Shell Intilaaqah, Oman’s social investment arm of Shell LiveWire International, and the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Riyada) continue their strategic partnership to support the entrepreneurs for an additional three years by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that builds on the previous Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration aims to continue offering support to entrepreneurs in various areas; including training, mentoring and counselling for an additional three years.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Ahmed Al Ghassani, CEO of Riyada and Chris Breeze, Shell’s Country Chairman in Oman. Through the partnership, Riyada will support Shell Intilaaqah and the start-ups on multiple fronts including the provision of space for entrepreneurs for Shell Intilaaqah office and programme.
Dr. Ahmed Al Ghassani, CEO of Riyada, said, “This partnership brings the local expertise of Riyada with the global expertise of Shell Intilaaqah together in one unique proposition that helps kick-start and propel the journeys of aspiring entrepreneurs. This is a partnership that is geared towards building connections between entrepreneurs and experienced trainers and mentors to ultimately diversify Oman’s economy.”
Chris Breeze, Shell’s Country Chairman in Oman said, “The renewal of our collaboration with Riyada is an essential step in the right direction in Shell Intilaaqah’s longstanding history of empowering Omani entrepreneurs and SMEs. Riyada and Shell Intilaaqah both share the same objective of nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in Oman and have a real impact on our communities.”

Najwa Al Kindi, Director of Shell Intilaaqah Oman “We are committed to create and develop business leaders. Today, we start the next chapter in our successful collaboration with Riyada in order to continue empowering talent and catalyze an entrepreneurial ecosystem across the Sultanate.”
The Shell Intilaaqah programme is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs who are between the age of 20 and 35 years old, and SMEs through all stages of entrepreneurship, starting from generating a business idea, developing a feasibility study and a business plan, to supporting the growth and sustenance of start-ups. The programme involves five stages of modular training, counselling and support tailored to provide aspiring Omani youth with the skillsets required to turn original and feasible ideas into real businesses.