Finance World Bank loans Oman $310m for economic diversification Loans totalling $310 million to support Oman’s economic diversification plans have been agreed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a part of the World Bank Group that seeks to encourage private sector development in less developed markets. The loans, arranged by the Omani Ministry of Finance, are to support three Omani companies, with a particular […] April 21, 2025
Tourism Second resort city planned for Salalah in Oman Oman has approved a second major resort in Salalah on the Indian Ocean in the south of the sultanate in an effort to attract more tourists as part of the country’s economic diversification programme. The $100 million, 470,000 square metre project has been named Boulevard Razaz and will include canals, landscaped gardens, a shopping mall, […] April 15, 2025
Renewable Energy Chinese company to build $200m wind turbine plant in Oman China’s Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group has signed a $200 million agreement to build a wind turbine factory in Oman’s central industrial city of Duqm. Duqm, which sits on international shipping routes, has attracted over $15 billion in project spending, including a 230,000 barrels per day oil refinery, a crude oil storage facility, a free […] April 15, 2025
Banking & Finance Takeover raises Oman bank competition concerns Oman’s second-largest lender by assets, Sohar International Bank, has secured approval from a smaller rival, Ahli Bank, for it to acquire Ahli. The takeover comes as concerns are raised that consolidation in the country’s banking sector could limit choice and competition, and raise costs for customers. Ahli Bank, which was set up in 2007, said […] April 11, 2025
Banking & Finance Oman’s Sohar International Bank targets rival Ahli Sohar International Bank, Oman’s second-biggest bank by assets, has expressed an interest in buying smaller rival Ahli Bank as it seeks to compete with its bigger competitor, Bank Muscat, and others. Sohar International has sent a letter of intent to Ahli, one of the smaller banks in the country. Ahli, which was set up in 2007, […] April 8, 2025
Real Estate Oman mortgages surged last year on falling property prices The value of mortgage transactions in Oman surged by almost half last year as declining property prices and marginally lower interest rates pulled in first time and other buyers, including from the UAE and around the Gulf. The total value of mortgages – from a total of 20,680 agreements – rose 46 percent to OR […] April 7, 2025
Trade Oman says US tariffs will have limited effect on trade New import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration will have a minimum effect on Oman’s economy, a senior official said. “The US tariffs apply only for our non-energy products and not to our crude oil, gas and refined oil, so there will be limited impact on our finances,” Dr Nasser Al Maawali, the Undersecretary […] April 7, 2025
Tourism Thai earthquake increases Omani Eid bookings to Dubai The earthquake which has devastated parts of southeast Asia has forced many Eid holiday makers from Oman to divert from flying to Thailand and to choose Dubai instead as is a preferred destination. Travel agents in Oman have seen a surge of bookings to Dubai with most of them leaving by air. “In last year’s […] April 2, 2025
Oil & Gas Profits at Oman-listed OQBI surged in 2024 Oman’s state-controlled OQ Base Industries (OQBI) has reported that net profits for 2024 increased by 38 percent to $81 million, up from $25 million a year earlier. OQBI, which produces methanol, ammonia and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is the downstream arm of state-owned OQ. It started trading on the Muscat Security Market (MSM) on December […] April 2, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil output increase of 30% sought in Oman block offer Oman is planning to offer 11 new oil concession blocks across the country this year, as it seeks to raise production by a third by the end of the decade. The ministry of energy and minerals, through the state-run company OQ Exploration and Production (OQEP) and the Canadian-based Scotiabank, have started marketing the potential blocks. […] March 27, 2025
Employment Oman to increase minimum wage to offset inflation Oman is planning to increase the minimum wage by a fifth to counter higher costs of living, according to manpower minister Mahad Baawain. Baawain said in a radio interview that the cabinet is considering a recommendation to raise the minimum wage to OR400 ($1,035) per month. “We have already made a decision to increase the […] March 27, 2025
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality Ramadan food prices won’t stop Omanis filling their trolleys Staples such as rice and sugar cost about 10% more this year, but Iftar traditions still hold sway March 19, 2025
Banking & Finance Ominvest 2024 profits hit by insurance subsidiary losses Losses at an insurance subsidiary caused by the deadly floods that struck Oman and the UAE last year hit profits at Oman International Development and Investment Company (Ominvest), a large listed holding company. Ominvest reported net profit of $96 million in 2024, down 7 percent year on year from $104 million in 2023. The company’s […] March 14, 2025
Telecoms Profits fall as Omantel loses subscribers to rivals Profits have fallen at Oman Telecommunications Company after it lost market share to competitors. Omantel, Oman’s largest telecommunications provider, said net profit was down 3 percent last year to $795 million. Market share fell five percentage points in 2024 to 48 percent of a total of 7.1 million subscribers in the country, down from 53 […] March 12, 2025
Tourism New $350m city planned in southern Oman to attract tourists Oman is planning to build 12,000 villas and apartments in the southern coastal town of Salalah as part of a drive to attract tourists. The $350 million development, which will be able to house 60,000 people, will cover 7.3 sq km and also include parks, a marina and retail and hospitality space. Construction of the […] March 11, 2025
Trade Oman’s foreign trade up thanks to oil and gas Oman’s total foreign trade in 2024 rose by 7 percent year on year to $63 billion, led by a rise of 18 percent in oil and gas exports. However, non-oil revenues fell, underlining Oman’s continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Oil and gas exports jumped to $42 billion in 2024, up from $35.6 billion the […] March 5, 2025
Aviation SalamAir adds planes and routes in Oman tourism drive Oman’s only low-cost airline, SalamAir, plans to double its fleet size and almost treble passenger numbers over the next three years, its CEO has told AGBI. Adrian Hamilton-Manns said SalamAir’s fleet would increase from 13 Airbus planes today to 25 aircraft in 2028. It is aiming for annual passenger numbers of 8.5 million in three […] March 4, 2025
Logistics Oman seeks $330m in shipping company IPO Asyad, Oman’s state-run shipping company, is selling shares to the public this month in an effort to raise more than $330 million to fund expansion of its container and storage facilities at the country’s ports, and grow its fleet of vessels by more than a third. Oman is also selling off state assets to reduce […] February 19, 2025
Real Estate Oman awards contracts to build homes for low-income nationals Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has awarded contracts worth $170 million to build homes and related infrastructure for low-income nationals in outlying regions. Of 1.35 million working Omanis, about 12 percent earn a minimum wage, according to official statistics. In 2022, the government raised the minimum wage from $815 to $1,000 per month. […] February 17, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec oil cuts push Oman’s revenue down $1.7bn Oman’s adherence to Opec+ voluntary oil production cuts resulted in revenue from the sector falling by an average of $4.6 million a day last year. The country’s average daily crude oil production fell 5.4 percent in 2024 to 992,600 barrels per day (bpd), figures from the National Center of Statistical Information show. The average price […] February 6, 2025
Mining UK mining company unearths copper deposits in Oman Major copper deposits in the Al Batinah region of Oman have been uncovered by a UK mining company, Power Metal Resources. The discovery was made in Block 8, about 130km from Muscat. Power Metal Resources acquired the exploration rights for the area from the government of Oman two years ago and started work on it […] February 3, 2025
Banking & Finance Total profits at Oman’s banks up 15% in 2024 Banks in Oman recorded a 15.2 percent year on year rise in profits in 2024. Total profits reached OMR522.6 million ($1.36 billion) last year, up from OMR453.5 million in 2023, the Central Bank of Oman said. The increase was attributed to the country’s robust economic growth last year through project financing, mortgages and loans to […] January 31, 2025
