Muscat – The Muttrah cable car project could create new investment opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and Omani artisans, as the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) explores ways to strengthen local business participation in the tourism venture.

Halima bint Rashid Al Zeraei, Chairperson of ASMED, visited the Muttrah cable car project on Monday to review the investment opportunities it offers SMEs and craftspeople and explore new ventures that could complement the project.

The visit focused on identifying potential business opportunities that would enable small enterprises to participate more actively in tourism development, opening up wider prospects for growth and helping local businesses benefit from emerging economic opportunities.

Potential areas of participation include tourism-related services, retail activities, food and beverage outlets, and the promotion of traditional Omani handicrafts, depending on the investment opportunities made available through the project.

For local artisans, such opportunities could provide a platform to showcase traditional products to visitors, while SMEs could explore services that enhance the visitor experience and support the wider tourism offering in Muttrah.

The cable car project is expected to add a distinctive attraction to Muscat’s tourism landscape, complementing Muttrah’s historic souq, waterfront and cultural landmarks. By encouraging visitors to explore the area, the development could also create opportunities for businesses operating in the surrounding tourism and hospitality sectors.

ASMED’s engagement with the project reflects efforts to connect SMEs with investment opportunities in key economic sectors and encourage their participation in tourism-related ventures. Enabling local enterprises to benefit from such developments can help broaden the economic impact of tourism and support entrepreneurship, it stated.