Oman's foreign direct investment Rises 8.7% to OMR 32.2bn in Q1 of 2026

The Sultanate of Oman has demonstrated robust investor confidence, with foreign direct investment (FDI) rising by 8.7 percent to reach OMR 32.197 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2026. This growth underscores the nation's success in attracting international capital amidst its ongoing pursuit of economic diversification under the Oman Vision 2040 initiative.

Preliminary data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) reveals that FDI inflows during January-March 2026 totaled approximately OMR 2.567 billion. The oil and gas extraction sector continues to be the primary magnet for foreign investment, securing OMR 25.889 billion, an increase of 9.5 percent year-on-year. Investment inflows into this dominant sector alone reached OMR 2.238 billion for the quarter.

Following closely, the manufacturing sector attracted FDI amounting to OMR 2.870 billion, marking a 5.4 percent rise compared to the same period in the previous year. Investment inflows into manufacturing during the quarter were OMR 146.7 million. The financial intermediation sector also experienced significant growth, recording foreign investments of OMR 1.565 billion, up 9.6 percent, with inflows of OMR 137.7 million.

Among the key investing nations, the United Kingdom remains Oman's largest foreign investor, with its investments climbing 9.9 percent to OMR 16.885 billion. Investments from the United States saw a 10 percent increase, reaching OMR 8.696 billion, while Kuwaiti investments grew by 4.6 percent to OMR 1.444 billion. China also posted strong growth, with its investments rising 9.3 percent to OMR 901.5 million, further highlighting Oman's appeal to a diverse range of global investors.