MUSCAT: The Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) hosted a distinguished gathering of Franklin University–MCBS MBA alumni at its Muscat campus, celebrating over a decade since the program’s first cohort graduated in 2013. The event brought together prominent business leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives who are shaping Oman’s corporate and innovation landscape.

The Franklin University–MCBS MBA is the first and only American MBA program offered and
hosted in Oman, providing professionals with the opportunity to earn a globally recognized U.S.
degree while remaining rooted in their local context. Alumni reflected on how the program
enhanced their global perspective, strategic thinking, and leadership abilities.

Senior executives who attended the event included several distinguished CEOs and industry
leaders, among them Mahmood Sakhi Al Balushi (CEO, Al Madina Logistics), Harith Khamis
Humaid Al Maqbali (Founder and CEO, Otaxi), Talib Hamood Khalifa Al Rashdi (CEO, Frontier
Technologies), Abdul Aziz Sadiq Al Haj Jaafar (CEO, ETCO Space), H.H. Khalid Mohamed Salim Al
Said (CEO, Muscat Sky Development), Ali Khamis Khalifa Awlad Wadair Al Busaidi (CEO, Gulf
Oilfield Services), and Najla Sulaiman Nasser Al Anqudi (Head of MID & SME, Business Banking
Department – Bank Dhofar). These accomplished leaders exemplify the program’s legacy of
fostering innovation, leadership, and impact across sectors in Oman and beyond.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Moosa Al Kindi, Dean of MCBS, highlighted the significance of the
long-standing collaboration, “The Franklin–MCBS MBA program stands as a testament to our
shared commitment to global excellence. As the first and only American MBA program hosted in Oman, it continues to produce leaders who combine international vision with local insight,
leaders who are building Oman’s future economy.”

Representing Franklin University were Dr. Godfrey Mendes, Senior Vice President for Global
Programs and Strategic Initiatives; Dr. Sherry Mercurio, Executive Director of Community &
Public Relations; and Dr. Alyncia Bowen, Dean of the Ross College of Business. They commended
the partnership’s success and its enduring impact on regional executive education.

Dr. Mendes emphasized the strength and sustainability of the partnership, “Franklin University is
proud to see how this collaboration has evolved into one of the most respected MBA programs
in the region. Together with MCBS, we are empowering professionals with a U.S.-accredited
degree that prepares them to lead across borders while remaining rooted in the values of their
community.”

Reflecting on his experience, Mr. Harith Maqbali, CEO of Otaxi and Franklin–MCBS MBA alumnus,
shared, “This program gave me the tools and confidence to scale Otaxi from a startup to a
national brand. It strengthened my ability to think strategically, innovate responsibly, and build
teams that thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.”

The gathering concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening alumni engagement and
advancing executive education in Oman, reaffirming MCBS’s position as a leading institution
driving innovation, leadership, and global collaboration.