Mudhaibi – The Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) has inaugurated a new workshop building at Al Wafa Centre for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in Mudhaibi, North Sharqiyah, aimed at integrating people with disabilities into the labour market.

The opening ceremony, held on Wednesday, was presided over by H E Dr Laila bint Ahmed al Najjar, Minister of Social Development.

The initiative seeks to empower 50 beneficiaries – aged between 14 and 45 – with mild to moderate physical and mental disabilities, as well as autism spectrum disorder. It will provide vocational training and employment opportunities for those enrolled in rehabilitation centres or in the Ministry of Education’s school integration programme.

A ministry official said the workshops will help participants harness their potential, set up their own projects and find pathways into the labour market. “The goal is to enhance their role in the society while raising community awareness of their capabilities,” he said.

The building was developed in partnership with several private sector firms, including Petroleum Development Oman, Occidental Oman, Daleel Petroleum, OQ Exploration, BP and CC Energy Development. Built on an area of 600sqm, the facility is equipped with machinery and tools to support workshops in aromatic and medicinal oil distillation, food processing, thermal printing and paper recycling.

The companies will also support similar workshop buildings planned for Salalah and Rustaq as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes.

Al Moatasem bin Hilal bin Sultan al Hosni, Director General of Social Development in North Sharqiyah, said, “This marks an important step towards empowering people with disabilities by offering them a productive environment that opens new horizons for integration into the job market. Our aim is to build their capacities, enhance self-confidence and enable them to become productive members of society. We deeply value the contribution of private sector partners, which reflects genuine collaboration with government institutions.”