Founder’s Perspective
Essays and observations by Mehdi Jabbari on business, investment, public policy and economic development in Oman and the wider region.
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A Problem in Oman’s ITC Property Market
Oman allows foreign nationals to own property in Integrated Tourism Complexes, commonly known as ITCs. They can invest, live in the property, rent it out, or sell it later. This has helped Oman attract foreign capital and present itself as a safe and peaceful place for property investment. However, real estate brokerage activities remain heavily…
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Oman Needs More Companies That Want to Be Number One
Oman is a beautiful, peaceful, and safe country. I value these qualities, but they are not enough to produce companies that can compete globally. In Forbes Middle East’s 2025 list of the 100 largest listed companies in the region, the UAE had 33 companies, Saudi Arabia had 30, and Qatar had 12. Oman had only…
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A Question About Development in the Middle East
Governments across the Middle East are investing heavily in development. There are hundreds of conferences, forums, startup events, innovation programs, entrepreneurship centres, awards, exhibitions, and large urban projects. If we judge by the amount of activity, the region appears to be moving quickly. But I am not sure that activity alone tells us whether society…
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The Problem Is How Omanisation Is Implemented
Omanisation is an important national goal and necessary for the future of Oman’s economy. The problem is not the goal itself, but the way it is sometimes carried out. When employees are placed in customer service or investor-facing roles without enough training, clear authority, or proper performance monitoring, customers and investors may have a negative…
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What Role Should Social Media Play in GCC Countries?
Social media in GCC countries is full of success stories. Every day, we talk about progress, conferences, events, and plans to become one of the best in the world. We explain why we succeeded and show what has been achieved. There is nothing wrong with that, but it should not be the only conversation. We…
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To the Young People of Oman… Before You Compare Yourselves to Others
In Oman, you may see people start a business and quickly gain clients. Then they are invited to events, celebrated, and given titles such as successful entrepreneur or outstanding businessperson. Over time, they may also become convinced that all this success came only from their personal abilities. But in some cases, a large part of…
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Customer Service Is Costing Oman More Than We Think
Hospitality and professional service are not the same An economy depends on more than laws, infrastructure, ports, airports, free zones, and development plans. It also depends on what investors, business owners, customers, and applicants experience when they try to get something done. An investor does not experience Oman through one ministry or institution. They deal…
