As businesses across the Gulf accelerate their digital transformation efforts, many small and medium-sized enterprises face a common challenge: accessing specialized talent without taking on the cost and commitment of full-time hires.

Whether it’s designing a new brand identity, managing social media campaigns, producing video content, or creating digital marketing strategies, SMEs often need expertise on demand rather than permanent additions to their payroll.

In Oman, one startup is addressing that gap by connecting businesses with the country’s growing pool of independent professionals. Zameeli, one of the Sultanate’s first homegrown freelance marketplaces, has secured Shariah-compliant financing from Sharakah, Oman’s SME development company, to accelerate its growth and strengthen its position within the country’s evolving digital economy.

While the value of the financing was not disclosed, the investment marks an important milestone for the young company as it seeks to expand opportunities for both local businesses and Omani freelancers.

Building an Omani Freelance Economy

Founded in 2023 and led by entrepreneur Tariq Al Habsi, Zameeli was created with a simple but increasingly relevant mission: to help businesses access specialized local talent quickly and efficiently.

The platform connects small and medium-sized enterprises with Omani freelancers offering services in areas such as graphic design, digital marketing, videography, content creation, branding, and social media management.

For SMEs operating with limited budgets, hiring full-time specialists across multiple disciplines is often unrealistic. At the same time, Oman is home to a growing number of skilled professionals seeking flexible opportunities to monetize their expertise.

Zameeli bridges that gap. By enabling businesses to engage freelancers on demand, the platform allows companies to remain agile while creating new income opportunities for local creative talent.

As digital channels become increasingly essential to business growth, platforms like Zameeli are emerging as important components of the modern SME ecosystem.

Sharakah’s Commitment to SME Growth

The financing was provided by Sharakah, one of Oman’s most established institutions supporting entrepreneurship and small business development. Established by Royal Decree in 1998, Sharakah has played a significant role in nurturing the Sultanate’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through financing solutions, mentorship, training programmes, and advisory services. Its decision to back Zameeli reflects a broader commitment to supporting businesses that enable other businesses to thrive.

Ali Muqaibal, Chief Executive Officer of Sharakah, noted that the investment aligns closely with the organization’s mission of empowering SMEs and entrepreneurs through innovative solutions that foster collaboration and growth. Rather than supporting a single enterprise in isolation, investments in enabling platforms such as Zameeli can generate multiplier effects across the wider economy by strengthening the capabilities of thousands of small businesses.

Fueling the Next Phase of Growth

The newly secured financing will support several strategic initiatives designed to accelerate Zameeli’s expansion across Oman. A significant portion of the funding will be directed toward enhancing the platform’s technology infrastructure and improving its technical capabilities. As user expectations evolve, creating a seamless and intuitive digital experience has become critical for marketplace platforms seeking to build trust and encourage repeat engagement.

The company also plans to improve operational efficiency and enhance the overall user experience for both freelancers and businesses using the platform. In addition, Zameeli intends to expand its customer base among SMEs while attracting more local professionals to join its growing network of independent talent. The funding will also support digital marketing initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of the platform and driving adoption across different regions of the Sultanate. 

For Tariq Al Habsi, the investment represents more than working capital. It serves as validation of the company’s mission and provides the resources needed to deliver greater value to all participants within the ecosystem.

He described the financing as a major milestone that will enable Zameeli to strengthen its technology capabilities while creating better experiences for both freelancers and businesses.

The Rise of Flexible Talent Models

The nature of work is changing globally, and the Gulf region is no exception. Businesses increasingly seek flexibility in how they access expertise. Rather than building large in-house teams, many organizations are embracing project-based engagement models that allow them to tap into specialized skills exactly when needed.

At the same time, professionals are increasingly exploring independent careers that offer autonomy, flexibility, and opportunities to work across multiple projects. 

Digital marketplaces have emerged as the infrastructure enabling this shift. For countries seeking to stimulate entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities, and encourage innovation, local freelance ecosystems can play an important role in unlocking economic participation. By focusing specifically on Omani talent, Zameeli is ensuring that the benefits of this transformation remain rooted within the local economy.

Supporting Oman’s Digital Transformation

The partnership between Zameeli and Sharakah arrives at a time when Oman’s digital economy continues to gather momentum. Small businesses are investing more heavily in their online presence, customer engagement strategies, and digital capabilities. Demand for creative services and digital expertise is increasing as entrepreneurs recognize the importance of adapting to changing consumer behaviors.

Platforms that facilitate efficient access to these capabilities can help accelerate this transition. By reducing barriers between businesses and independent professionals, Zameeli enables SMEs to compete more effectively without significant upfront investment. In turn, freelancers gain access to a larger market and a trusted platform through which they can showcase their skills and build sustainable careers.

More Than a Marketplace

While Zameeli may appear on the surface to be a freelance platform, its broader impact extends much further. It is creating new pathways for collaboration between entrepreneurs and independent professionals. It is helping SMEs become more agile and competitive. It is enabling local talent to participate more actively in Oman’s digital economy. Most importantly, it demonstrates how technology can address practical challenges faced by businesses every day. 

As Oman continues investing in entrepreneurship and innovation, platforms like Zameeli represent a new generation of homegrown solutions designed to strengthen the country’s economic foundations from within.

For Zameeli, this latest funding is not simply another financing announcement. It is an opportunity to build a more connected, collaborative, and digitally empowered future for Oman’s entrepreneurs and creative professionals alike.

Mohammed Abubakr

Mohammed Abubakr is the Founder & Editor of StartupMuslim.com. Through StartupMuslim, he documents the journeys of Muslim founders across industries, focusing on the challenges they overcome, the vision that drives them, and the impact they create.His work centers on building a narrative layer for the global Muslim startup ecosystem—one that not only highlights success, but also captures the process, discipline, and values behind it. By conducting in-depth interviews and publishing founder stories, he aims to inspire and enable the next generation of Muslim entrepreneurs to think bigger and build with purpose.