MUSCAT : The wide gap between the more than 58,000 enterprises that have obtained the Riyada Entrepreneurship Card and the roughly 25,000 that are currently active is primarily due to the card’s voluntary nature and flexible renewal system, Her Excellency Halima bint Rashid Al Zari, chairperson of the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, said.
Al Zari explained that the Riyada Entrepreneurship Card is not mandatory and is issued only when entrepreneurs believe it adds real value to their business journey. While optional, the card serves as an official and credible proof of entrepreneurial status.
She noted that full-time dedication to managing the enterprise is required when the card is issued for the first time. However, annual renewal is not compulsory, as entrepreneurs may choose to renew the card only when they wish to benefit from the services, incentives and advantages linked to it.
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“This flexibility means that a number of cards remain inactive, even though the enterprises themselves may still exist or operate at a limited level,” Al Zari said.
She added that the statistics also include business owners who are not fully dedicated entrepreneurs, such as individuals who are employed while simultaneously owning or managing a small or medium-sized enterprise. This category is permitted to conduct commercial activities and is eligible for certain forms of government support, even without maintaining an active entrepreneurship card.
On employment status, Al Zari clarified that once a person obtains the Riyada Entrepreneurship Card, they are officially classified as a full-time entrepreneur managing their business. Even if the card is not renewed or becomes inactive, it continues to serve as formal proof of full-time dedication to the enterprise.
She said the system is designed to balance flexibility with credibility, encouraging entrepreneurship while avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens, and ensuring that support is available when entrepreneurs choose to activate or renew their cards.
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