Every year on October 17th, the Sultanate celebrates the Omani Women’s Day ever since His Majesty’s declaration of the Day during the Women’s Symposium in 2009. His Majesty the Sultan said, “Since the early renaissance we have attached care for the participation of Omani women in the march of the blessed renaissance, so we have provided them with education, training and employment opportunities and supported their role and status in society.
We have also stressed on the need for their contribution in various development fields. We have facilitated this through regulations and laws that guarantee their rights and explain their duties in order to be able to develop their inner abilities, expertise and skills to build their country and raise its status. We are continuing on this path, God willing.”
Omani Women have enjoyed equal opportunities in education and employment since the beginning of the modern renaissance. Many achievements have been accomplished since then in all sectors. In education, Omani females constituted 50 per cent in government institutions and 45 per cent in private ones in 2015. While in higher education, they stand at 61 per cent inside local colleges and 41 per cent are studying abroad. Moreover, a Royal Decree issued in 2010 to allocate 500 annual scholarships for Omani female graduates whose general diploma grade is 80 per cent and above. This has enhanced the students’ spirit to perform better and compete for the best.
Until the end of 2015, 41 per cent of the total employees in government sector were Omani females. Yet, 22 per cent have grabbed up senior and executive positions in management. One of the major links to the women in the country is network of Omani Women Associations. According to the Ministry of Social Development, the Omani Women’s Association is a social and cultural organisation aimed at advancing Omani women in all social and cultural fronts.
