MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman witnessed a significant rise in commercial and economic activity across its governorates during the second quarter of 2025, driven by a business-friendly environment that promotes competitiveness and investment.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion reported that 12,043 commercial registrations were issued between April and June 2025. Meanwhile, licensed commercial activities surged to 73,029, up from 17,494 in the same period of 2024—a remarkable growth rate of 306.87 per cent, highlighting a rapid acceleration in economic activity.
Muscat and South Al Batinah Governorates led the way in terms of business registrations. Muscat recorded 6,739 registrations, while South Al Batinah registered 1,171, marking a 70.2 per cent increase. The Ministry noted that foreign investors accounted for 3,783 commercial registrations, with Muscat hosting 86.2 per cent of these licences.
Additionally, the Ministry reported an increase in the cancellation of commercial registrations, totalling 12,218, compared to 3,963 in the same quarter of 2024—an increase of over 208.3 per cent. Muscat Governorate again led this indicator with 4,006 cancellations, followed by North Al Batinah and Dhofar Governorates.
Mubarak bin Mohammed al Dohani, Director General of Planning at the Ministry, stated that the figures reflect the resilience and dynamism of Oman’s economic environment, bolstered by flexible regulatory frameworks and advanced digital infrastructure. He added that the Ministry continuously monitors these indicators to guide strategic planning and support the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Al Dohani affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing the business landscape and stimulating investment across all sectors, in line with national economic diversification goals and efforts to strengthen public-private partnerships.
Engineer Muammar bin Zahran al Abri, Director of the Information, Data and Statistics Department at the Ministry, said that analytical tools and interactive reporting systems have significantly improved visibility into commercial performance, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of government planning. — ONA
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