Bank Muscat’s stall at the Oman Science Festival, currently being held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center (OCEC), has drawn big turnout from students and visitors who commended the Bank’s commitment to spread awareness about financial literacy and its active role in fostering this concept across various segments of society. This participation is part of a larger event featuring 2,500 participants from 120 institutions, with over 500 events spread across the OCEC.
The Bank’s participation includes interactive, state-of-the-art screens that provide a unique educational experience for all ages. These screens enable visitors to engage with content on financial planning, money management. There are also series of competitions and activities, including quizzes on financial literacy and money management, designed to enhance financial skills in an engaging way.
Speaking on the occasion, Hamza bin Abbas al Ajmi, Deputy General Manager – Credit, Bank Muscat, expressed the Bank’s dedication to participating in key events that reflect Oman’s progress across various fields. “Oman Science Festival is an important event, which draws a broad audience interested in creativity and innovation. Financial literacy is a core focus for the Bank, especially among students, as it represents a foundational skill essential to achieving sustainable financial health and planning for a secure future.
Talib bin Saif Al Makhmari, Head of Community & Media Relations, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to raising awareness of financial literacy and its importance. He highlighted that Bank Muscat’s participation includes diverse interactive and educational activities that enrich knowledge in financial management. “ We are really impressed with the strong turnout, especially among students eager to build their financial skills, and we invite everyone to visit the Bank’s booth to explore these topics in more detail.
In alignment with its commitment to social responsibility, Al Makhmari added that Bank Muscat has launched the “Maliyat” programme”, which is an e-platform that gives workshops evolving around financial literacy, aimed at equipping participants with fundamental skills in financial management. Covering aspects such as financial planning, budgeting, investment, income, debt management, savings, and future planning, the programme prepares young people in particular to attain financial independence. The “Maliyat Academy” programme, from the other side, which is designed for kids aged 13 to 16 years, complements this by deepening financial awareness, empowering participants to manage their finances effectively and make informed decisions.
Omar bin Jamal Al Mammari, a student at Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Kindi School, said” “The Oman Science Festival is a great opportunity for us to get acquainted with the latest innovations in the field of Science and technology, and interact with useful and purposeful projects. Seeing young people contribute to presenting outstanding ideas and creations in various scientific fields is a source of inspiration for me to continue innovating and discovering new things. Also, the interactive screen in Bank Muscat’s stall is enriching and useful because we got to know many financial concepts in a fun way. The Bank Muscat team present at the stall explained to us how to differentiate between basics and luxuries and how to plan to spend money correctly and thoughtful.
Fajr bint Yousuf Al Balushiya, a student at Al Mouj Private School, expressed her admiration for the idea of teaching visitors how to financial planning through discussions with the Bank Muscat team. She added: “The use of the interactive screen to answer a number of questions that assess our knowledge of financial culture is very creative. This experience is truly great as it makes us learn in an easy way and elevate our knowledge of this important aspect. I think that the Oman Science Festival in general is important because it introduces us to the importance of science, innovation and creativity in our lives, and how to improve our lives through these innovations.”
Financial awareness is an essential aspect for individuals as it allows them to gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to take proper financial decisions in multiple areas in life. Considering the present economic changes, gaining financial awareness constitutes an important practice as it helps individuals and families enjoy financially stable and decent lives and represents a crucial pillar for futuristic economic growth both for Omanis and non-Omanis. Hence, it critical that all individuals be financially aware and knowledgeable in order for them to be able to set proper financial plans for their future, understand major terminology related to finance such as budgets planning, managing expenses, saving, investment, and giving back to community, in addition to coping with unexpected life circumstances such as economic crisis and job loss cases.
