Oman widens investment opportunities in its digital economy

what happened

Rapid growth in e-commerce, wider use of digital payments, new fintech rules and expanding AI applications, according to Reuters, are opening a new phase of digital economy growth in Oman. Under-Secretary for Communications and Information Technology Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani said the digital economy accounted for 9% of GDP, based on a 2026 survey conducted with the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

He said deals and investment projects announced at the COMEX 2025 exhibition reached RO 116 million, up 45% from 2024. E-commerce value rose to RO 288 million in 2025 from RO 221 million in 2023, and semiconductor investment reached RO 88 million. Non-cash transactions grew more than 700% between 2020 and 2025.

The Financial Services Authority has been testing the Rushd automated investment advisory platform in its regulatory sandbox since October, while the Central Bank of Oman runs a sandbox for digital payments, open banking and alternative financing.

why it matters

For investors, the news points to interest in providers of payment, analytics and cybersecurity solutions, though the report stresses that demand for them depends on competition and customers' willingness to pay. The story is general in nature and gives no direct signals for oil, the currency or equities.

tags

instruments