Oman

Oman’s banking sector has continued to perform well in spite of economic headwinds. The growth of non-oil sectors has increased demand for credit and, as a result, banks’ lending and assets have continued to expand, although liquidity has tightened. Meanwhile, the vibrant Islamic financial services segment has supported the sector’s growth....

Following the drop in oil prices in 2014, the government budget has fallen into deficit. As a result, the authorities have implemented a bold series of fiscal reforms since 2015 to shift the budget on to a more sustainable trajectory. For instance, 2019 saw the introduction of a series of new excise taxes, referred to as sin taxes, on alcohol...

Given its natural assets, strategic location and appealing geography, Oman has the resources for significant economic expansion. Although the sultanate remains dependent on oil and gas, efforts to diversify the economy are already bearing fruit. While private sector growth benefitted from the many investments committed in the days of higher...

In 2019 Oman introduced legal reforms that have the potential to provide a considerable boost to the economy and development of the country. However, the final impact of the reforms will be decided by the executive regulations, the detailed rules around implementation and the day-to-day operation of the laws. The reforms aim to improve the...