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The education sector has been expanding fast, growing from only 10 schools in 1970 to over 1800 in 2018. This is thanks to robust 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, which will create new opportunities for private sector investment.

Encompassing some of the most spectacular sites in Arabia, a fascinating ancient culture and a worldwide reputation for hospitality, Oman has advantages as a leisure destination. At the same time, the country is an important regional economy with a thriving business sector, which has strengthened its position as a centre for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. Oman is also regarded as a place of stability and impartiality in MENA, making it an ideal gathering ground. Unsurprisingly, then, the tourism sector continues to flourish. Despite the general economic downturn in the region, robust growth has been logged over the last few years and more is promised. This chapter contains an interview with Peter Walichnowski, CEO, Oman Tourism Development Company.

On both a local and national level, Oman’s ICT sector continues to expand while also preparing for new technologies and the benefits and challenges that they may bring. New innovations in cloud services, e-commerce and e-government have enabled both private and public organisations to cut costs, and strategic thinking by the sultanate’s authorities has also brought rewards for the sector. This has helped lay the groundwork for a successful industry for many years now, encouraging tech start-ups and establishing a clear ICT roadmap, as well as building on the country’s global connectivity and its reputation for stability and security.

A combination of food security concerns and a focus on economic diversification have made agriculture and fisheries an area of priority government investment in recent years. Agricultural self-sufficiency continues to grow in the sultanate. Despite the irrigation challenges presented by limited rainfall and decreasing ground reserves, 2019 will see food production receive a significant boost with the launch of new facilities for dairy, red meat and poultry. Fisheries, a priority sector under the ninth five-year development plan (2016-20) of the Oman Vision 2020 strategy, is also poised for take-off. This chapter contains an interview with Saleh Mohammed Al Shanfari, CEO, Oman Food Investment Holding Company.

Almost three years into its ninth five-year plan for 2016-20, Oman is beginning to reap the rewards of efforts to restructure and expand its transport and logistics sector. The Central Bank of Oman’s latest annual report notes that transport, storage and communications is one of the economy’s best performing categories, with the growth rate reaching 9.6% in 2017. The sector’s expansion is being driven by private investment, with the government having steadily decreased its current and development expenditure every year since 2014. This chapter contains an interview with Abdulaziz Saud Al Raisi, CEO, Oman Air.

Mining in Oman is poised for growth in line with economic diversification plans, and the sector has distinct advantages over other developing markets. The country has some of the richest and most diverse mineral deposits in the world, ranging from gold and copper to potash, gypsum, chromite and limestone. Despite this, Oman’s mineral wealth remains largely uncovered. The sultanate holds a strategic location along global trade routes, and operates three ports in the north, centre and south of its territory. With planned infrastructure upgrades such as cross-country rail links and ongoing government reforms to facilitate investment, it is becoming clear that Oman is on the cusp of unlocking its mineral export potential.