Bank Sohar was established in March 2007 as a commercial bank following an initial public offering (IPO) in December 2006. The bank was launched with authorised capital of OR100m ($259m) and paid-up capital of OR50m ($129.5m). The bank has since grown its balance sheet substantially to become the fourth-largest bank by assets in Oman. The bank’s total assets grew from...
In January 2013 the Capital Market Authority (CMA), Oman’s capital markets and insurance sector regulatory agency, released draft regulations covering the issuance of sukuk – sharia-compliant debt instruments that function much like conventional bonds. Sukuk are the latest in a series of Islamic financial institutions and products to be introduced...
National Gas commenced its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bottling operations in 1981 and is currently engaged in the selling of LPG cylinders for retail consumption. In 2012 the company, through an indirect subsidiary, acquired Shell Malaysia’s LPG assets and business in West Malaysia. The company’s largest shareholder is the A’Sharqiya Investment Holding Company, which...
In an effort to reduce state expenditure and boost revenues, the government recently announced a plan to sell shares in a wide variety of state-owned entities in the coming years. The privatisation effort, which could eventually result in the transference of a substantial percentage of more than 60 state-held firms to public ownership, is widely expected to have a...
While non-oil economic activity has accounted for a steadily increasing percentage of Oman’s GDP in recent years, the oil and gas industry remains a vital component of the sultanate’s economy. Despite the fact that the country’s hydrocarbons reserves are smaller and generally harder to access than in many other nations in the GCC region, the industry is widely regarded...
In 2013 and the first half of 2014 Oman’s economy continued to expand on the back of rising public and private investment, strong oil and gas revenues and steadily increasing levels of non-oil activity. According to data published by the IMF – Oman’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) does not regularly release inflation-adjusted GDP numbers – real GDP...
Stay updated on how some of the world’s most promising markets are being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and what actions governments and private businesses are taking to mitigate challenges and ensure their long-term growth story continues.
Register now and also receive a complimentary 2-month licence to the OBG Research Terminal.
Register Here×