Oman sees surge in US investment
MUSCAT: The United States of America emerged as the leading source of foreign direct investment into Oman in early 2025, with American inflows rising by 57.7% as investor confidence in the Sultanate's economic direction strengthened.
According to the latest bulletin released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the US accounted for more than RO 2.8 billion in new investments, overtaking the United Kingdom, which maintained a strong position with a 21% increase in FDI, reaching RO 2.7 billion. Switzerland also stood out, recording a 101.9% jump in investments, while regional interest from Qatar rose sharply by 65.3%.
The rise in US investments is being interpreted by analysts as a long-term vote of confidence in Oman's energy reforms and industrial policies. The Sultanate's push to enhance economic diversification, coupled with regulatory clarity and enhanced investor protections, has made Oman an increasingly attractive destination for global capital.
The total value of FDI inflows reached RO 30.6 billion, up from RO 25.4 billion in Q1 2024. This significant increase of over RO 5 billion highlights growing international investor interest in Oman. By contrast, the same period last year saw more modest growth of around 8%, with capital inflows concentrated largely in traditional energy sectors. The 2025 figures reflect not only larger volumes but also a broader diversification of investor countries and sectors, indicating a structural shift in Oman's FDI landscape.
Much of the 2025 growth was driven by heightened activity in strategic sectors including oil and gas exploration, manufacturing, and financial intermediation. The oil and gas sector alone attracted over RO 4.8 billion, a 24.2% increase, while manufacturing investments grew by 27.5%.
In addition to hydrocarbons, the manufacturing sector saw significant gains, particularly in chemicals, base metals, and plastics. The government's localisation strategies and focus on value-added production appear to be drawing sustained interest from foreign investors seeking regional manufacturing hubs.
Economic experts attribute the FDI uptick to a combination of favourable reforms, improved investment climate, and Oman's strategic geographic position. Efforts under Oman Vision 2040, aimed at reducing dependency on oil, enhancing the private sector's role, and boosting global trade connectivity, are translating into measurable economic inflows.
Further supporting the investment momentum are bilateral partnerships, tax incentives in economic zones, and infrastructure upgrades across ports, logistics corridors and energy systems.
The outlook for FDI in Oman remains optimistic. As global investors look to diversify their portfolios in a volatile geopolitical environment, Oman's political stability, economic reforms, and improving credit profile continue to offer a reliable gateway into the wider Middle East and Indian Ocean regions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Self-service platform for issuing property title deeds launched
Muscat: In a major stride towards enhancing digital governance and streamlining public services, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has officially launched a new self-service platform for issuing digital property title deeds. The service allows beneficiaries to obtain their title deeds instantly and electronically, eliminating the need for in-person visits to service halls. This initiative marks a significant shift in simplifying procedures. By enabling immediate issuance of ownership documents online, the ministry anticipates reducing the time spent on such services by over 70 per cent and cutting in-person visits by 60 per cent in the first year alone. In addition to efficiency and speed, the initiative aligns with the ministry's sustainability goals. It complements a broader digital transition strategy that includes internal communications, external documentation and now the issuance of secure digital title deeds. Each document is embedded with an electronic verification code, ensuring both accuracy and authenticity. Users can access the traditional version of their property deed through the 'Amlak' platform. Dr Moamen bin Abdullah al Busaidy, Adviser to the Minister for Smart Cities, emphasised the significance of the launch, stating: 'This is a critical step towards a fully digital ownership system. Our ambition is for the majority of the public to adopt electronic title deeds by the end of next year. It will save both time and effort for users, who previously had to physically visit various service locations.' Dr Al Busaidy added that the ministry is currently developing smart services designed to anticipate citizens' needs and deliver information and entitlements proactively — without requiring formal requests. Future enhancements will also enable mobile access to services and real-time interactions with intelligent data systems, further reducing the need to contact support staff directly. Dr Rashid bin Mohammed al Ghilani, CEO of the Oman National Engineering and Investment Company (Oneic), which is partnering with the ministry on the project, commented: 'This strategic collaboration marks a transformative milestone in Oman's digital journey. We are committed to delivering secure and efficient technological solutions that enhance citizen experience and drive public sector innovation. We are proud of the trust placed in us by the ministry and look forward to further partnerships in line with Oman Vision 2040. To maximise accessibility and inclusivity, the new service will gradually be rolled out across more than 300 locations. These include all ministry service halls, Oneic branches and self-service kiosks operating around the clock in all governorates. This expansive rollout is expected to improve operational efficiency and raise customer satisfaction levels to 95 per cent.
Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
UK investors must do more to attract tech firms to LSE
The flood of British tech firms dropping London in favour of a New York IPO (Initial Public Offering) is only set to increase, a boss in Allianz's investment arm, Jeremy Gleeson, has warned. Gleeson, technology CIO at Allianz Global Investors, has no UK companies in his global tech fund citing their high price and scarcity. 'One of the problems that we have when we identify a great European company is that we find the equivalent in the US is trading at a discount,' said Gleeson. 'There are fewer high quality technology companies here in Europe, so when one does make a breakthrough, one is acknowledged as being world class, if you're a European fund manager, that's the one you have to own.' The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is upping its campaign to attract more floats, warning IPO candidates that a US listing could prove expensive. In a document shared with bankers and IPO hopefuls, the LSE said underwriting fees for LSE listings can be more than double those levied by advisors in the UK. US fees typically range between 6pc and 7pc, while cost in the UK are normally between 3pc and 5pc, the LSE's analysis found. It added that companies face a 'lower litigation risk' if they are listed in London. The LSE said 3.3pc of all US-listed firms were sued in 2023, with 215 new securities class action lawsuits over the year. In comparison, the LSE found there have been just five UK class actions against London-listed firms since 2008. The pressure for UK and European fund managers to own home-grown tech companies when there are so few means that American competitors often end up being cheaper. Gleeson gave FTSE 100 tech firm Sage as an example, noting that while it trades at a similar pace to US equivalent Intuit, the American competitor 'has a lot more strings in its bow in terms of markets it covers.' 'They're not just products for small and medium businesses, they do tax products for consumers, and they've got other irons in the fire as well', he explained, meaning that Intuit end up always being the favoured pick by global investors. It didn't used to be this way. Gleeson participated in Darktrace's IPO in 2021, noting that from when the tech company floated to when it was taken over by an American private equity firm, 'it only had one small dip below its IPO price, which the company never really got credit for'. 'There was almost like this 'we don't want to have a technology company be successful in the UK,' he said. 'Unfortunately, maybe that has to change a little bit in the UK amongst the investment community, actually be more warm towards technology companies, rather than seeing them with a mistrust to begin with.' The fund manager also pointed to Arm (a British semiconductor and software design company) a former FTSE 100 constituent saying it was 'really sad' that when the company re-listed, it chose to go to the US, as it would 'have helped if UK investors could have had a good experience with Arm, then it might have encouraged them to think a little bit more about other UK tech companies. Gleeson said: 'Increasingly, it's going to make it easier for UK companies to think about listing overseas, and in the US in particular.' He added, he was trying to be 'benchmark aware' rather than simply buy the biggest tech firms. 'You can go back to the mid-to-late 2000s, where the predominant players in the technology benchmark were IBM, Nokia, Intel, HP,' he explained, arguing that the benchmark shows what the more successful tech companies have been, rather than what they will be. Andy Jalil The writer is our foreign correspondent based in the UK
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Times of Oman
EC-Council and Modern College of Business and Science Launch Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Oman
EC-Council, the global leader in cybersecurity certification and training, in collaboration with the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS), has officially launched the Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Oman. This milestone marks a transformative step in building national and regional cybersecurity capabilities aligned with Oman Vision 2040. Located on the MCBS campus, the Centre will serve as a hub for cybersecurity training, innovation, and applied learning. It will offer internationally accredited EC-Council programs such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Network Defender (CND), and Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), all delivered by EC-Council-accredited instructors. 'This launch signifies MCBS's ongoing commitment to bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical application in key sectors like cybersecurity,' said Dr. Moosa Al Kindi, Dean of the Modern College of Business and Science. 'We are dedicated to producing graduates who are industry-ready and capable of contributing to Oman's digital economy.' Dr. Amjed SidAhmed, Acting Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, highlighted: 'The Centre will not only offer top-tier training but also foster a culture of innovation, problem-solving, and cybersecurity awareness among our students and wider community.' Mr. Jay Bavisi, Co-founder and President of EC-Council, stated: 'We are proud to partner with MCBS, a forward-thinking institution that shares our vision of advancing global cybersecurity resilience. This Centre will empower Omani youth with the skills and credentials to compete on a global level.' The Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence also aims to support collaborative research, competitions, and awareness programs to nurture a robust cybersecurity culture across Oman and the GCC. This launch reflects MCBS's mission 'to facilitate learning and to be a prominent institution of higher education in the region.' By introducing this specialized centre, MCBS continues to pave the way for innovation-driven, career-focused academic excellence.
