Oman

A regional leader in the liberalisation and privatisation of its power and water utilities, Oman promotes 100% non-government ownership of generation assets. Its independent power, water, and water and power plants (IPPs, IWPs and IWPPs) are models for private investment and have brought in foreign players with the technology and capital to...

Legislation is likely to drive development in Oman’s insurance sector in 2014 and beyond. A new insurance law will update the existing legislation, with the biggest impacts expected to come from a new minimum requirement for paid-up capital that could trigger consolidation in the sector and also from a rule mandating that any new licensee must...

With Oman’s capital markets long on interested investors but short on options, the focus now and in the past has been on what can be done to attract initial public offerings (IPOs) in a market where few lack access to capital. Institutional investors want more trading activity on the market, and have long hoped that the handful of family-owned...

Substantial investments are being made in Oman’s midstream and downstream oil industries as it looks to meet rising demand, boost its value-added petrochemicals industry and strengthen its position as an international energy transit centre.

Electricity use, driven by a growing population and a diversifying economy, is expected to grow by almost 10% annually for the rest of the decade. Peak demand in summer is around twice that of winter, meaning that quite a lot of capacity idles for part of the year while surges in usage cause shortages at other times. The outlook suggests...

An ancient maritime power, Oman is open to the modern world but at the same time preserves a strong sense of tradition and culture. While many countries are moulded by their geography, for Oman this is especially true. In addition to the main part of its territory on the Arabian Sea, Oman also includes the tip of the Musandam Peninsula, which...