Breaking Barriers in Oman

Oman is an unexpected paradise: its lengthy coastline is home to vibrant coral reefs, migrating whale sharks, and the beach-going camels of Salalah. However, due to warming waters and unsustainable fishing practices, many populations of local marine life are declining.

Rumaitha Al Busaidi has something to say about that, though.

Growing up in Muscat, an early encounter with endangered sea turtles sparked a passion for marine conservation that would shape Rumaitha’s entire future. "I learned very quickly that they were endangered and needed to be protected," she recalls. Rumaitha decided to pursue marine science, approaching environmental conservation with the same determination she brought to every pursuit: her sports career (a gifted athlete, she’s also the first female football analyst from the Arab world), exploration, and women’s rights.

In 2007, Oman was hit by a devastating cyclone. "Based on studies, you're expecting one major cyclone every five years," she notes, underscoring the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

“You also have infrastructure that's quite old,” she says. Ancient ruins and stunning mountainside cities are a part of Oman’s charm–these locations are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. “The question is, how are you going to ensure that the entire city is resilient?” she asks.

However, the impacts of climate change in Oman extend beyond cyclones, with flooding, droughts, and the looming threat of sea-level rise pose significant challenges to the country.

“Omani youth are at the front of being aware of climate change, more so than the rest of the region, because they see it much more frequently,” she says.

Armed with MSc degrees in Environmental Science and Aquaculture, Rumaitha set out to make waves in environmental policy. "I realised that to truly make a difference, I needed to be where the decisions were being made," she explains, her voice filled with conviction. Rumaitha accepted roles as adviser to the Government of Oman and director of Projects and Environmental Affairs and Fisheries Development.

Recognising the intersection of women's rights and climate action, Rumaitha founded WomeX during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. WomeX combines AI and culturally relevant mentoring to help women around the world achieve their full potential. Through WomeX, she teaches negotiation skills and how to have uncomfortable conversations, crucial abilities in both personal development and climate advocacy.

"The best way to impact climate change practices and behaviours is through educating and empowering women and girls," Rumaitha explains.

Today, the platform has expanded beyond Oman, reaching women in Yemen, Egypt, and India. "Women do better when they negotiate on behalf of people and not on behalf of themselves," she reveals, sharing a valuable insight that applies across cultures.

But, as always, Rumaitha felt she needed to do more to empower women and change the climate conversation.

Building on her work with WomeX, Rumaitha's influence soon extended beyond Oman's borders. As a member of the Environment Society of Oman and the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change, she’s become a powerful voice for environmental protection across the Arab world.

“I worked on a research piece surveying the youth population of the Arab States to understand what the Arab youth priorities were and what their recommendations were to decision-makers,” she says. Rumaitha presented their groundbreaking research at COP28 to the entire Arab League youth ministers, delivering a powerful message.

“They're not convinced that you're doing enough. That was the biggest message. And they want more representation. They want more climate science to be taught in universities.”

Rumiatha and the research team also discovered that climate anxiety for 18-30 year-olds had tripled since the baseline date in 2020. “They’re anxious for their future. However, in terms of opportunities, a lot of them are hopeful because they believe there's a lot of room to actually influence the people in power to make an impact and change.

“There's a lot more grassroots movement and initiatives coming from them because they want to make a difference.”

Looking ahead, Rumaitha envisions more women in decision-making positions positions in climate policy, especially in Arab countries. "I really hope that in the future, when I do any of these presentations, I'm actually doing it towards women who will understand more just on the context of them being women than men do."

At the end of the interview, we discuss Rumaitha’s extensive travels, tying her global exploration back to her climate action. What was the most moving place she ever visited?

Her answer: Antarctica.

“It's an unusual destination,” she says. “You could finally understand the meaning of silence in the Antarctic. And it's not the silence that happens when you have earplugs, but rather in the sense that you could actually hear whales breathing.”

“Nature just doing its work.”

Like many women in the climate action space, Rumaitha is determined and resolute, leveraging her education and experience to create opportunities for others. “I feel that as a result of how we are brought up, women have more concern towards what happens with fellow human beings than men.

For young women aspiring to make a difference in climate action, Rumaitha encourages budding activists to educate themselves, share their knowledge, and volunteer with local organisations.

"Start small, learn what you can contribute at the moment in terms of the negative and the positive,” she says.