Embracing a Legacy of Youth Achievement
The atmosphere at the historic Sohar Fort on the occasion of Omani Youth Day was charged with inspiration as Oman’s young visionaries gathered to celebrate determination, innovation and community. Under the patronage of Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, the event cast a spotlight on fourteen exceptional individuals whose work represents a vibrant extension of the nation’s heritage and future promise.
The theme “Imtidad,” meaning “Extension,” resonated deeply: drawing a bridge between Oman’s rich traditions and the dynamic ambitions of its young generation.
A Celebration That Connects Past and Present
The ceremony introduced a captivating musical production titled Imtidad, where traditional Omani instruments including the mizmar abu maqrun, barghoom, shabboura, hongu and yem were artfully woven into a modern orchestral arrangement. This creative convergence symbolised how youth are not only inheriting a legacy but also reinterpreting it with fresh energy and vision.
It was a deliberate message: the young people of Oman stand as both custodians of culture and pioneers of progress.
Recognising Excellence Across Five Key Fields
Fourteen winners of the Youth Excellence Awards were honoured for outstanding achievements in five distinct categories: digital media, the digital economy, environment, youth initiatives and entrepreneurship.
Some of the standout recognitions included:
Awardee for ‘Mindset Podcast’: Hajar bint Jumaa al Amriyah
Awardee for ‘Inspiring Paths / Nabd Sohar Media Team’: Haitham bin Musbah al Maqbali
Awardee for ‘Omani Agricultural Drone Pilot Training Initiative’: Maathir bint Khamis al Wahibiyah
Awardee for ‘Qishoor’: Anwar bin Ahmed al Baimani
Awardee for ‘Destination’: Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al Raisi
Awardee for ‘The Blooming Garden’: Rihab bint Abdullah al Maamariyah
In youth initiatives: Hilal bin Said al Dhahli for ‘Hear Me’; Shaimaa bint Hassan al Fazariyah for ‘Still We Dream’; Dr Sumaya bint Salem al Wahibiyah for ‘Creative Mornings’; Hafsa bint Ali al Habsiyah for ‘Nutfat Al Khair’; Jihad bin Khalid al Farsi for ‘Our Unique Print Buthra Fund’.
In entrepreneurship: Fatma bint Jafar al Lawatiyah for ‘Mangaka Bag’; Anwar bin Salem al Majizi for ‘Smart Developer’; and Eng Yousuf bin Ahmed al Ibrahim for ‘Dot Next Jadeer Awj’.
These awardees reflect a potent mix of creativity, enterprise, digital savvy, and community driven action.
Partnerships Strengthening Youth Engagement
Beyond the awards, the event marked the signing of seven strategic agreements to expand youth centre branches across Oman’s governorates. Major national entities such as Vale Oman, OMIFCO, Mohsin Haider Darwish Group, OQ Group, Sohar Aluminium, Sohar Port and OQ Exploration and Production pledged support to ensure inclusive access for young people across the nation.
This signifies a collective commitment: investing in youth infrastructure, talent development, and community spaces where innovation and ambition can flourish.
Voices of the Youth: Partners in Nation Building
The event reinforced that young Omanis are not merely recipients of programmes but active partners in shaping the future of their country. The multimedia presentation projected a vivid narrative of belonging, ambition, and achievement showing the youth of today embracing heritage while setting bold new directions.
The presence of the Minister and dignitaries alongside young people also underlined the message: youth are valued stakeholders in the national project anchored in Oman Vision 2040.
By acknowledging youth contributions in digital economy, environment, innovation and entrepreneurship, the ceremony affirmed that the voice of youth is integral to societal progress.
Innovation Meets Tradition: Stories That Inspire
Take for example the awardee who trained as an agricultural drone pilot a deep blend of heritage (agriculture) and cutting edge technology. Or the young entrepreneur building bags inspired by manga art, combining artistic culture with business acumen.
These stories show that young Omanis are relating to their roots, yet not bound by them. They are building, creating and extending that legacy in new forms. The event’s musical performance, too, mirrored this fusion: traditional instruments and modern orchestration raising a powerful signal that culture and innovation can coexist and strengthen each other.
A Call for Community and Environment Mindful Action
The environmental category winners and the youth initiative awardees reflect a deepening awareness that progress includes social and ecological responsibility. The youth are being encouraged and are stepping up not only to participate in the economy but to shape it in ways aligned with sustainability, inclusion and creativity.
Through the awarded projects, young people are telling a story: growth is not separate from values. It is built on them.
Fostering Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship
In today’s rapidly changing global economy, digital skills, entrepreneurship and creative thinking are leap points for young talent. The awards in digital economy and entrepreneurship categories showcase that Oman is empowering its youth with more than just opportunities it is empowering them to become generators of opportunity themselves.
When young people start businesses, harness digital platforms, and lead initiatives that create jobs and value, the entire ecosystem benefits. These young leaders convey optimism: they are readiness in action.
National Unity Through Youth Engagement
By bringing together youth from across different initiatives, geographic regions and sectors, the ceremony emphasised unity in diversity. The youth centres expansion ensures that no part of the country is left behind in accessing resources, networks and platforms.
In doing so, Oman is nurturing a cohesive national identity: young people rooted in Omani culture and connected to a global future, standing together as a generation with purpose.
The Power of Role Models and Mentors
Highlighting individual winners creates role models for others. Their journeys often combining passion, skill and perseverance open pathways for thousands more young people to imagine what is possible.
Moreover, the involvement of ministries, national organisations, and industry partners adds a mentoring dimension: young Omanis are supported, celebrated and integrated into wider systems that amplify impact.
Conclusion: Youth as Architects of Tomorrow
On this Omani Youth Day, the fourteen winners of the Imtidad Excellence Awards did more than receive recognition — they stood as ambassadors of a vibrant generation, ready to take Oman’s story forward.
Their achievements signal that youth are not the future merely; they are the present, actively shaping society, culture, business and innovation. As the night at Sohar Fort closed, there remained a palpable sense of both pride and promise an invitation to every young Omani to extend the nation’s heritage while reaching boldly forward.
For the youth of Oman, this is not the end of a chapter, but a launch into the next phase of national achievement and the world looks on with anticipation, hope and respect.
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