Ahlibank has strengthened its support for Oman’s small business sector by sponsoring “The Local” SME Exhibition at Mall of Oman, positioning the event as part of a wider push to expand market access for homegrown enterprises and deepen private-sector participation in the Sultanate’s diversification agenda.The exhibition, held from 21 to 24 May, brought together Omani entrepreneurs across traditional handicrafts, clothing, jewellery, handmade products, artwork and cosmetics, giving smaller firms direct access to shoppers in one of Muscat’s major retail destinations. The bank’s backing placed emphasis on visibility, customer engagement and commercial networking rather than finance alone, reflecting a broader shift in SME support from credit provision to ecosystem building.
Ahlibank’s participation comes as Oman’s SME sector continues to gain weight in economic planning. The number of enterprises registered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority reached about 130,359 by the end of December 2025, while SME contribution to gross domestic product stood at around 21 per cent by the end of 2024. Entrepreneurship Card holders totalled 58,388 in the second half of 2025, including 25,986 active cards, representing a national workforce of about 192,714 employees.
The bank has framed its support for “The Local” as part of its long-term commitment to Oman Vision 2040, under which entrepreneurship, private-sector growth and economic diversification are central objectives. For lenders, the SME segment offers both commercial opportunity and policy relevance, particularly as authorities seek to widen the base of non-oil activity and improve the capacity of smaller businesses to compete in local and export markets.
Ahlibank has also expanded its SME-facing banking proposition through dedicated products and platforms. Its SME Banking division offers working capital finance, equipment finance, vendor bill discounting, documentary collections, trade finance, construction loans and leasing. Its A’maali business banking account provides tiered services for smaller firms, including monthly local and international transfers, cheque book privileges, preferential charges, business debit card access and digital banking through ahliNET Business Banking.
The “The Local” sponsorship adds to previous community-facing initiatives, including the bank’s Ramadan Souq, which has served as a showcase for small enterprises across different sectors. Such events matter for micro and small businesses that often struggle with customer acquisition, formal marketing channels and the cost of retail exposure. For craft producers and homegrown brands, access to a high-footfall venue can generate sales, test pricing, gather customer feedback and build recognition beyond social media channels.
Oman’s public-sector SME agenda has also moved beyond registration drives. The 2026 plan of the SME authority includes more than 700 initiatives and training programmes across eight areas, including entrepreneurship culture, institutional upgrading, local content, access to funding, incubators, governorate development and regional and global expansion. Contracts announced at the first Growth Forum exceeded OMR44 million, while the Al-Azm loan portfolio had approved 514 funding applications worth more than OMR44 million by the end of 2025.
These figures highlight both progress and pressure. The rapid expansion in registered SMEs shows stronger entrepreneurial appetite, but it also raises questions over survival rates, productivity, credit access and the ability of small firms to scale beyond owner-led operations. Banks can help bridge part of that gap through finance, payments infrastructure and advisory services, but exhibition platforms and procurement linkages are increasingly being treated as equally important tools for commercial sustainability.
The wider trend is toward joined-up SME support involving banks, public agencies, malls, digital platforms and large buyers. Oman has sought to strengthen local-content policies, widen procurement access and develop incubator networks, while business owners face rising expectations on digitisation, compliance, branding and customer service. Events such as “The Local” sit within that transition, linking small producers with consumers while giving banks a visible role in community enterprise development.
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Oman