From January 2026, Oman is embarking on a significant restructuring of its national development strategy with the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan (2026-2030), transforming from a traditional five-year cycle to an agile 2+2+1 model. This new approach aims to enhance flexibility and responsiveness to emerging challenges and rapid global changes.
The 2+2+1 model for the 11th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) involves distinct phases: the first two years (2026-2027) will focus on a government working plan, followed by another working plan for 2028-2029 and a final evaluation phase in 2030.
Oman became the first Gulf nation to adopt Five-Year Plans in 1976 as a disciplined mechanism to achieve comprehensive development across key sectors. The move is designed to prioritise both economic growth and development through distinct pathways, and the future Five-Year Plans could potentially include annual planning components.
The first three plans, from 1976 to 1990, were all infrastructure-focused as the country needed hospitals, schools, roads, among others. After Covid-19, the government began rethinking the planning process to better adapt to emerging challenges.
Accordingly, the 11th Five-Year Plan reflects this renewed mindset that it will shape the evolution in planning two key frameworks — Oman Vision 2040 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — whose alignment with the Five-Year Plans is seen as essential. The 11th Five-Year Plan concludes in 2030, the midpoint in implementing Oman Vision 2040 and the target year for achieving the SDGs. Given these shared milestones, the new structure is designed to integrate two complementary pathways: one emphasising economic development through value addition in diverse projects, and another addressing broader developmental priorities, with a particular focus on Duqm.
Key discussions surrounding the 11th Five-Year Plan have taken place at various governmental levels. His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik chaired a Council of Ministers meeting where the outcomes of the 10th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) were reviewed, and the objectives of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) were discussed.
His Majesty emphasised the importance of achieving higher economic growth, diversifying income sources, and addressing challenges in employment and training initiatives, while also directing efforts towards sustainable development goals and economic stability. The new planning methodology, including the potential for annual planning components, underscores Oman’s commitment to agility and effective resource allocation. This strategic evolution aims to foster sustainable growth and balanced development, inviting investors and businesses to align with new government priorities and capitalise on Oman’s evolving economic landscape. The emphasis on collaboration across government entities, the private sector, and civil society organisations is crucial for developing a comprehensive framework that supports Oman’s development journey and addresses the evolving requirements of Oman Vision 2040, a comprehensive national blueprint designed to transform the Sultanate of Oman into a developed nation across economic, social, environmental and governance domains by the year 2040. This strategic framework, initiated under the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and continued by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, aims to diversify the economy away from its reliance on oil, foster a globally integrated and prosperous society, and ensure sustainable growth.
The vision is structured around four foundational pillars: People and Society, Economy and Development, Sustainable Environment, and Governance and Institutional Performance. Health is a top priority under the “People and Society” pillar.
Oman’s journey under Vision 2040 serves as a valuable case study for other nations aiming for economic diversification, sustainability and global integration, emphasising the importance of continued commitment, adaptability and engagement with global partners.
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