17 October 2011
MUSCAT: Sahar Al Kaabi is a woman of many firsts. From opening the first women-only café in Oman, to becoming the first woman elected to the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Al Kaabi has been a leader for Women in the Sultanate.
Sitting in her black and white themed office in MSQ, Al Kaabi talks about how she got to where she is today: a businesswoman with her own company, a PhD aspirant, and a member of the OCCI.
"When you want to start something, you should study and have a good plan," she says.
Al Kaabi learned this the hard way. When she was in her early 20s she opened her first business, a small gift shop. She had a degree in Arabic Literature, but no business experience so within two years she'd lost her money and had to close. But that didn't deter her from trying again.
Among her ground breaking achievements was the Sadaf Café in MSQ, which was a private coffee shop just for women.
"It was so nice. Women could come and as there were no men, they could take off their hijab. Some ladies wanted to meet their friends out of the house but in a place where they could be comfortable without men," Al Kaabi recalls.
Al Kaabi pursued her business interests with determination and better strategies, and now she has the Sadaf Company which includes a flower shop, a training centre, and an oil and gas banking division.
The training centre provides courses in administration, finance, and in floral arrangements so that Omanis can work in the flower industry. Like the Sadaf Café, training florists was yet another first in the Sultanate.
"My idea was that we need Omani people to come to this kind of business. It's easy and it doesn't need a certificate. To be employed, you just need the skills," Al Kaabi explains.
Three of her students have already opened their own businesses; one has a shop and two work from their homes, she says proudly.
In addition to her businesses, Al Kaabi is also on the OCCI board. She was first appointed by a Royal Decree, but in the board elections last June, she decided to contest as a candidate. She was elected first among the Muscat candidates, and was the first woman to be elected to the board.
Al Kaabi is a woman who has tried new things and broken down gender barriers, but says her work doesn't end here. She also plans on doing some charity work for women that will focus on providing women with skills.
"We should teach them how to do their own businesses, even from home," she says.
While her life has been very public, she says it's also wonderful if women choose to stay at home and focus on raising their children.
But if they have skills or knowledge, they should share them with the community. She says women who approach her are often afraid that people won't believe in them if they want to go into business or other endeavours.
"Believe in yourself," she says. "I believe in myself and I believe in God. I have a clean heart and I know I'm doing the right thing."
MUSCAT: Sahar Al Kaabi is a woman of many firsts. From opening the first women-only café in Oman, to becoming the first woman elected to the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Al Kaabi has been a leader for Women in the Sultanate.
Sitting in her black and white themed office in MSQ, Al Kaabi talks about how she got to where she is today: a businesswoman with her own company, a PhD aspirant, and a member of the OCCI.
"When you want to start something, you should study and have a good plan," she says.
Al Kaabi learned this the hard way. When she was in her early 20s she opened her first business, a small gift shop. She had a degree in Arabic Literature, but no business experience so within two years she'd lost her money and had to close. But that didn't deter her from trying again.
Among her ground breaking achievements was the Sadaf Café in MSQ, which was a private coffee shop just for women.
"It was so nice. Women could come and as there were no men, they could take off their hijab. Some ladies wanted to meet their friends out of the house but in a place where they could be comfortable without men," Al Kaabi recalls.
Al Kaabi pursued her business interests with determination and better strategies, and now she has the Sadaf Company which includes a flower shop, a training centre, and an oil and gas banking division.
The training centre provides courses in administration, finance, and in floral arrangements so that Omanis can work in the flower industry. Like the Sadaf Café, training florists was yet another first in the Sultanate.
"My idea was that we need Omani people to come to this kind of business. It's easy and it doesn't need a certificate. To be employed, you just need the skills," Al Kaabi explains.
Three of her students have already opened their own businesses; one has a shop and two work from their homes, she says proudly.
In addition to her businesses, Al Kaabi is also on the OCCI board. She was first appointed by a Royal Decree, but in the board elections last June, she decided to contest as a candidate. She was elected first among the Muscat candidates, and was the first woman to be elected to the board.
Al Kaabi is a woman who has tried new things and broken down gender barriers, but says her work doesn't end here. She also plans on doing some charity work for women that will focus on providing women with skills.
"We should teach them how to do their own businesses, even from home," she says.
While her life has been very public, she says it's also wonderful if women choose to stay at home and focus on raising their children.
But if they have skills or knowledge, they should share them with the community. She says women who approach her are often afraid that people won't believe in them if they want to go into business or other endeavours.
"Believe in yourself," she says. "I believe in myself and I believe in God. I have a clean heart and I know I'm doing the right thing."
© Times of Oman 2011
