Oman tests global investor appetite for funding net-zero transition

MUSCAT, OCT 5
Oman is stepping up engagement with international investors to gauge funding appetite for its energy transition, but converting that interest into capital will hinge on building a robust pipeline of bankable projects backed by credible offtake, emissions data and revenue models, according to a senior official of the Oman Net Zero Centre.
Dr Muhannad al Kalbani, Vice President (Centre of Excellence) - Oman Net Zero Centre, said the Centre recently joined the Ministry of Finance on a non-binding green finance roadshow in London, where the Omani delegation held discussions with prospective investors.
The engagement was intended to introduce investors to Oman's transition trajectory and financing proposition rather than secure immediate commitments, he noted.
“The harder part is still ahead of us. Interest only turns into capital when projects are properly structured, with offtake, solid emissions data and clear revenue models,” Dr Al Kalbani said, describing this as a key focus of ongoing efforts.
His comments underscore a growing emphasis in Oman on moving beyond policy commitments and ambitious low-carbon project announcements towards developing investment-grade opportunities capable of attracting international institutional capital.
The London roadshow was led by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Central Bank of Oman, Environment Authority and Oman Net Zero Centre. It showcased Oman's readiness for green financing, its Sustainable Finance Framework and investment opportunities across green and sustainable sectors.
The outreach effectively represents an early test of international funding interest as Oman looks to mobilise increasingly large pools of private and institutional capital to support renewable energy, green hydrogen and other low-carbon investments underpinning its transition towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
Dr Al Kalbani said one theme repeatedly emerging from discussions with investors was consistency in Oman's policy direction.
“Net zero is part of Vision 2040 and our 2050 target, and Oman has kept to that line while a lot of commitments elsewhere have been quietly walked back. Investors notice that,” he said.
Oman's Sustainable Finance Framework, launched by the Ministry of Finance in 2024, provides for green, social and sustainability bonds, sukuk and loans, with proceeds directed towards qualifying environmental and social investments.
The challenge of transforming climate ambitions into bankable projects has become increasingly prominent. Discussions at Oman Climate Week 2026 highlighted financing gaps, blended finance and project bankability, with experts arguing that capital availability is less of a constraint than the supply of suitably structured, investment-grade projects.
Against this backdrop, the London outreach signals a potentially important next phase in Oman's energy transition: matching its expanding pipeline of low-carbon projects with global capital while ensuring that individual ventures possess the commercial structures, reliable data and long-term revenue visibility investors require.