Aspire Institute, two prestigious international organizations in the field of training and development, adhering to the highest global standards. The program aims to empower women in senior leadership positions and strengthen their skills in strategic planning, decision-making, and achieving both personal and professional success.

A panel discussion was held on the topic of women’s empowerment and the inspiring success stories they have achieved in various fields. The discussion featured the participation of Lamya Al-Haj, Associate Professor at Sultan Qaboos University; Samra Al-Harthy, Director of Economic and Investment Research at the Oman Investment Authority; and Abeer Sultan, Executive Director, the Office of the Managing Director.

Sulaiman Al-Harthy, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Sultanate of Oman’s celebration of Omani Women’s Day is a recognition of their contributions and inspiring creativity in all fields. We are all proud of the positive role Omani women play in raising generations with genuine Omani values and their significant contribution to the comprehensive development of this beloved nation. They have left clear marks in all areas and have demonstrated excellence in the roles and positions they have been entrusted with in both the public and private sectors since the early days of the Blessed Renaissance and up to the present day.”

He added: “OAB has remained committed to supporting the pioneering role of women in the banking and financial sectors by investing in training and developing the skills of its promising talents. The bank’s creative work environment has provided a favorable climate for success, paving the way for women to take on leadership positions at various levels, including the Board of Directors, senior and middle management, and across different departments. The bank prioritizes enhancing women’s economic and social participation in all fields, in line with the aspirations of Oman Vision 2040. It places special emphasis on encouraging women’s involvement in initiatives and programs aimed at preparing future leaders and supporting entrepreneurs.”

During the event, Zahra Abdulamir, Acting Chief Risk Officer at OAB, delivered a speech in which she said: “As we celebrate Omani Women’s Day, we take pride in the programs launched by OAB to enhance women’s position in the labor market. These programs have led to successful projects that contribute to economic growth, and many talented women are now playing a tangible role in the development of various Omani institutions and companies. One of our most notable initiatives is the ‘Arab Pioneers Leadership Development Program.’ Continuing with these efforts, the bank has launched the ‘Women’s Leadership Development Program,’ aimed at empowering women in leadership roles and enhancing their skills to achieve personal and professional success.”

She also expressed joy over the wide participation of women within the bank’s continuously expanding customer base and their benefit from the advanced banking services provided by the bank to enrich the customer experience, as well as the unique advantages and offers designed specifically for OAB credit cardholders.

She further highlighted the large number of female entrepreneurs who are joining and benefiting from OAB’s innovative programs, initiatives, and services tailored to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), such as the “Tumouhi” program for comprehensive financial services for entrepreneurs and the SMEs development training program. She also cited the SMEs Competition held by the bank, which aims to spotlight the experiences of female entrepreneurs and support their projects to achieve further growth and expansion.

The event included the distribution of OAB awards to the female entrepreneurs who participated in the women’s SMEs competition organized by the bank. A commemorative gift was also presented by OAB to Her Highness Sayyida Meyyan bint Shihab Al Said, the patron of the celebration. The attendees enjoyed the exciting entertainment segments presented during the event, accompanied by music.

OAB continues to strengthen its leading position in the Omani banking market through a comprehensive transformation towards digital and modern services that meet the aspirations of all customer segments and enrich their banking experience. The bank also places great importance on nurturing the promising talents of women, developing their capabilities, and enhancing their participation in leading our beloved nation toward a promising future.