“Riyada” Showcases Support Policies, Enabling Programs
for SMEs

Muscat, 10 Feb 2026 (ONA) — The
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority “Riyada” today showcased
the support policies, enabling programs, specific indicators, and the outlines
of its plan for 2026.

During its annual media briefing, the authority pointed out that
in preparing its annual plan for this year, it relied on more than 700
initiatives and training programs distributed across 8 main strategic pillars.
These include promoting entrepreneurship culture, scaling up enterprises and
accelerating their regional and global expansion, maximizing local content,
accessing financing with broader and more innovative options, expanding
incubators and entrepreneurship centers, developing governorates and leveraging
their comparative advantages to support SMEs, the National Program for Craft
Industries, and supporting innovative and technology-based startups.

Halima Rashid Al Zar’ee, Chairperson ofRiyada stated
that the Authority has completed the implementation of the Small and Medium
Enterprises Sector Strategy, which achieved good results, with the sector’s
contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching about 21% by the end
of 2024.

She clarified that the total number of SMEs registered in the
Authority’s register by the end of December 2025 reached 130,359. She noted
that the total number of enterprises that obtained the Riyada Entrepreneurship
Card in the second half of 2025 reached 58,388, of which 25,986 cards were
active. The national workforce within these accounted for approximately 192,714
employees. The card serves as a document enabling its holder to obtain numerous
facilities across various sectors from relevant entities.

She pointed out that the total
number of trainees participating in the Entrepreneurial Readiness Program last
year reached 7,453 beneficiaries. This is an intensive, integrated, and
specialized training program to develop the cognitive and entrepreneurial
skills of entrepreneurs, aligning with rapid changes in the entrepreneurship
ecosystem and enhancing the technical and technological practices that
contribute to project sustainability, she added.

She explained that the Authority
participated in 413 local and international events last year, benefiting 23,794
enterprises, with 608 enterprises benefiting from e-marketing.

She explained that the total
number of applications received for handicraft support approved by the
Authority until the end of 2025 reached 5,813 requests. Meanwhile, the total
number of individuals obtaining licenses to practice home-based activities
reached 7,026 artisans, with a total value exceeding RO 4 million.

She affirmed that the Authority
launched a number of initiatives in local value added, most notably the SME
Scaling Program to elevate the classification level of SMEs, achieve their
growth within the sector, and ensure their ascent to a higher classification.
She indicated that the total number of small enterprises that grew into
medium-sized enterprises last year reached 294, while the number of
medium-sized enterprises that grew into large enterprises reached 41.

She noted that the Sultanate of
Oman ranks 8th in the Entrepreneurship Index among 56 participating countries
in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report for 2024. It is also among
the top 15 countries for the speed of evolution and growth of startups and
among the top 10 talent-attractive countries, according to the “Startup
Genome” report for the Middle East and North Africa for 2023.

For his part, Sayyid Mazin Saif
Al Busaidi, Deputy Chairman of Riyada confirmed that the Authority is
continuing to implement a package of initiatives and training programs for
entrepreneurs. He explained that the total number of specialized and general
training programs implemented by the Authority until the fourth quarter of last
year reached 245, benefiting 29,513 entrepreneurs.

He stated that the total value of
contracts announced in the first edition of the “Growth
Entrepreneurship” forum exceeded RO 44 million. This edition featured the
organization of 340 bilateral meetings, enabling entrepreneurs to discuss their
projects and learn about available requirements and facilities.

He said that “Riyada”
last year opened outlets of the “Craft House” in the governorates of
Muscat, Dhofar, Musandam, and A’Dakhiliyah. The total number of craft
enterprises registered in these outlets reached 175, and the number of products
displayed on the outlet’s electronic platform reached 1,744.

On his turn, Qais Rashid Al Toubi,
Deputy Chairman of Riyada for Finance and Investment, stated that the Authority
aims to finance no less than 200 projects during the current year across
various economic sectors.

He added that the total number of
financing requests approved for funding from the “Al-Azm” lending
portfolio until the end of December 2025 reached 514 requests, with a total
value of RO 44,385,764.

During the meeting, the Authority
revealed that the number of SMEs incubated in its various business centers
amounts to 137 enterprises, which have provided 231 job opportunities for Omani
youth across various economic activities, with a revenue rate exceeding RO 3
million.

The Authority seeks to incubate
SMEs across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman in cooperation with
relevant entities in the government and private sectors. Since its launch, it
has established 30 general and specialized business incubators.

The Authority clarified that the
number of innovation-based startups by the end of last year reached 205
companies, employing 825 employees, with a market value reaching RO 395 million.

The Authority indicated that the
total approvals for land with usufruct rights granted to SMEs holding the
Riyada Entrepreneurship Card for industrial uses in most governorates of the
Sultanate of Oman reached approximately 395 by the end of December 2025.
Meanwhile, the land plots with usufruct rights offered through the
“Tatweer” platform reached 877.

— Ends/AH