The number of institutions that obtained the Entrepreneurship Card until the first half of 2026 reached 32,103 institutions, while the number of new cards issued during the first half of this year reached 19,267 cards, which reflects the interest of entrepreneurs in benefiting from the advantages provided by the card.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority is working to provide the Entrepreneurship Card as one of the most important tools supporting owners of small and medium enterprises, as it allows its holders to benefit from many facilities and advantages provided by governmental and private entities.

During the first half of 2026, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Riyada) continued to implement its plans aimed at enhancing the entrepreneurship environment, through launching and implementing quality programs and initiatives that contributed to supporting small and medium enterprise owners and enabling them to develop their enterprises, in addition to developing the services provided in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, by activating the competitive advantage in each governorate.

The sector witnessed remarkable growth, with the total number of small and medium enterprises in the Sultanate of Oman reaching approximately 267,535 by the end of 2025, according to statistics from the National Centre for Statistics and Information. Of these, 136,459 were registered in the Riyada database by the end of 2026, distributed as follows: 116,195 micro enterprises, 19,196 small enterprises, and 1,068 medium enterprises. Their total contribution to the gross domestic product amounted to RO9.2 billion, representing 21.8 percent.

The Authority continued to develop the incubation system by providing a supportive environment for emerging projects and small and medium enterprises, which contributes to transforming entrepreneurial ideas into projects capable of growth and sustainability. During the first half of this year, 132 new incubation contracts were signed in a number of economic sectors, and 16 incubators were opened, contributing to the provision of 284 job opportunities.

The Authority also continued to support public and specialised business centers targeting promising sectors, including e-commerce, financial technology, and creative industries, including craft industries and manufacturing industries, in addition to the logistics sector and services related to economic and special zones, in partnership with a number of governmental and private institutions, which enhances the innovation environment and expands growth opportunities for small and medium enterprises, as the graduation rate from public and specialised entrepreneurship centers during the first half of 2026 reached 14.5 percent.

The Authority continues to provide specialised consulting services with the aim of helping owners of small and medium enterprises to develop their projects and improve their performance, by providing appropriate solutions in administrative, financial, legal, marketing and technical aspects. During the first half of the year, the number of beneficiaries of consultations reached 10,832 beneficiaries, distributed among legal, financial, administrative and marketing consultations, in addition to specialised consultations in other fields.

It also continued to support entrepreneurs by preparing and reviewing economic feasibility studies, with the number of beneficiaries of economic feasibility study preparation workshops during the first half of this year reaching 6,113 beneficiaries. Leadership continues to empower technology-based and innovation-driven startups by developing capabilities, facilitating access to finance and investment, and enhancing the legislative environment that supports this sector. The program includes three main pillars: capacity building, financing and investment, and developing the legislative environment, which contributes to creating an environment conducive to the growth of startups.

The number of registered institutions that obtained the Startup Card during the first half of 2026 reached about 321 institutions, and the number of beneficiaries of workshops on spreading the culture of entrepreneurship, startups and innovative financing mechanisms reached 17,755 institutions. The Entrepreneurship Readiness Program continued its role in developing the entrepreneurial and managerial skills of small and medium enterprise owners, preparing them to face the challenges of the labour market and enhancing the sustainability of their projects.

The program targets idea owners who wish to establish new projects, as well as existing institutions, through the two tracks of establishment and enhancement, which focus on developing skills in the areas of management, marketing, finance, legislation, feasibility studies, innovation, and modern technologies. During the first half of the year, the program had 8,200 participants, of whom 7,601 received the Entrepreneurship Readiness Certificate.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Riyada) continues its efforts to support artisans and craft institutions by providing support programs and facilities that contribute to developing craft products and raising their production efficiency, in addition to simplifying the procedures for obtaining support through electronic services.

During the first half of 2026, a total of RO4,209,013 was disbursed, while the Authority received 8,394 applications. Of these, 3,469 were approved based on beneficiaries’ actual requirements for equipment, supplies and machinery.

The total number of vocational training programs provided by the Authority during the first half of this year reached 86 programs, and the total number of beneficiaries of these programs reached 1,828 beneficiaries. The Authority, in cooperation with the Oman Development Bank, continued to implement financing programs aimed at small and medium enterprises, in order to enable them to expand and enhance their sustainability.

These programs include financing for local value-added projects, industrial projects, commercial franchising, working capital, and incubated companies, in addition to the ‘Dhamin’ program, which aims to facilitate access to financing for small and medium enterprises. During the first half of 2026, the Authority received 555 funding applications, with a total value of RO48,928,711.

The Authority continues to develop its digital system in a way that contributes to simplifying procedures and raising the efficiency of services provided to entrepreneurs, through the electronic services portal, the website and the entrepreneurship system.

The digital system provides a comprehensive set of services, including issuing and renewing the entrepreneurship card, applying for consulting services, training programs, incubation services, and tracking applications electronically, in addition to updating the data of institutions and displaying their products and services through the platform.

The Authority’s website continues to provide integrated content in both Arabic and English, including electronic services, programs and initiatives, legislation regulating the small and medium enterprises sector, in addition to informational information and support services, which enhances access to information and supports the digital transformation in the sector.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Riyada) also works on marketing and promoting the services and products of small and medium enterprises, and finding partnership opportunities to develop and qualify them, so that they enhance their competitiveness and innovation, and provide support in the field of building the corporate identity of small and medium enterprises and startups, through participation in internal and external events and exhibitions; as the Authority participated until the first half of this year in 37 international exhibitions and 438 local exhibitions, and the number of institutions benefiting from marketing and events programs reached 28,275 institutions, and the number of institutions benefiting from e-commerce reached 1,045 institutions.

The Omani Craft House is also an outlet and platform that brings together Omani products in one place. It includes 238 institutions and displays 2,448 products within 8 craft categories, enabling small and medium enterprises and craftsmen to reach a wider segment of customers and enhance the presence of their products in the markets. The number of branches of the Craft House has reached 6 branches linked to the electronic platform, which enhances the access of craft products to the markets, raises their competitiveness, and turns crafts into sustainable opportunities.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Riyada) seeks to ensure that small and medium enterprises obtain business opportunities from local value-added procurement, contracts and services, in coordination with the competent authorities, and to work on developing local suppliers from small and medium enterprises in innovative industries for local value-added initiatives, and to study and analyse investment opportunities resulting from the local value-added chain. The total number of business opportunities until the first half of this year reached 2,176 job opportunities, and the number of beneficiaries of the supplier development program reached 4,312 beneficiaries. The escalation program contributed to the transition of 296 small enterprises to medium enterprises, and also contributed to the transition of 45 from medium enterprises to large enterprises, after evaluating them according to precise and objective criteria. This is within the efforts to support the growth of enterprises, enhance their sustainability and competitiveness in the market, and expand their participation in the national economy.

The results achieved during the first half of 2026 confirm the continued efforts of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority in developing the entrepreneurship system, through the implementation of quality programs and initiatives that respond to the needs of entrepreneurs, enhance the growth of small and medium enterprises, and raise their ability to innovate and compete, in a way that supports the goals of sustainable economic development and enhances the contribution of this vital sector to the national economy.