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
LUNCH WITH FRANK KANE Energy Ahmed Al Azkawi: ‘We are the national champion for oil and gas’ The chief executive of OQEP gives our Editor-at-Large a crash course in Omani energy past, present and future April 10, 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
Defence Oman spends a quarter of its budget on defence Defence spending ate up just over a quarter of Oman’s budget in 2024, according to a government report. Allocations for defence and security stood at OR2.5 billion ($6.5 billion) for the first 10 months of last year, said the country’s latest Monthly Statistical Bulletin. This was nearly 26 percent of the sultanate’s total expenditure in […] 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
Mining Oman-backed Kazakh gold miner explores GCC funding Kazakh gold miner Solidcore is considering issuing bonds in the Gulf region to finance investment, including in new projects in Kazakhstan estimated to cost up to $350 million, the company’s CEO Vitaly Nesis told Reuters. Solidcore, formerly Polymetal International, is the second-largest gold miner in Kazakhstan. The company had to sell its Russian assets, which represented […] April 2, 2025
Oil & Gas Oman’s oil sector received $12bn investment in 2024 Oman says nearly RO5 billion ($12 billion) was pumped into its hydrocarbon sector last year as it pushed ahead with plans to expand production capacity and boost reserves. By the end of 2024, cumulative investment in the sultanate’s hydrocarbon industry totalled around RO24 billion ($62 billion), up from RO19 ($50 billion) at the end of […] April 1, 2025
Energy GCC companies to bid for Oman’s power projects A Saudi-listed company and a UAE state-run entity are among a dozen companies shortlisted to develop and operate two major independent power producer (IPP) projects in Oman. The list includes Etihad Water and Electricity, Acwa Power, Marubeni Corporation, Reliance Power, Sembcorp Utilities, Samsung C&T Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Nebras Power, Korea Western Power and Al Jomaih […] April 1, 2025
Mining MDO expands Oman’s mining assets Minerals Development Oman (MDO) is moving ahead with mining projects to exploit the sultanate’s reserves of titanium, copper, chromite and dolomite, according to the state-owned company’s annual report. Nearly 30 percent of engineering work has been completed at the Mazoon Copper project, which was launched last year, the company said in the 2024 report. Tenders […] March 31, 2025
Economy UK largest source of FDI in Oman, led by oil and gas Companies from the UK were once again the biggest source of foreign direct investment to Oman last year, with FDI focused primarily on oil and gas, Oman government data show. UK companies pumped nearly OR2.85 billion ($7.4 billion) into the sultanate last year, making them accountable for more than half the cumulative stock of FDI, […] March 28, 2025
Telecoms Elon Musk’s Starlink starts operations in Oman Oman’s telecom authority has permitted Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to start retail and commercial operations. The service will cover all regions of Oman, including remote and challenging terrains, offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps, state-run Oman News Agency reported, citing a statement from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). Starlink Muscat was given […] March 28, 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
Trade Oman’s exports rise after Duqm refinery comes online Oman’s exports grew last year as a result of a sharp increase in oil refining production after the Duqm Refinery became operational, official figures show. Export of refined products almost trebled last year after the start-up of the $9 billion Duqm Refinery, a joint venture between the Omani government-owned OQ and Kuwait Petroleum International, a […] March 26, 2025
Finance Profits of Muscat-listed companies surge over 50% in 2024 Net profits of publicly-listed companies on the Muscat Stock Exchange rose 53 percent to OMR1.3 billion ($3.4 billion) in 2024, compared to OMR877 million in 2023, according to a news report. Of the 90 listed companies, 69 reported profits in 2024, up from 68 in the previous year, Oman Daily Observer reported. Despite the number […] March 25, 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
Employment Oman targets 45,000 new jobs this year The Omani government reportedly plans to create 45,000 job opportunities in 2025. The jobs include 11,000 positions for training and qualification, 10,000 in government offices and 24,000 in the private sector, the Oman Daily Observer reported, citing labour minister Dr Mahad bin Said Baowain. The ministry is focusing on providing work-related training and wage subsidies for […] March 19, 2025
