Muscat – The number of Omani enterprises holding the Entrepreneurship Card reached 32,103 by the end of June 2026, while 19,267 new cards were issued during the first half of the year, reflecting entrepreneurs’ growing interest in benefiting from the facilities and advantages offered through the initiative.

The SMEs Development Authority (Riyada) provides the Entrepreneurship Card as one of the key support tools for small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, enabling holders to access a range of benefits and incentives offered by government and private sector entities.

During the first half of 2026, Riyada continued implementing programmes and initiatives aimed at strengthening Oman’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting SME owners and empowering them to expand and develop their businesses.

The SME sector recorded significant growth, with the total number of small and medium enterprises in Oman reaching approximately 267,535 by the end of 2025, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information. Of these, 136,459 enterprises were registered in Riyada’s database by the end of the first half of 2026, comprising 116,195 micro enterprises, 19,196 small enterprises and 1,068 medium enterprises.

The SME sector’s contribution to Oman’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached RO9.2bn, accounting for 21.8% of the economy.

Riyada also continued developing the business incubation ecosystem by providing a supportive environment for emerging projects and SMEs, helping transform entrepreneurial ideas into viable businesses capable of sustainable growth.

During the first half of this year, 132 new incubation contracts were signed across various economic sectors, while 16 incubators were opened, contributing to the creation of 284 job opportunities.

The Authority continued supporting general and specialised business centres targeting promising sectors, including e-commerce, financial technology, creative industries (including craft industries), manufacturing, logistics, and services linked to economic and special zones.

These efforts were carried out in partnership with government and private sector institutions to strengthen innovation and expand growth opportunities for SMEs. The graduation rate from general and specialised entrepreneurship centres during the first half of 2026 reached 14.5%.

Riyada continued providing specialised advisory services to SME owners to help them develop their projects and improve performance through solutions covering administrative, financial, legal, marketing and technical areas.

During the first half of the year, the number of beneficiaries of advisory services reached 10,832, covering legal, financial, administrative and marketing consultations, as well as specialised advisory services in other fields.

The Authority also supported project owners through the preparation and review of economic feasibility studies. The number of beneficiaries from workshops on preparing feasibility studies reached 6,113 during the first half of 2026.

Riyada continued empowering technology- and innovation-based startups by developing capabilities, facilitating access to finance and investment, and enhancing the legislative framework supporting the sector.

The programme is based on three main pillars: capacity building, funding and investment, and the development of the legislative environment, aimed at creating a supportive ecosystem for startup growth.

The number of registered enterprises holding the Startup Card reached approximately 321 during the first half of 2026, while the number of beneficiaries from workshops promoting entrepreneurship culture, startups and innovative financing mechanisms reached 17,755.

The Entrepreneur Readiness Programme continued its role in developing entrepreneurial and managerial skills among SME owners and preparing them to address labour market challenges and improve the sustainability of their projects.

The programme targets individuals planning to establish new businesses as well as existing entrepreneurs through foundation and enhancement tracks focusing on management, marketing, finance, legislation, feasibility studies, innovation and modern technologies.

During the first half of the year, the number of participants in the programme reached 8,200 trainees, of whom 7,601 received the Entrepreneur Readiness Certificate.