Economy

Myanmar has seen an extraordinary surge in trade and investment in the few years since emerging from isolation. Out of the $9.5bn in FDI permissions granted from April 2012 to October 2014, $2.9bn went to projects in manufacturing; $2.2bn to those in real estate, hotels and tourism; and $2.5bn to transport and communications. Foreign investment in many sectors, however, still remains banned...

The guide contains listings of some of the leading hotels and resorts in Oman and contacts for important government offices and services. It also contains useful tips and information for first-time visitors.

As rapid industrialisation continues in the sultanate, the utilities sector looks set to be a growth driver in terms of both construction contracts and private investment. In 2013 the Authority for Electricity Regulation reported that operators approved 276 projects worth $357.34m, and the numerous water and power plant projects in the pipeline bode well for future investors. Of particular...

Oman’s insurance sector has continued to expand and was the second fastest-growing insurance market among GCC countries from 2007 to 2013. Gross written premiums reached $942.5m by year-end 2013, a 10.44% increase year-on-year from 2012, with the motor segment accounting for 41% of this total in both years. In August 2014 the Capital Market Authority (CMA), the industry regulator, introduced a...

Capital markets in Oman continued to post healthy growth over the course of 2013 and 2014 with strong fundamentals, steadily increasing economic diversification and prudent market regulation and oversight driving expansion. In mid-2013 the Capital Market Authority launched the MSM Sharia Index which tracks sharia-compliant stocks, and in August 2014 insurance sector reforms were introduced...