The Middle East

Industrial zones, port developments, railways and fisheries projects are but a few examples of how public and private investments are transforming Oman’s regions. Some 87m sq metres of land has been allocated for industrial estates in Sohar, Salalah and Duqm, at a total investment of $9.4bn. The range of new industrial projects shows a clear development strategy aimed at regional economic...

Though the global financial crisis and delays in hotel construction and infrastructure upgrades have hampered growth, the government and private sector are ramping up promotional activities, hospitality projects and other investments within the industry to meet new demand. Macroeconomic indicators show that the sultanate is on track for continuous, sustainable growth in both its business and...

Major investments in schools and universities have highlighted Oman’s commitment to revamping its education system according to the needs of a diversified, knowledge-based economy. The government has spearheaded initiatives targeting higher education, vocational programmes and research facilities. Efforts are under way to better align graduates’ skills with the demands of the job market. While...

The health care sector was allocated 4% of the total 2013 budget, or some $1.3bn, which represented a 32% increase on 2012. The occurrence of non-communicable diseases has grown significantly in recent years, and the government has responded with plans for various large-scale projects, hospitals, health centres and prevention programmes, illustrating its commitment to addressing these challenges...

Expansion of the highway network is set to boost sea-to-air connectivity and raise the sultanate’s profile as a logistics and trans-shipment destination. Development of aviation and port facilities has attracted significant foreign investment, with joint-venture opportunities in free zones and industrial zones, among others, progressing alongside the GCC rail project. This chapter contains...

The sultanate boasts high mobile penetration, widening 4G LTE coverage in key urban areas and a growing fixed-line market. Auctions are under way for spectrum to support service expansion, and the regulator is considering a new framework for competition. Meanwhile, private investments should help expand network coverage and provide more secure services. This chapter contains a roundtable with...