Opinion Economy What Trump’s election win means for Omanis Amid US-led sanctions, many Iranians view Oman as a crucial outlet for trade November 19, 2024
Economy IMF says oil output to back Oman’s economic rebound Oman’s economy is on track to rebound in 2025, driven by higher hydrocarbon production and robust growth of the non-hydrocarbon sector, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said. Growth is, however, projected to remain at 1.2 percent this year, weighed down by extended Opec+-related oil production curbs. Fiscal and current account balances are forecast to […] November 19, 2024
Markets OQ chemical subsidiary targets $490m from IPO OQ Base Industries, a subsidiary of Oman’s state energy company OQ, intends to raise up to OR187 million ($490 million) through an initial public offering on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX). The price range was set between 106 and 111 baisas per share, valuing the company between OR188 million and OR385 million. The subscription period […] November 19, 2024
Oil & Gas Oman’s OQGN to expand network as demand grows State-owned OQ Gas Networks (OQGN), the pipeline subsidiary of Oman energy major OQ, is enhancing its gas network capacity as part of a major infrastructure expansion strategy. A new 193km loop line from Fahud to Sohar, described as “one of the largest ever”, will be constructed to address rising energy needs in the Suhar and […] November 18, 2024
Infrastructure Muscat maps out its future development plans Muscat is set to approve a plan that will create a central 55km spine where much of the future development of the Omani capital city will take place. The city is predicted to double in size by 2040. The Greater Muscat Structure Plan, awaiting approval at cabinet level, provides a map of where future growth […] November 6, 2024
Sustainability Adnoc and Oman’s 44.01 scale up carbon-to-rock project Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Omani company 44.01 have announced plans to scale up their carbon-to-rock project in the emirate of Fujairah following the successful completion of a pilot initiative. Muscat-based startup 44.01 – named after the molecule mass for CO2 – uses technology to accelerate a natural process in which carbon dioxide […] November 5, 2024
Markets OQ’s methanol unit is latest in Oman’s privatisation push OQ Base Industries is to sell up to 49 percent of its shares through an initial public offering in Oman – the fourth flotation of an OQ subsidiary since March 2023. The Omani state oil company raised OR748.8 million ($1.94 billion) in October by offloading a 25 percent stake in its upstream subsidiary OQ Exploration […] November 4, 2024
Markets Shares in Oman’s OQEP recover after poor debut Shares in Oman’s OQ Exploration and Production rebounded on Tuesday, recovering some of their losses following a shock slump on the Muscat bourse a day earlier as dividend-seeking institutional investors took advantage of the sell-off to acquire at lower prices. OQEP, the upstream subsidiary of state oil company OQ, raised OMR748.8 million ($1.94 billion) in […] October 29, 2024
Infrastructure Tender for first phase of Oman industrial city issued A tender for the first phase of the Al Mudhaibi Industrial City project in North Al Sharqiyah governorate has been issued by Oman’s Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn). The tender, aimed at specialised companies in Oman and Saudi Arabia, covers the development of around 2.5 square kilometres of basic services. This includes road networks, […] October 28, 2024
Economy Manufacturing and agriculture drive Oman GDP growth Oman’s economy is continuing to expand off the back of strong non-oil sector growth. In the second quarter of 2024, Omani GDP at current prices rose 2.6 percent, while real GDP grew by 1.9 percent. Much of this growth was driven by the country’s non-oil sector, which rose by 4.2 percent, according to statistics released […] October 22, 2024
Economy Oman public revenue tops $21bn as oil earnings surge Oman’s public revenue rose to OR8.1 billion ($21 billion) by the end of August 2024, up 3 percent year on year, thanks to a surge in oil income. Net oil revenue reached OR4.65 billion, rising 12 percent from OR4.15 billion a year earlier, the state-run Oman News Agency reported. The average oil price stood at […] October 11, 2024
Transport Hafeet Rail secures $1.5bn loan for UAE-Oman rail link Hafeet Rail, formerly Oman and Etihad Rail Company, has secured funding of $1.5 billion from a consortium of regional and global banks for the 238km railway network. The $2.5 billion Omani-Emirati railway network project is the first link in a unified regional transport and logistics chain and will link five major ports and various industrial and free […] October 10, 2024
Tech Oman to acquire its first national satellite Oman is in the process of acquiring its first national satellite, the head of the country’s space programme has revealed. As part of the sultanate’s national development plan, Vision 2040, it aims to have the information and communication technology sector, which includes space technology, contribute 10 percent to the overall GDP by 2040. “Oman is […] October 7, 2024
Opinion Banking and Finance Oman must empower SMEs by removing banking barriers The country has much to gain from supporting its entrepreneurs with easier access to funding October 7, 2024
Analysis Banking and Finance Omani banking sector ripe for further mergers Oman’s banking sector has more than doubled in size since 2013 but may lack the scale to meet state financing needs. Lenders are already stretched in terms of their loan-to-deposit ratios, and further sector consolidation is probably needed along with borrowing on international bond markets. Bank Muscat is Oman’s largest with assets of OMR13.7 billion […] October 7, 2024
Analysis Banking and Finance Omani banks look to state spending to boost credit growth Lower interest rates should increase borrowing demand in Oman although the sultanate’s banks are waiting for a meaningful expansion in government infrastructure spending for credit growth to accelerate. Bank Muscat is Oman’s largest bank, reporting a 2023 net annual profit that was greater than those of the next four commercial banks combined, S&P Global data […] October 4, 2024
Finance Omani fund secures $2bn investment in new projects The Oman Future Fund has secured local and foreign investments worth OR832 million ($2.2 billion) across 10 economic sectors. The OR2 billion fund, owned by the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), will invest OR220 million in these projects, while foreign investments account for OR609 million. The major project categories include technology, industry, tourism, energy and electric […] October 3, 2024
Economy Oman to impose income tax on high earners post-2026 Oman is expected to implement its proposed personal income tax on high earners after 2026, according to a new report. In July, the Majlis al-Shura, the lower house of the Omani parliament, approved a draft law on income tax – the first of its kind in the GCC region – forwarding it to the State […] September 30, 2024
Opinion Agriculture Saham Agricultural City will offer Oman farmers a lifeline The project should help reduce a reliance on increasingly costly imports September 26, 2024
Trade Oman-Saudi trade tops $2.6bn in first half of 2024 Trade between Oman and Saudi Arabia exceeded OMR1 billion ($2.6 billion) in the first six months of 2024, official data shows. Metal products accounted for the largest proportion of Omani exports to the kingdom by value, totalling OMR161 million, the state-run Oman News Agency reported, quoting data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information. […] September 25, 2024
