
Sohar International participates as strategic partner at Advantage Oman Forum 2025
Muscat: Reaffirming its position as a catalyst for national progress and sustainable economic transformation, Sohar International participated as the Strategic Partner of the Advantage Oman Forum 2025 — an exclusive, high-level gathering held recently at the St. Regis Al Mouj Resort in Muscat. The two-day event was graced by the presence of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, and was organized by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion in collaboration with Invest Oman. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Abdulwahid Mohamed Al Murshidi, Chief Executive Officer of Sohar International, along with other members of the Bank's executive management team — further emphasizing the Bank's leadership presence and strategic involvement in national initiatives.
Bringing together over 250 prominent figures, including senior officials, decision-makers, and regional and international investors, the forum underscored Oman's position as a promising investment destination. It convened a distinguished cohort of senior government representatives, global investors, and influential business leaders to explore Oman's dynamically evolving investment landscape and examine the global megatrends shaping the nation's future economic trajectory. By aligning with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Sohar International underscores its commitment to advancing Oman's strategic vision and enhancing the country's global investment appeal.
Mr. Abdulwahid Mohamed Al Murshidi, Chief Executive Officer of Sohar International remarked, 'Our involvement in the Advantage Oman Forum reflects Sohar International's deep-rooted belief in the power of strategic dialogue to influence real-world outcomes. While capital mobilizes projects, it is foresight, knowledge exchange, and collaborative ambition that turn visions into impact. These forums serve as catalysts for precisely that—bringing together change-makers, innovators, and decision-makers who are reimagining what's possible for Oman and the wider region. At Sohar International, we view our role not just as financial facilitators, but as active partners in the nation's economic evolution—championing fresh perspectives, incubating bold ideas, and creating the conditions for sustained, inclusive growth.'
As part of its participation at the forum, Sohar International hosted a dedicated stall, offering an interactive platform to engage with stakeholders, investors, and delegates on the bank's latest initiatives, financial solutions, and strategic vision. Adding further depth to the bank's involvement, Mr. Abbas Al Lawati, Executive Vice President – Investment Banking, FIG, and International Operations at Sohar International, delivered a presentation titled 'Banking Beyond Lending' highlighting how the banking model is evolving from basic transactional services to globally integrated, tech-driven solutions — a shift that enables banks to diversify offerings, boost efficiency, and drive sustainable growth.
As Oman continues to amplify its global investment appeal through world-class infrastructure, investor-friendly regulations, and a progressive development policy, Sohar International remains steadfast in supporting the nation's ambitions, advancing opportunities that create shared value for people, partners, and the economy at large.
About Sohar International
With the vision to become a world-class Omani services company that helps customers, community and people to prosper and grow, Sohar International operates with a purpose to help people 'win' by delivering responsive banking for their ever-changing world, complementing their growth and prosperity with international standard service delivery. The Bank seeks to redefine banking in Oman through transformational developments centred on the principles of More Velocity, making everything simple and fast; More Value, ensuring relevance and connectivity to customers' world; and More Vision, liberating stakeholders through talented leadership. www.soharinternational.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Today
11 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Don't panic, there's still hope for interest rate cuts
Of all the losers from the Bank of England's decision to hold interest rates - which includes the 591,000 people currently on tracker mortgages, as well as those among the 7.1 million households on fixed rate mortgages who are scouting around for a new deal - the biggest loser of all could be one Rachel Reeves. The chancellor needs the British economy to start firing. Number 11 has very little headroom if it is to keep to Reeves' fiscal rules, which prohibit borrowing to fund day-to-day government spending, and avoid a tax-raising Budget in the autumn. Base rates at the current 4.25 per cent — described by the Bank as 'restrictive' — are throttling the growth that could ease the pressure, and provide some much needed assistance to businesses struggling under the weight of high financing costs, not to mention mortgage holders grappling with high costs. Three members of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee were sufficiently worried about the economy — and the prospect of inflation dipping below the Bank's 2 per cent target next year — to vote for an immediate cut. True, they were the usual suspects - dove-in-chief Swati Dhingra, an external MPC member, Alan Taylor, also an external member and the first Reeves appointment, and Dave Ramsden, one of the Bank's deputy governors. However, that all three of them combined to vote to defy market expectations and cut now, together with comments from governor Andrew Bailey after the decision was made public, have raised hopes that a cut could come in August. The City was previously betting on September as the more likely date. While even August may not come soon enough for Reeves, business groups would certainly cheer given the headaches created by higher taxes, rampant uncertainty and rising wages, especially at the bottom of the scale where those on the minimum wage have been granted a big raise. That is welcome. But we are starting to get to the level at which it's fair to at least debate how much further the floor can be raised before damaging the labour market and the wider economy, particularly given how shaky the latter currently is. Some companies have also clearly responded by squeezing those in roles that pay just above the minimum. The increase could thus be filed under the heading 'no good deed goes unpunished'. The unstable global picture, dominated by conflicts that look increasingly frightening, inevitably complicates the MPC's job. The outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran has already driven a sharp rise in the oil price, and a lesser, but still significant rise in natural gas prices. Pay close attention to the latter in particular, given the impact it could have on OfGem's next energy price cap, and the inflationary impact higher gas prices have caused in the past. Britain remains over-reliant on wholesale gas prices, a longstanding and vexatious problem that will not be fixed easily or quickly. The Bank said it was 'monitoring' the situation, but its rate-setters could easily find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place if the conflict damages the economy while also stoking inflation. Stagflation — a stalling economy, with high inflation and high interest rates — is the nightmare scenario. What really doesn't help matters is the unreliable data the Bank has been receiving from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), particularly the longstanding problems with its labour force survey. It also recently emerged that it got the April inflation number wrong. This represents a huge problem. If the labour market is weaker than the official numbers suggest, and wage settlements are lower, then there would be more scope to cut rates, to the economy's benefit. Recruitment firm Hays has seen its shares slump to a 14-year low as a result of a global slowdown in hiring, with its UK and Ireland division a notable weak sport. A 13 per cent decline in fees were forecast in the domestic market while the company expects a 9 per cent decline across the group as a whole. The ONS needs to fix its problems. It simply isn't good enough. As it is, the MPC is predicting a 'significant slowing' in wage settlements as a result of a looser jobs market, in which vacancies have been tumbling and unemployment rising: even though the MPC trotted out its usual line about taking a 'cautious' approach to cutting rates, while making clear that their path is not 'pre-determined', that is another hint that an August cut could be in the works. Immediate beneficiaries would be those looking to buy homes or remortgage their existing residences. Fixed-rated deals have risen recently because the markets reset their expectations of the pathway for rates. Another change in sentiment could improve deals again. Capital Economics, for one, thinks rates could fall to as low as 3.5 per cent, even with inflation not expected to move back towards the 2 per cent target until next year, with the current 3.4 per cent rate expected to peak at 37 per cent in September.


Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Sohar International and Sohar Islamic partner with SalamAir to offer ip to 40% off on domestic flights for cardholders
Muscat: In a move to drive cross-sector collaboration and enhance customer experience, Sohar International, together with its Islamic banking window Sohar Islamic, has partnered with SalamAir, Oman's low-cost airline, to offer exclusive discounts on domestic travel for their customers. As part of this strategic alliance, credit cardholders will benefit from a 40% discount, while debit cardholders will receive a 15% discount on the price of all SalamAir domestic flights. The offer, valid for travel between 01 July and 31 August 2025, is available exclusively to Sohar International and Sohar Islamic cardholders. Bookings must be made online via SalamAir's official website using the promo codes provided by Sohar International and Sohar Islamic for both their debit and credit card holders, subject to the offer's terms and conditions. The partnership was formally signed during a signing ceremony held on Tuesday, June 17th, at Sohar International's head office. The joint initiative reflects both entities' commitment to delivering integrated lifestyle benefits and enriching customer value, and to Oman's national development objectives by promoting domestic tourism and enhancing air travel accessibility. Commenting on the strategic importance of the partnership, Mr. Abdul Qadir Al Sumali, Chief Retail & Premier Banking Officer of Sohar International, stated: "Today, banking is no longer just transactional; it must be transformative. At Sohar International, our strategy is rooted in a clear and impactful philosophy—to enrich the lives of those we serve by building integrated ecosystems where finance intersects seamlessly with lifestyle. Our partnership with SalamAir, a leading national low-cost carrier that caters to the travel needs of a broad and diverse customer base, brings this vision to life—delivering everyday value through enhanced convenience, satisfaction, and integrated experiences. More than just a customer offer, this initiative contributes to stimulating domestic air travel, supporting local tourism, and reinforcing our role in advancing Oman's economic diversification agenda in line with Oman Vision 2040." Reiterating this sentiment, Steven Allen, Chief Commercial Officer of SalamAir, added: 'We are proud to collaborate with Sohar International on this meaningful initiative. SalamAir remains deeply committed to supporting the local economy, infrastructure, and financial ecosystem of Oman. This partnership not only reinforces our dedication to making travel more accessible and affordable for the people of Oman but also strengthens domestic tourism, particularly to destinations like Salalah, which play a vital role in the country's tourism sector. By extending this offer to all Sohar International and Sohar Islamic debit and credit cardholders, we aim to promote inclusive travel, encourage local exploration, and contribute to Oman's long-term development goals in line with Oman`s Vision 2040.' Through this strategic collaboration, Sohar International and SalamAir reinforce their commitment to building cross-sector partnerships that enhance customer value and expand the role of banking and aviation beyond traditional boundaries. By aligning financial solutions with evolving travel lifestyle needs, both parties continue to lead with a forward-looking approach that integrates relevance, innovation, and impact into its service offerings. About Sohar International Sohar International is Oman's fastest-growing bank, guided by a clear vision to become a world-leading Omani service company that helps customers, communities, and people prosper and grow. With a purpose to help people 'win' by delivering responsive banking for their ever-changing world, the bank offers innovative solutions across Commercial and Investment Banking, Wealth Management, Islamic Banking, and more. Operating with a strong digital-first approach and an expanding regional footprint—including presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—Sohar International is committed to driving value through strategic partnerships and a dynamic customer experience. Learn more at About SalamAir SalamAir currently operates a fleet of 13 Airbus A320/321 aircraft, with over 80 daily flights. In 2025, the airline will expand its fleet with two new aircraft scheduled for delivery in July 2025. SalamAir announced a 10-aircraft order in February 2025, aiming to grow its fleet to 25 aircraft by 2028 For more information, visit or .


Hi Dubai
3 days ago
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Chambers Strengthens Trade Ties as Uzbek Delegation Explores Investment Opportunities
Dubai Chambers hosted a high-level Uzbek delegation on Wednesday, led by Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, H.E. Laziz Kudratov, to explore avenues for deepening economic cooperation during the Dubai-Uzbekistan Business Seminar. The event brought together around 100 business leaders and senior government officials from both nations, creating a platform to boost bilateral trade and investment. Discussions centered on expanding commercial ties and leveraging synergies between the two markets. H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, underscored the importance of building on the growing trade momentum. 'We are eager to explore new paths for collaboration and investment to drive mutual economic growth,' he said, reaffirming the Chamber's support for Uzbek businesses looking to scale globally through Dubai. The seminar featured presentations on market opportunities in both Dubai and Uzbekistan, with a shared focus on increasing trade flows. In 2024, non-oil trade between Dubai and Uzbekistan surged by 66% to exceed AED 11.1 billion. Key Uzbek exports to Dubai include precious stones, zinc, fruits, and copper, while Dubai exports electronics, vehicles, and cosmetics to Uzbekistan. Both sides explored ways to expand this exchange, aligning with their respective economic strengths. Uzbek business presence in Dubai is also rising. Over 700 Uzbek firms were active members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce by the end of 2024 — a 34.5% increase year-on-year — with over 60 new companies joining in Q1 2025 alone. News Source: Dubai Media Office