By: AGBI

Oman’s foreign direct investment rose to more than OR31 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2025, propelled by increased FDI inflows into the oil and gas sector.

FDI inward inflows rose to rose to OR5.2 billion from OR4.1 billion a year ago, state-run Oman News Agency reported, quoting the preliminary data from the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The oil and gas extraction industry attracted OR24.7 billion, or 81 percent of the total FDI. The financial sector secured OR1.3 billion, while the real estate, rental and commercial activities sector reported an inflow of OR653 million.

Total investment in the hotels and restaurants sector fell by 0.5 percent year on year to OR 116.6 million, while the construction sector was down slightly to OR88 million.

The United Kingdom was the top foreign investor, accounting for 51 percent of the total FDI at OR15.6 billion followed by the US (OR7.8 billion) and Kuwait (OR1.2 billion).

The other leading nations were China (OR 895 million), the UAE (OR753 million), Qatar (OR 669 million), Bahrain (OR 462 million), the Netherlands (OMR 364.1 million), India (OMR 306 million) and Switzerland (OMR 301.3 million), the report said.

Total investments in the sultanate’s oil and gas projects surged by 24 percent year on year to $12.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to the NCSI. 

The country’s GDP rose 4.7 percent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2024, to $27 billion.