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On November 13th 2025, the Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu will open its doors to a gathering that reflects the very heartbeat of Somalia’s new economy — the 6th edition of the Somali Business Awards (SOBA). It is more than an event. It is a celebration of courage, creativity, and community — the values that have kept Somalia’s private sector alive through adversity and driven it toward possibility.
Each year, SOBA has grown from a modest recognition platform into a national tradition. It now stands as one of Somalia’s most anticipated business events, bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers who are redefining what success means in a country rebuilding itself through enterprise. From small traders in Bakara Market to emerging tech startups in Mogadishu’s innovation hubs, these awards honour not just profit, but purpose — the quiet determination to create, employ, and uplift.
This year’s edition carries a special significance. Somalia’s recent entry into the East African Community has widened its commercial horizon, opening doors for partnerships that were once out of reach. The awards will highlight businesses that have not only adapted to this changing landscape but are positioning Somalia as a regional player in trade, finance, and innovation.
The venue — the Jazeera Hotel — has long been a symbol of resilience in Mogadishu, hosting moments that capture the city’s growing confidence. On that evening, it will shine with the stories of men and women who refused to wait for perfect conditions before building something meaningful. Their journeys remind us that the true wealth of Somalia is not buried in the ground, but alive in its people.
As we look ahead to the ceremony, one thing feels certain: SOBA is no longer just an awards night — it is a movement. A reminder that even in uncertainty, progress is possible. That entrepreneurship, when guided by integrity and imagination, can become a bridge between survival and transformation.
To every nominee, organizer, and participant — your work tells a larger story about Somalia’s future. A story of ambition anchored in hope. On November 13th, as the lights rise over Jazeera Hotel, that story will shine once more — proudly, brightly, and unmistakably Somali.