MUSCAT: The value added generated by active private sector enterprises in the Sultanate of Oman slipped 1.7 per cent year-on-year to RO 8.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting weaker performance by large companies despite continued growth among small and medium-sized businesses, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
The NCSI said the number of active private enterprises declined 0.8 per cent to 265,918 during the January-March period, compared with 268,033 a year earlier, as the number of micro-enterprises fell while medium, small and large businesses expanded.
Medium-sized enterprises recorded the fastest growth, rising 6.7 per cent to 1,987 businesses. Small enterprises increased 4.8 per cent to 31,369, while large companies grew 4.5 per cent to 762. In contrast, the number of micro-enterprises fell 1.6 per cent to 231,800.
The overall value added of private enterprises declined to RO 8.105 billion from RO 8.248 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Gross domestic product also contracted by 2.0 per cent to RO 10.29 billion, compared with RO 10.50 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Despite the overall decline, smaller businesses posted stronger economic performance. Value added by micro-enterprises rose 6.2 per cent to RO 841.2 million, while small enterprises increased their contribution by 5.2 per cent to RO 702.2 million. Medium-sized firms recorded a 3.1 per cent increase to RO 654.9 million.
Large enterprises, however, saw value added decline 4.0 per cent to RO 5.91 billion, accounting for most of the overall fall in private sector output.
Employment across active private enterprises continued to expand, increasing 0.9 per cent to 1.82 million workers.
Medium-sized businesses recorded the strongest employment growth, with their workforce rising 7.9 per cent to 165,195 employees, followed by small enterprises, where employment increased 6.3 per cent to 570,663. Large companies also expanded their workforce by 3.5 per cent to 453,708 employees.
Employment in micro-enterprises, however, declined 6.7 per cent to 632,751, highlighting continued consolidation among the smallest businesses despite their higher value-added growth. — ONA
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