Date: February 24, 2019
Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) members Zahra Mohammed Ambu Saidi and Ishaq Ya’qoub Al Busaidi’s souvenir shop has started operations at the renowned Al Hoota Cave, a popular natural tourist destination of Oman.
Zahra Mohammed Ambu Saidi and Ishaq Ya’qoub Al Busaidi, founders of Shiyaka Photography, were among the 10 winners of the Zubair SEC’s flagship Direct Support Programme (DSP) for the year 2018.
In September last year Oman’s tourism development body Omran had signed an agreement with the founders of Shiyaka Photography for operation of a souvenir shop at Al Hoota Cave. Zahra won the competitive tender to open the souvenir store focused on local themes at Al Hoota Cave, one of the largest cave systems in the world, estimated to be over two million years old. A popular natural tourist destination, this is the only cave in Oman developed for tourism. Embellished with stalactites and stalagmites, the cave system stretches more than 4.5 km, with 500 metres publicly accessible.
The Al Hoota Cave Souvenir Shop was opened in November 2018.
Zubair SEC has been extending extensive advisory support to Shiyaka Photography, guiding them through their business development, marketing strategy, and expansion plans.
Nauzer Nowroji, Senior Advisor at Zubair SEC said, “Founders of Shiyaka Photography have demonstrated innovation in developing their services, and flexibility in adjusting their offerings to meet market expectations. The services of Shiyaka Photography are very important to promote tourism in Oman, especially when capturing special photos of such unique places as Al Hoota Cave and incorporating the pictures into special destination based souvenir gifts.”
One of the largest cave systems in the world, Al Hoota Cave is estimated to be over two million years old. A popular natural tourist destination, this is the only cave in Oman developed for tourism. Embellished with stalactites and stalagmites, the cave system stretches more than 4.5 km, with 500 metres publicly accessible.
Aiming to play a vital role in promoting Oman as a unique tourist destination, Al Hoota Cave Souvenir Shop retails unique tourist souvenirs, gifts, merchandising and promotional gifts related to Al Hoota Cave in particular and Oman in general. The company’s expertise in photography and videography gives it an edge to apply creative ideas, designing destination related items that will be sold at the store; ex, Al Hoota Cave postcards, T-shirts, mugs, etc.
Thanking Zubair SEC, Zahra said, “I would like to emphasise that Zubair SEC has played a significant role in my journey as an entrepreneur. Their supervision and guidance have encouraged me through the different stages of my business, and I trust business acumen and accumulated experience to extend the best advice towards the growth and sustainability of my small enterprise.”
One of Oman’s significant social responsibility initiatives Zubair SEC has always been in the forefront in assisting ambitious small-business owners and entrepreneurs to grow assertively. Through Zubair SEC, its members have been having better access to knowledge, expertise and understanding of the market.