Oman

In recent decades there has been a major improvement in the quality of health care in Oman. Rising living standards have greatly reduced the impact of contagious diseases, though the high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), common among many GCC countries, continue to climb. Despite feeling the impact of the fiscal austerity caused by...

In recent decades, the pharmaceutical market has expanded its geographical reach. This trend appears to be here to stay; in a survey of major pharmaceutical firms conducted by global consulting firm PwC’s Strategy& team, more than half of respondents anticipated that over 30% of their global sales would originate in emerging markets by...

LANGUAGE: Similar to other GCC member states, Arabic is the official language of Oman, although English is widely spoken and understood. Using English to get around or conduct business in the capital, Muscat, or other hubs such as Sohar or Salalah, is relatively easy. Locals do appreciate the...

Prior to 1971 the sharia courts had jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, as well as personal status affairs in the sultanate of Oman. However, following the succession of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the judicial system was reformed and Sharia Courts now only govern matters related to family disputes and inheritance.

Taxation in Oman is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Secretariat General for Taxation. The framework is mainly governed by the following laws:

The education sector has been expanding fast, thanks to population growth, economic development and the policy of Omanisation, which seeks to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign workers, technicians and managers. Despite a temporary slowdown caused by the oil price slump of 2014-16, education is set for further expansion, creating new...