MUSCAT, 2 July 2004 — Only Omani women can sell “abaya” — a full-length female costume growing in demand in the Sultanate, according to an official announcement.
To begin with, 38 shops have been earmarked in Seeb, a sprawling district in the Muscat Governorate and adjoining locality Al-Khoudh for the purpose, by Sanad, a self-employment scheme created by the Ministry of Manpower as part of the campaign to promote Omanization in order to remove joblessness among the local populace and reduce dependence on expatriates who form about one-fourth of the 2.3 million population.
“The step comes in implementation of a ministerial decision aimed at creating jobs for Omani women,” said a statement released by the state news agency ONA, attributing it to Sanad. “The decision does not apply to tailoring of abayas.”
The Manpower Ministry, created recently, has taken a number of decisions of far-reaching consequence to ensure maximum jobs for citizens in the wake of growing number graduates passing from colleges and universities. A number of low-paid jobs have been set aside for Omanis. Also efforts are on to train Omanis to take up decision-making executive slots, believing expatriate bosses are rather reluctant to recruit locals.
The sale of abaya has grown manifold in the recent past as more and more Omani women are wearing it in keeping with Islamic traditions.
In the words of a young Omani woman, “abaya has become a fashion also with some forward-looking, liberal girls adoring it over jeans and skirts.”
Sanad has also decided to “Omanize” the sale of animal feed, antiques, gifts and perfumery in the district of Ibri from early next year. Already, expatriates have been prohibited from selling and transporting fruit and vegetables in a number of districts.
