Project Incubator Service by the SME Development Authority

The Authority seeks to attract entrepreneurs with startups from all governorates in the Sultanate of Oman, to provide comprehensive programs offered by a group of consultants and specialists in entrepreneurship and to monitor the entrepreneur’s development alongside their project.

The Authority offers an incubator application service, which entrepreneurs can apply for through the website. It requires the uploading of certain documents such as the business plan and commercial registration in case the application is accepted, and demands full-time management of the project (or at least full-time commitment from one of the partners). The incubator service provides logistical support in the form of workspaces supervised by the Authority, along with consultations in areas needed to develop the business, such as marketing, finance, legal, and other advisory services.

To obtain the incubator service, the applicant must be an Omani citizen and must pass an interview with the Authority’s Incubator Application Review Committee. The incubators target startups with no more than four employees. The applicant must not be an owner or partner in another company, must participate in the Training and Mentorship Program, and must not have previously benefited from incubators offered by other government entities.

The incubator application process goes through different stages within a period not exceeding two weeks. Applications are submitted through the Authority’s website along with the business plan, followed by a preliminary evaluation to verify the project’s alignment with incubator requirements and to determine the appropriate type of incubator. Finally, the application is reviewed by the screening committee, which informs the applicant of the final decision—acceptance or rejection—with feedback.

The incubators managed by the SME Development Authority provide an appealing environment for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and startups, focusing on promising fields such as creative industries, technology, and manufacturing.