Thursday 08 / January / 2026
Muscat: The "Prospects of Promising Omani Startups" ceremony was held today under the auspices of HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said, Honorary President of the Programme ofPromising Omani Startups (POPS). The event was held at the Royal Opera House Muscat.
The event celebrated the journey of the Programme ofPromising Omani Startups and reviewed the key achievements and indicators realized during its foundational phase.
The ceremony highlighted prominent quantitative and qualitative indicators for the period (2023–2025), reflecting the program's impact in transforming innovative ideas into active startups, empowering entrepreneurs, and building companies capable of growth and sustainability. It also emphasized the contribution of startups to diversifying the national economy and enhancing In-Country Value (ICV).
According to the statistics presented, the program has achieved significant milestones, namely 205 technology and innovation-based Omani startups have been established, the total market capitalization of these promising startups has reached approximately $395 million and the sector has provided 549 job opportunities for Omani youth across various economic activities.
The ceremony witnessed the launch of the program's sustainability plan under the theme "An Innovation Journey that Starts with an Idea and Builds a Sustainable Economy." This marks the program's transition from phased implementation to a stage of institutional sustainability. This new phase will adopt a supportive governance model and a sustainability plan designed to maximize long-term economic returns and connect startups with tangible growth opportunities.
The event also reviewed the role of partnerships between government entities, the private sector, investors, and the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem in supporting the program’s success. It celebrated the entrepreneurs themselves as the core pillar in turning ideas into concrete economic achievements.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, entrepreneurs from the Programme ofPromising Omani Startups presented a commemorative gift to HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said. This gesture expressed their profound gratitude for HH Sayyid Bilarab’s continuous support of the startup ecosystem and his efforts in empowering entrepreneurs and enhancing the innovation environment in Oman.
The "Prospects" ceremony reaffirms the program's commitment to empowering Omani startups, enhancing institutional integration, and establishing innovation and technology as a sustainable national path in line with Oman Vision 2040.
