20/04/2026 04:10 AST
Oman's private sector recorded steady growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the number of active private enterprises rising by 0.2 percent to 268,286, compared to 267,734 in the same period of 2024, according to official data.
Medium-sized enterprises posted the strongest growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, increasing by 5.6 percent to 1,972 establishments, compared to 1,867 in the same period of 2024, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information, as reported by Oman News Agency.
Oman's economy recorded modest expansion in 2025, with gross domestic product at current prices rising by 2.3 percent to 42.14 billion Omani rials ($109.6 billion) by the end of December.
This comes as Oman pursues economic diversification under its Vision 2040 strategy, aimed at reducing reliance on hydrocarbons by expanding private sector activity, attracting investment and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises.
The government has introduced a series of reforms in recent years focused on improving the business environment, supporting entrepreneurship and increasing the contribution of non-oil sectors to long-term growth.
"Small enterprises ranked second in terms of growth, rising 4.5 percent to 31,521 establishments, compared to 30,163 in the fourth quarter of 2024," ONA reported.
Large enterprises increased by 3.6 percent to 751 establishments, compared to 725 in the same period of 2024, while micro-enterprises declined by 0.4 percent to 234,042, compared to 234,979 in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Total value added of all enterprises reached 8.68 billion rials in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 8.284 billion rials in the same period of 2024, recording a growth of 4.7 percent.
Their total contribution to GDP reached about 11.06 billion rials in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 10.57 billion rials in the same period of 2024, marking an increase of 4.6 percent.
Micro-enterprises led value-added growth, recording the highest increase of 5.6 percent, reaching 903 million rials, compared to 855.2 million rials in the fourth quarter of 2024.
"Large enterprises ranked second, recording a 4.9 percent increase in value added to 6.33 billion rials, compared to 6.03 billion rials in the same period of 2024," ONA reported, adding that small enterprises recorded a 4.7 percent increase in value added to 748.2 million rials, compared to 714.8 million rials in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Medium-sized enterprises recorded a 2.7 percent increase in value added to 700.5 million rials, compared to 682.2 million rials in the same period of 2024.
Total employment in private enterprises reached 1.82 million workers in the fourth quarter of last year, marking a slight increase of 1 percent compared to 1.80 million workers in the same period of 2024.
Medium-sized enterprises led employment growth, recording a 7.9 percent increase to 163,771 workers, compared to 151,846 in the fourth quarter of 2024, while small enterprises ranked second with a 6.7 percent rise to 573,530 workers, up from 537,313 in the same period of 2024.
Large enterprises recorded a 4.4 percent increase in employment to 451,491 workers in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 432,452 in the same period of 2024, while in contrast, employment in micro-enterprises fell by 7.2 percent to 635,685 workers, down from 684,907 in the same period of 2024.
Arab News
Please wait...
