Environment Society of Oman

What Environment Society of Oman does

The Environment Society of Oman (ESO) is the only non-profit environmental organization in Oman, founded in March 2004 and headquartered in Muscat (Darsait). It conducts research, education, advocacy, and conservation activities targeting threatened and endangered marine and terrestrial species, including loggerhead and green sea turtles on Masirah Island, the Arabian Sea humpback whale subpopulation, Egyptian and Lappet-faced vultures, and the Boswellia sacra frankincense tree in Dhofar. Field operations are supported by a dedicated Masirah Field Coordinator, and the organization is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since February 2009.

ESO's core programmes span marine research and conservation, terrestrial research and conservation, education (including the Namat Schools Competition and the youth-targeted Wa'ai Competition), community outreach, and capacity building. Research outputs include 24+ scientific publications, most notably the Marine Mammal Atlas of Oman documenting 20 years of cetacean work, and supporting technologies include satellite tagging, photo-identification, acoustic monitoring, genetic analysis, and field survey methods. Outreach scale includes 1,122+ schools engaged, 765+ tons of marine debris removed from turtle nesting beaches, and 17 graduates trained through capacity-building programmes since 2010.

ESO is funded through a diversified non-profit revenue model comprising individual memberships (5 OMR students / 10 OMR non-students annually), corporate memberships (2,000 OMR annually), personal donations via online portal and SMS (1 OMR/month via Omantel), project sponsorships from corporate and international funders (Veolia, HSBC Oman, Bank Nizwa, Shell Oman, Disney Conservation Fund, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Hima Fund, Bernd Meyburg Stiftung), fundraising events (ESO Balls, art exhibitions, Oman Desert Marathon), and tourism donation programmes with hotels and tour operators. It is governed by a Board of Directors with two-year election terms and currently employs 12 specialized staff.

Name

Environment Society of Oman

Legal name

Environment Society of Oman

Website

https://eso.org.om

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ESO is Oman's only non-profit environmental organization, founded in 2004, conducting research, education, and conservation on threatened marine and terrestrial species. It serves Omani schools, youth, corporates, and communities through memberships, sponsorships, donations, and outreach programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

Keywords

• Environmental conservation services
• Marine research programs
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Environmental education programs
• Community outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

Darsait

HQ country

Oman

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Memberships: Individual membership program offering student (5 OMR) and non-student (10 OMR) annual memberships with benefits including monthly lectures, quarterly activities, volunteering opportunities, and member discounts.
2. Corporate Memberships: Corporate membership at 2,000 OMR annually providing annual environmental presentations, lecture invitations, event access, marketing benefits, and 5 employee slots.
3. Personal Donations: Direct donations through online portal, bank transfers, mobile apps, SMS (1 OMR/month via Omantel), and cash/cheque payments.
4. Project Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors funding specific conservation and research projects aligned with UN SDGs and Oman Vision 2040.
5. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events including ESO Art exhibitions, ESO Balls, and Oman Desert Marathon charity races.
6. Tourism Donation Program: Partnership with hotels and tour operators allowing tourists to donate 1 OMR upon checkout to support conservation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ESO conducts scientific research on threatened and endangered species in Oman's marine and terrestrial environments, including sea turtles, whales and dolphins, raptors, and frankincense trees. It delivers environmental education programs targeting schools and youth, runs community outreach to coastal and fishing communities, and operates a capacity building programme for Omani graduates. The organization funds operations through individual and corporate memberships, donations, project sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

The Environment Society of Oman (ESO) operates as a non-profit conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include Marine Research & Conservation and Terrestrial Research & Conservation programmes, each with specialized sub-programmes covering turtles, whales/dolphins, raptors, and frankincense. These research programmes are complemented by Education, Community Outreach, and Capacity Building programmes. The organization also provides membership services and publishes research materials including the Marine Mammal Atlas of Oman. No technology products, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities were identified in the source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marine Research & Conservation Programme Pioneering marine research to inform conservation initiatives designed to protect threatened and endangered species residing in Oman's waters, including sea turtles and cetaceans.
• Turtle Research and Conservation Programme Long-term monitoring of sea turtle nesting populations on Masirah Island, including loggerhead and green sea turtles, with conservation efforts addressing threats from entanglement, pollution, and habitat loss.
• Whale and Dolphin Research and Conservation Programme Research focused on the Arabian Sea humpback whale sub-population and other cetaceans in Omani waters, including satellite tagging, acoustic studies, and photo-identification.
• Terrestrial Research & Conservation Programme Pioneering terrestrial research to inform conservation initiatives designed to protect threatened and endangered species found in Oman, including raptors and frankincense trees.
• Raptor Research and Conservation Programme Research and conservation of endangered raptors in Oman, particularly Egyptian vultures and Lappet-faced vultures, including satellite tracking and community outreach.
• Frankincense Research and Conservation Programme Conservation of Boswellia sacra (frankincense tree) in Dhofar, addressing threats from overgrazing, overharvesting, and habitat degradation through research and community engagement.
• Education Programme Educational initiatives targeting schools, colleges, and universities to raise environmental awareness and promote adoption of sustainable behaviors among Omani youth.
• Community Outreach Programme Initiatives engaging various community sectors including women, children, fishermen, and coastal communities through events such as Turtle Mandoos, Oman Climate Dialogues, and environmental awareness campaigns.
• Capacity Building Programme Training Omani graduates in conservation strategies, community engagement, and NGO management, including a dedicated Cetacean Capacity Building Programme funded by HSBC Oman.
• Membership Programme Individual and corporate membership programmes offering access to monthly lectures, field trips, events, and discounts, with annual fees of 5 OMR for students and 10 OMR for non-students; corporate membership at 2,000 OMR annually.
• Namat Schools Competition Environmental competition for government schools in Oman focused on themes including waste management, water management, energy management, and community engagement.
• Wa'ai Competition Environmental competition targeting young adults aged 18 to 25, focused on climate change and plastic pollution solutions through creative formats including short films, reusable products, and infographics.
• Marine Mammal Atlas of Oman A publication representing 20 years of scientific research providing geographical representation of cetaceans in the Northern Indian Ocean, available as a downloadable PDF.

Quantifiable outcome

• 765+ tons of marine debris removed from turtle nesting beaches
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2009ESO became a member of IUCN in February 2009, gaining international recognition and access to global conservation networks and scientific resources.
• Environment Authority (EA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on turtle conservation programs, working together to counteract population declines through species conservation, marine environment maintenance, and community socioeconomic balance.
• Ocean Ecology NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaborator on turtle conservation research and conservation initiatives.
• Five Oceans Environmental Services LLCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal collaborator supporting turtle conservation and marine environmental services.
• Future Seas Global SPCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on turtle conservation initiatives and environmental research.
• Arabian Sea Whale NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of researchers and organizations dedicated to studying and conserving Arabian Sea humpback whales.
• International Whaling Commission (IWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational body working to conserve whales and dolphins, supporting ESO's cetacean research and conservation efforts.
• Megaptera Marine ConservationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on humpback whale conservation, supporting Arabian Sea humpback whale research.
• Wildlife Conservation SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organization supporting marine mammal research and conservation initiatives.
• RS (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting raptor conservation programs and biodiversity research.
• ASYAD GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner for Oman Climate Dialogues, strengthening climate cooperation across all communities in Oman with expert-led panel discussions and workshops.
• Inwater Research GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida-based organization collaborating on Turtle Mandoos educational program, adapting International Sea Turtle Ambassadors model to Omani context.
• Wageningen University (WUR)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting frankincense research and Boswellia sacra conservation studies.
• Mendelova univerzita v Brně (Mendelu)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partner for frankincense conservation research.
• FairSource BotanicalssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting sustainable frankincense sourcing and conservation initiatives.
• International Avian ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization supporting raptor conservation research and vulture population studies.
• The Chedi MuscatsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel allowing guests to donate 1 OMR upon checkout to support ESO conservation projects.
• TalabatsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood delivery app partner allowing customers to donate to ESO through their mobile application.
• Oman Arab BanksupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBanking partner enabling donations to ESO through their mobile application.
• Bank DhofarsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBanking partner enabling donations to ESO through their mobile application.
• OmantelsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelecom partner enabling SMS donations (1 OMR/month) by sending 'Donate' to 90108.
• University of ExetersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Arabian Sea humpback whale satellite tagging studies, contributing to international research published in Frontiers in Marine Science.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fauna & Flora International: International conservation organization with deep experience in species recovery and habitat protection, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region. Comparable in its research-driven, partnership-oriented conservation model.
• BirdLife International: Global partnership of conservation organizations focused on birds and their habitats. Comparable through ESO's raptor conservation program and the existing partnership context with bird-focused international bodies.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Global wildlife conservation organization with field programs across marine and terrestrial species. ESO is already a partner, and WCS serves as a peer incumbent operating at much greater scale across similar research-and-conservation mandates.

Others

• Arabian Sea Whale Network: Regional research network focused on Arabian Sea humpback whales. ESO is a member and collaborates on cetacean research, making this a thematic peer and ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• IUCN: International authority on the conservation status of species and natural resources. ESO has been an IUCN member since 2009, and IUCN serves as a peer in defining standards and network access for conservation NGOs.

Emerging players

• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB): Europe's largest conservation charity focused on bird and wildlife conservation. Listed as an ESO partner supporting raptor work, representing a peer with shared raptor-research focus though operating in a very different geography.
• Inwater Research Group: US-based organization focused on sea turtle research and the Sea Turtle Ambassador program. ESO partners with them on the Turtle Mandoos educational initiative, representing a peer with shared sea turtle conservation focus.

Regional players

• Friends of the Environment Society (Bahrain): Bahrain's primary environmental non-profit, working on species conservation, environmental education, and community awareness. Comparable as a GCC environmental NGO with a similar membership-and-program model, though based in a different geography.
• Kuwait Environment Protection Society: One of Kuwait's oldest environmental civil society organizations focused on environmental awareness, conservation advocacy, and community engagement. Comparable in mission and GCC non-profit positioning.

Direct peers

• Emirates Nature-WWF: The UAE's leading environmental non-profit, affiliated with WWF, focused on species conservation, marine research, and environmental education in the Gulf. Directly comparable to ESO as a regional, Gulf-based environmental NGO with a research-and-education model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eso_oman
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8-5m7JYEhVVZ1w1HHOyX1w
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnvironmentSocietyOfOman
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/environment-society-of-oman-eso
• Instagraminstagram.com/esooman

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Environment Society of Oman