The Sultanate of Oman is experiencing significant growth in its digital economy, driven by advancements in e-commerce, digital payments, fintech regulation, and artificial intelligence (AI). These developments are creating new investment opportunities across various sectors, including financial technology and AI applications.
According to Dr. Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, the digital economy accounted for 9 percent of Oman’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026. This figure is based on a survey conducted in partnership with the National Centre for Statistics and Information, reflecting the rising importance of digital technologies in the country's economic landscape.
Investment activity in the technology sector has seen notable growth. During the COMEX 2025 exhibition, announced deals and projects totaled 116 million Omani rials (RO), marking a 45 percent increase from 2024. Additionally, 200 Omani technology firms participated in international exhibitions over the past three years, securing agreements worth RO 30 million.
E-commerce has expanded rapidly, with its value rising from RO 221 million in 2023 to RO 288 million in 2025. The semiconductor sector also attracted investments amounting to RO 88 million. Digital payment systems have experienced a surge, with non-cash transactions increasing by more than 700 percent between 2020 and 2025.
These trends underscore growing investor interest in various digital economy segments, including electronic payment solutions, integration of financial and commercial platforms, AI-driven process automation, data analytics, cybersecurity enhancement, and specialized technical services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Regulatory developments are playing a critical role in shaping the fintech landscape. In October 2026, Oman’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) initiated testing of the “Rushd” automated investment advisory platform within its regulatory sandbox. This allows for controlled evaluation ahead of licensing approval. Similarly, the Central Bank of Oman operates a regulatory sandbox to pilot financial innovations in areas such as digital payments, open banking, and alternative financing.
Beyond creating new financial platforms, opportunities also lie in developing supporting technologies, such as cash flow management systems, data verification tools, compliance solutions, Arabic document processing, and integration of payment with accounting systems. However, the success of such ventures depends on careful assessment of market demand, competition, operational costs, and willingness of customers to pay.
As Oman continues to build its digital economy ecosystem, stakeholders emphasize the importance of developing solutions that address real market needs and deliver tangible economic value while complying with regulatory and data protection frameworks. Investors and entrepreneurs are advised to monitor technical and legislative changes closely and evaluate commercial viability before committing resources, in order to maximize the potential of Oman’s ongoing digital transformation.