Strengthening the concordance between entrepreneurship orientation with indigenous cultural values

In light of implementing Western models to develop entrepreneurship capabilities and capital in the Arab Gulf, it has become apparent that a more nuanced and better contextually-situated approach to entrepreneurship development is recommended when dealing with such deeply traditional communities. This paper seeks to provide insight into the relationship between Western and local orientations in terms of entrepreneurship in the Sultanate of Oman. Twenty face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with contemporary Omani entrepreneurs, revealing that these Western Entrepreneurship Orientation (EO) models are perceived as potentially threatening the integrity and harmony of local communities. This perception causes partial resistance toward integrating Western dimensions of EO into the indigenous mindset. Hence, this paper strives to, firstly, identify the Omani cultural orientations that directly impact the application of Western dimensions of EO. Secondly, this paper proposes an alternative scenario for entrepreneurship development through strengthening dimensions of EO taking account of and blending with Omani cultural orientations. The paper will add to the body of literature exploring the impact of indigenous cultures on entrepreneurial orientation. Results offer recommendations to decision-makers and entrepreneurs from Oman and other countries with similar socio-cultural profiles on boosting a culture of entrepreneurship that aligns with preserving cultural heritage and local customs.