Muscat – The second edition of the Oman Endowment Conference will be held on December 9 under the theme ‘Role of Endowments in Promoting Economic Diversification’.

The two-day event, organised by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in cooperation with the Bousher Endowment Foundation, will take place at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Dr Ahmed Ali al Kaabi, Director General of Endowments, Funds, Mosque Construction and Quran Schools at the ministry, said the empowerment of the endowment sector is a shared responsibility between government and society. He noted that endowment initiatives stem from within society, which plays a key role in self-management and sustainable growth. Kaabi added that conferences like this provide a platform to exchange expertise, present research studies and launch initiatives that align the sector with modern economic needs.

Malik Hilal al Yahmadi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bousher Endowment Foundation, said the upcoming edition builds on the success of the first conference, which drew wide participation from local and international experts in the field. He added that the first edition helped highlight Oman’s leading position in the regional endowment landscape. This year’s conference, he said, is expected to attract strong participation from GCC countries and beyond, expand cooperation and provide an opportunity to exchange expertise in investment and innovation.

Eng Mohammed Salim al Busaidi, Board Member of the Bousher Endowment Foundation, said the conference aims to strengthen the role of endowments in supporting sustainable development and the national economy. He explained that it will bring together senior executives, experts and representatives from government, private and endowment institutions across Oman, the GCC and the wider Arab and Islamic world. Participants will address key challenges, explore opportunities and present innovative models to maximise the social and economic impact of endowments.

Busaidi said discussions will revolve around endowments as a strategic tool to support economic diversification policies, innovation in endowment investments, innovative financial models in the Islamic economy and the role of endowments in empowering entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises. He added that an exhibition showcasing products and services from endowment and investment institutions will be held alongside the conference, featuring leading experiences and best practices from the sector.

The press conference also witnessed the launch of the updated Oman Endowment Conference website, which allows participants to register, access working papers and follow conference sessions online.