A small, deliberate gathering of foreign-founded business owners operating in Oman. Real conversations about the things that don't get discussed in official chamber events.
Setting up and running a foreign-founded business in Oman is a specific kind of experience. The regulatory questions are different. The banking friction is different. The Omanisation timeline is different. The Ramadan cash-flow patterns are different. Most business events in Muscat aren't built around this — they're built around the general expatriate professional market, or the local corporate community.
The Founders Table exists because the founders we work with kept saying the same thing: "I wish I could just talk to other people who've done this." So we built it.
Chatham House rule. What's said stays in the room. Which means founders actually share what's working, what's broken, and what they wish they'd known 6 months earlier.
Each event has a single focus — banking, hiring, tax, Omanisation, supplier relationships, exit paths. Deep, not wide. No sponsor pitches, no "networking" for its own sake.
Capped at 20 attendees per event. Small enough that everyone gets to speak. Big enough that there's real experience diversity in the room.
Short application. Takes about 3 minutes. Because the room is small, we do read applications and confirm each new member individually — usually within 2 working days. You'll then receive an invitation to the next event.
Thanks — we'll review your application and get back to you within two working days. If confirmed, you'll receive an invitation to the next Founders Table session by email.
— Christophe & the Marhaba team
Two reasons. First, it covers venue and refreshments — genuinely operational cost. Second, it dramatically reduces no-shows. People who RSVP for free events don't turn up. People who paid OMR 8 do. Small friction, large filter.
Once you allow accountants, lawyers, and consultants into the room, founders stop being candid — because they know someone is listening for sales opportunities. We're a service provider too (Marhaba forms companies), but as hosts we facilitate, not pitch. If you're a service provider interested in supporting the Founders Table in another capacity, get in touch separately.
Let us know as soon as you can so we can offer your spot to someone on the waitlist. If you no-show without notice more than twice, we'll ask you to sit out a session before rejoining.
If they're a co-founder or C-level in the same business, yes — but they need to apply separately so we know who's in the room. We don't do "+1" attendance.
No. Chatham House rule means what's said stays in the room. Individual attendees can share what they learned; no one can attribute specific views or stories to specific people.
Primary language is English. Occasional Arabic and Dutch will happen when it helps. Attendees should be comfortable participating in English discussion.