MUSCAT, OCT 25
The rapid growth of e-commerce, accelerating adoption of digital payments, evolving fintech regulations and expanding applications of artificial intelligence (AI) are ushering in a new phase of digital economy growth in the Sultanate of Oman, opening up promising investment opportunities across the fintech and AI sectors.
These shifts present opportunities to explore new technology ventures tailored to the needs of financial institutions, businesses, retailers, and government entities within a market where innovation and digital solutions are becoming increasingly vital.
Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani, Under-Secretary for Communications and Information Technology at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, stated that the digital economy accounted for 9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the results of a survey conducted in 2026 in collaboration with the National Centre for Statistics and Information.
Highlighting the growing investment activity in the technology sector, Dr Al Shidhani noted that the value of deals and investment projects announced during the COMEX 2025 exhibition reached RO 116 million - a 45 per cent increase compared to 2024. He further pointed out that 200 Omani technology companies have participated in exhibitions outside the Sultanate of Oman over the past three years, securing agreements valued at RO 30 million.
In the realm of digital commerce, the value of e-commerce in the Sultanate of Oman rose to RO 288 million in 2025, up from RO 221 million in 2023, while investments in the semiconductor sector reached RO 88 million. Non-cash transactions experienced growth exceeding 700 per cent between 2020 and 2025.
These indicators reflect an expansion in economic activity linked to digital technologies and highlight areas of interest for investors, including the development of electronic payment solutions, the integration of financial and commercial systems, process automation using artificial intelligence, data analytics, the strengthening of cybersecurity, and the provision of specialized technical services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In the fintech sector, regulatory developments are emerging as a key factor shaping the market landscape. This October, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) began testing the "Rushd" automated investment advisory platform within its regulatory sandbox. This step allows for the evaluation of the service model under a supervisory framework before the completion of the licensing requirements necessary for its broader rollout. Similarly, the Central Bank of Oman’s regulatory sandbox enables the testing of financial innovations subject to specific conditions covering areas such as digital payments, open banking, and alternative financing solutions.
An analytical review of these developments suggests that investment opportunities are not limited to the creation of new financial platforms; they also extend to the development of supporting technologies required by companies and institutions such as cash flow management systems, data verification tools, compliance solutions, Arabic document processing, and the integration of payment and accounting systems. However, gauging the demand for such solutions requires a thorough assessment of the competitive landscape, customer needs, and operational costs, as well as an evaluation of the market’s willingness to pay for them.
As the Sultanate of Oman moves to expand its digital economy ecosystem, it becomes increasingly important to build ventures rooted in actual needs ventures that deliver measurable economic value while adhering to regulatory and data protection requirements. For investors and entrepreneurs, staying abreast of technical and legislative developments and verifying commercial viability before committing capital are essential steps toward capitalizing on the opportunities presented by Oman’s digital transformation.
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