It is no secret that societies around the world face the problem of crime. Crimes occur every day in many places, particularly in societies where laws and legislation are not given sufficient importance or respect, and where corruption, bribery, deception and misinformation are widespread. Human nature, individual behaviour, personal desires can all contribute to criminal activity, while modern technologies are increasingly playing a significant role in facilitating and accelerating certain types of crime.
As the number of expatriates increases in any society, the number of crimes may also rise, particularly when some individuals become involved in activities that violate public morals or local laws. This is an issue that deserves attention in the Sultanate of Oman. Crime statistics indicate that Omani society is facing a range of challenges, particularly economic, labour-related and financial offences, which account for a significant proportion of the overall caseload.
Some of these crimes require further research to identify the underlying factors contributing to changes in criminal behaviour. There is also a need to improve reporting and monitoring mechanisms and to expand the use of available technologies and institutional tools to combat cybercrime.
According to recent figures from the National Centre for Statistics and Information, approximately 21,000 crimes were recorded in Oman during 2025, representing an increase of 14.8 per cent compared with 2024. The crime rate stood at approximately 3.9 offences per 1,000 inhabitants. Offences against property accounted for the largest share, representing 62.3 per cent of total recorded crimes, followed by offences against persons at 28.8 per cent, with other social and regulatory offences making up the remainder.
With Oman’s population continuing to grow each year, the number of alleged offenders has also increased. In 2025, the number of offenders reached 26,847, compared with 24,341 in 2024, representing an increase of approximately 10 per cent. A substantial proportion of cases are associated with labour regulations, bounced cheques, residency violations and financial transactions rather than conventional violent crime.
Nevertheless, several trends require particular attention, especially fraud, cybercrime, drug-related offences and crimes involving children. According to Public Prosecution data, the total number of cases received in 2025 reached 55,164, an increase of 19 per cent compared with 2024.
Addressing these challenges will require improvements in electronic payment systems to reduce abuses and fraudulent practices, as well as efforts to limit undocumented cash transactions and strengthen customer identification and verification procedures. It is equally important to accelerate the settlement of commercial disputes and increase legal awareness among owners of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Particular attention should also be given to the growing threat of cyber fraud. Such offences reportedly increased by 50 per cent during the first half of last year, with criminals increasingly exploiting technologies such as artificial intelligence and deepfakes, alongside fake commercial advertisements and fraudulent video calls.
These developments demonstrate how crime is gradually moving from the street to the mobile phone, the bank account and the digital platform. Combating this new generation of crime requires coordinated efforts involving the police, banks, telecommunications companies, digital platforms, schools, universities and religious institutions.
Ultimately, addressing crime cannot be the responsibility of law-enforcement agencies alone. Government institutions, civil-society organisations and the wider community all have an important role to play in highlighting emerging criminal risks, warning the public about new forms of fraud and strengthening legal and digital awareness. Greater public education, stronger institutional cooperation and more effective use of technology will be essential if Oman is to contain emerging forms of crime and maintain a safe and stable society.
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