Oman's private sector recorded steady growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the number of active private enterprises rising by 0.2 per cent to 268,286, compared to 267,734 in the same period of 2024, according to official data, reports the Arab News.
Medium-sized enterprises posted the strongest growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, increasing by 5.6pc 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 2.3pc to 42.14 billion Omani rials ($109.6bn) 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 4.5pc to 31,521 establishments, compared to 30,163 in the fourth quarter of 2024,” ONA reported.
Large enterprises increased by 3.6pc to 751 establishments, compared to 725 in the same period of 2024, while micro-enterprises declined by 0.4pc to 234,042, compared to 234,979 in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Total value added of all enterprises reached 8.68bn rials in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 8.284bn rials in the same period of 2024, recording a growth of 4.7pc.
Their total contribution to GDP reached about 11.06bn rials in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 10.57bn rials in the same period of 2024, marking an increase of 4.6pc.
Micro-enterprises led value-added growth, recording the highest increase of 5.6pc, reaching 903 million rials, compared to 855.2m rials in the fourth quarter of 2024.
“Large enterprises ranked second, recording a 4.9pc increase in value added to 6.33bn rials, compared to 6.03bn rials in the same period of 2024,” ONA reported, adding that small enterprises recorded a 4.7pc increase in value added to 748.2m rials, compared to 714.8m rials in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Medium-sized enterprises recorded a 2.7pc increase in value added to 700.5m rials, compared to 682.2m rials in the same period of 2024.
Total employment in private enterprises reached 1.82m workers in the fourth quarter of last year, marking a slight increase of 1pc compared to 1.80m workers in the same period of 2024.
Medium-sized enterprises led employment growth, recording a 7.9pc increase to 163,771 workers, compared to 151,846 in the fourth quarter of 2024, while small enterprises ranked second with a 6.7pc rise to 573,530 workers, up from 537,313 in the same period of 2024.
Large enterprises recorded a 4.4pc 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 7.2pc to 635,685 workers, down from 684,907 in the same period of 2024.
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