Oman's sports economy ambition: From grassroots to global arena
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is actively pursuing a strategy to transform its sporting landscape, not just for the love of the game, but as a significant driver of economic growth and diversification. Recent discussions from the "Tejarah Talks" podcast, featuring Pankaj Khimji, Advisor, Foreign Trade & International Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion, and Joe Rafferty, Director, Events, Oman Sail, highlight a multifaceted approach focusing on grassroots development, experiential tourism, and strategic international events.
The vision is clear: to cultivate a deep-seated sports culture within the Sultanate of Oman that will naturally foster a thriving sports economy. "Unless we develop our grassroots of sports culture, whether it's in schools or in the maydans or on the beaches of Oman, unless we promote this in our family or school , we're not going to be able to get into the real business of sports," emphasised Khimji. This foundational belief underscores the need for physical education to be a core curriculum subject and for children to be introduced to sports from a very young age.
Oman's inherent "DNA" for sports, as noted by Alya al Hosni of Tejarah Talks podcast and corporate affairs director at Muriya, is evident in its success in areas like beach football. The goal is to leverage this natural aptitude and build a robust ecosystem. The economic ripple effects of a thriving sports sector are extensive, extending far beyond direct participation. From equipment sales and coaching to media coverage, hospitality, and related services, the opportunities for private sector involvement are immense.
The recent explosion of padel in Oman serves as a prime example of organic growth and private sector engagement. Padel clubs have sprung up across the country, becoming new social hubs. This phenomenon illustrates the potential for smaller, multi-purpose sporting centers in wilayats and non-urban areas to encourage widespread participation. "What it shows is that you probably want to build small little youth centers in wilayats in little urban non-urban townscapes to encourage people to participate and play in sports," Khimji observed, advocating for practical, state-of-the-art facilities over mega-stadiums.
Beyond domestic engagement, Oman is strategically positioning itself as a destination for sports tourism. The concept of "experiential travel" – where tourists not only see but actively do – aligns perfectly with adventure sports and unique terrains. The country's diverse landscape offers unparalleled opportunities for activities like aqua trekking in wadis, 4x4 off-roading, and altitude training for athletes. "This mix of adventure sports and tourism is a huge investment opportunity," stated Khimji, highlighting the potential for automobile manufacturers to use Oman as a hub for vehicle trials.
The economic benefits of hosting international teams are also gaining recognition. Khimji recounted a recent visit by Indian state cricket teams, who, after playing matches, extended their stay to explore Oman's tourist attractions like Nizwa and witness dolphins. This accidental discovery has led to a surge of interest from other Indian teams keen to tour Oman, demonstrating the power of sports to drive ancillary tourism revenue.
Looking ahead, Oman has its sights set on attracting prestigious international events that align with the nation's brand. "I'd like to see a tennis tournament whether we start with the 250 or then with the 500 and probably in 10 or 7 years time to do a tennis 1000 as well ATP," Khimji articulated, emphasising the high television and media coverage such events attract. The ultimate ambition for Oman, according to Khimji, would be to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix. While acknowledging the presence of F1 tracks in neighboring countries, he sees it as a complementary venture, not a competitive one. "It's not about we competing with them, it's about we participating in the sport because the sport is basically viewed on television," he explained. An F1 track, he added, would serve as a multi-purpose venue for corporate events, community gatherings, concerts, and car exhibitions, creating significant leverage.
Ultimately, Oman aims to create a prominent spot on the global sporting calendar. By fostering a passionate grassroots culture, leveraging its unique natural assets for experiential tourism, and strategically attracting high-profile international events, Oman is set to score big in the dynamic world of the sports economy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
10 hours ago
- Observer
Oman courts global investors at Russia forum
BUSINESS REPORTER ST PETERSBURG, JUNE 21 The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, concluded its participation in the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), reaffirming its commitment to global economic dialogue and cross-border investment engagement. Oman spotlighted its integrated business ecosystem and priority sectors under Oman Vision 2040, which aims to foster a resilient and diversified economy. SPIEF 2025 attracted approximately 20,000 participants from 140 countries, maintaining robust international engagement. The Forum featured more than 150 events, ranging from thematic panels and plenary sessions to business breakfasts and bilateral dialogues. High-profile attendees included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, Bahraini royal Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile — alongside senior officials from nearly 50 countries, including Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Central African Republic. Their presence underscored SPIEF's role as a pivotal platform for fostering multipolar economic cooperation. The Omani delegation was led by Ibtisam bint Ahmed Al Farooji, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, who spearheaded a series of high-level meetings and sector-focused engagements. The delegation's program included participation in key forum sessions, bilateral meetings with institutional investors, and exploratory visits to major corporate pavilions. This year, Oman's focus centered on promoting investment in four high-potential sectors: luxury tourism, logistics, food security, and mining — each aligned with national efforts to position Oman as a competitive and future-ready investment destination. As part of its engagement, Oman organized a dedicated roundtable with leading Russian companies active in these sectors. The session provided a platform to present the Sultanate's competitive advantages, regulatory reforms, and infrastructure readiness, while facilitating direct dialogue with potential investors and strategic partners. 'Oman is focused on high-value investment, enabling enterprise through streamlined digital platforms, and scaling public-private partnerships—an area where we bring over two decades of institutional experience. Our business climate continues to strengthen, supported by policy clarity, legal reform, and competitive market access.' She highlighted Oman's upgraded credit rating by Standard & Poor's in 2024 as a signal of fiscal stability and investor confidence, adding that the Sultanate is actively translating these gains into tangible investment momentum across key sectors—from green hydrogen and advanced manufacturing to integrated tourism and logistics. Trade and economic cooperation between Oman and Russia continues to deepen. As of February 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached RO 30.9 million. Notably, Omani exports to Russia surged from RO 582,602 in 2022 to RO 3.35 million in 2023 — a remarkable 475% increase. Imports from Russia totaled RO 188.4 million, highlighting the scale and diversification of commercial ties between the two countries. Oman's participation in SPIEF 2025 aligns with its broader strategy to enhance investor outreach in key international markets, particularly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. By leveraging global platforms such as SPIEF, Oman is actively cultivating a network of institutional investors and strategic partners to catalyze sustainable development and high-impact investment. As part of the official business programme, Oman participated in the SPIEF session titled 'Greater Eurasia: Drivers for the Formation of an Integrated Investment Market.' Al Farooji joined global investment leaders to explore policy tools that can accelerate cross-border capital flows. Discussions addressed market integration, institutional readiness, and innovative investment instruments — themes that closely align with Oman's ongoing investment reform agenda.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Forum to boost academic and industrial sectors' integration
Muscat: The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation on Wednesday organised the first annual forum to enhance integration between academic and industrial sectors. The forum, held in Muscat, seeks to open up vistas for constructive dialogue and cooperation, in addition to exchanging expertise between the two sectors. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Rahma Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. The forum saw the signing of 18 agreements to promote community engagement in boosting education—with the prime objective of consolidating partnerships between higher education institutions and society. The agreements aim to foster a culture of endowment in support of education. They focus on raising awareness among students and members of teaching and administrative departments. They also deal with participation in events and activities organized by educational institutions. In addition, the forum included visual presentations made by private higher education institutions, public and private sector institutions and 'Siraj Education Endowment Foundation'. The Ministry also gave a presentation about Ejaad platform. The presentation focused on cooperation between academic and industrial sectors.
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
Invest Oman hosts ‘Advantage Oman' dialogue in Brussels
BUSINESS REPORTER MUSCAT, JUNE 17 As part of its strategic agenda to expand global investment partnerships, Invest Oman , operating under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, convened the 'Advantage Oman – Kingdom of Belgium' Business Dialogue in Brussels. The event was held in collaboration with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Belgium and the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (ABLCC). Designed to highlight the Sultanate's evolving investment landscape, the dialogue aimed to foster deeper economic and trade relations between Oman and Belgium. It brought together a distinguished audience of Belgian investors, industry leaders, and senior decision-makers, with a focus on high-potential sectors such as renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, and tourism and leisure. The platform facilitated direct engagement between Omani and Belgian stakeholders, enabling exploration of joint investment opportunities and commercial synergies. The Omani delegation presented Oman's strategic megaprojects, regulatory enhancements, and investor-centric reforms—underscoring the Sultanate's commitment to creating a competitive and future-ready business environment. Pankaj Khimji, Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Adviser at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, stated: 'Oman places great emphasis on forging long-term partnerships with Belgium. This dialogue is a strategic step toward elevating our economic cooperation, introducing Oman's competitive advantages, and enabling Belgian enterprises to expand within a high-potential, future-ready market.' Rua bint Issa Al Zadjali, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Belgium, remarked: 'This initiative reflects Oman's broader vision to strengthen economic diplomacy and create meaningful engagement with key international markets. It is a timely platform to deepen ties with Belgium's business community and highlight Oman's role as a trusted and strategic investment destination.' The 'Advantage Oman – Kingdom of Belgium' Business Dialogue is part of Oman's ongoing global outreach to position itself as a regional gateway for investment and trade. Belgium continues to emerge as a key partner across several priority sectors, as Oman actively builds enduring economic bridges with European markets.
