News

Oman Oil Price Up By 6 Cents Muscat, 15 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The official price of Oman oil (March 2026 delivery) stood at $62.85. The price of Oman oil today saw a rise of 6 cents, compared to yesterday's price of $62.79. It is worth noting that the monthly average price of Oman oil for January 2026 delivery was $64.44 per barrel, down by 60 cents, as against the price of December 2025 delivery. --- Ends/Bishara ...

Oman, Thailand Explore Economic Partnerships Muscat, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Omani-Thai Business Forum, organized by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) today, laid emphasis on consolidating economic partnerships between the private sectors of the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Thailand. The forum reflected the keenness of the OCCI to enhance Oman's international economic relations and support the presence of the Omani private sector in global markets. The forum focused on vital sectors, including trade, agriculture, health and beauty, textiles, food ...

Food Factory Opens in Khazaen Economic City Worth RO 25 Million Investment Barka, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Food Development Company, a subsidiary of Salalah Mills Company, celebrated today the opening of its bakery products manufacturing plant in Khazaen Economic City, located in the Wilayat of Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Eng. Masoud Said Al Hashmi, Governor of South Al Batinah, in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Bakri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for ...

Gold Near Record-Highs, Silver Surpasses $90Singapore, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Gold rose on today, holding near record highs set in the previous session, while silver set another all-time high, ‍nearing the $90 mark, as softer-than-expected ‍US inflation readings cemented US interest rate cut bets. Spot gold rose ​0.6% to $4,615.85 per ounce. Bullion hit a record high of $4,634.33 on Tuesday. US gold futures for February delivery rose 0.5% to $4,624.0. Among other precious metals, spot silver rose above $90 an ounce for the first time, platinum climbed 3.5% to $2,405.30 per ounce, a ...

Dollar Steadies as Yen Falls to 18-Month LowSingapore, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The US dollar held near a one-month high, while the Japanese yen fell to its lowest level since July 2024 at 159.45 per dollar. The Dollar Index, which measures the performance of the US currency against six currencies, was steady at 99.154 points after recovering losses it suffered last Monday. The yen fell to its lowest level in a year and a half, down 0.2 percent to 159.45 against the dollar, its weakest level versus the US currency since July 2024. Meanwhile, the euro was steady at USD 1.1644, while the British ...

European Shares Rise on Energy StocksBrussels, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- European stocks recovered during today's trading after a slight decline in the previous session, supported by gains in shares of energy companies RWE and SSE, which helped push the utilities sector index higher. The utilities index posted gains of 1 percent, with shares of the two companies leading the list of gainers, putting the index on track to end a two-session losing streak. The European STOXX 600 index rose 0.3 percent by 08:12 GMT, recovering from a 0.1 percent decline in the previous session. The German DAX index ...

MSX Drops 45 Points Muscat, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed lower today, dropping by 0.74 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,223.77 points, registering a decline of 45.7 points from the previous close of 6,178.11 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 44,977,369, reflecting a rise of 63.3 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 27,540,979. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.379 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.25 ...

Oman Oil Price Rises 58 Cents Muscat, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 62.79 US Dollars, comprising a rise by 58 cents, compared to the price of yesterday “Tuesday” which was 62.21 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (January delivery 2026) stabilized at 64.44 US Dollars per barrel, thus 60 cents per barrel lower than December delivery 2025. ---Ends/AG ...

Gold Eases after Breaching $4600Singapore, 13 Jan (ONA) --- Gold eased today, a day after breaching $4,600/ounce for ‍the first time ever, as investors booked profits amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Spot gold fell 0.4% to $4,576.79 per ounce. Bullion hit a record high of $4,629.94 on Monday. US gold futures for ‌February delivery ‌lost 0.6% to $4,585.40. Spot silver shed 1.6% to $83.62 per ounce after hitting an all-time high of $86.22 on Monday. Spot platinum lost 2.5% to $2,283.95 per ounce after scaling a record peak of $2,478.50 on December 29. Palladium slid ...

Dollar Recovers While Yen Falls to One-And-Half-Year LowSingapore, 13 Jan (ONA) --- The dollar index recovered marginally to 99.01, having clocked its worst day in three weeks in the previous session, while the Japanese yen fell to its lowest level since July 2024 to 158.975 per dollar. The euro eased 0.08% to $1.1657, having risen as much as 0.5% in the previous session, while sterling was up 0.07% at $1.3475, extending Monday's 0.47% gain. The Swiss franc was flat at 0.7976 per dollar. The Australian dollar eased 0.04% to $0.6707. The New Zealand dollar rose 0.1% to $0.5777. ...

Major Stock Indexes in Japan Close at Record LevelsTokyo, 13 Jan (ONA) --- Major stock indexes in Japan closed at record levels today, with the Nikkei index surpassing 53,000 points for the first time. The Nikkei stock index (225 shares) rose by 1,609.27 points, or 3.10 percent, from Friday to 53,549.16 points. The broader Topix index also closed up by 84.78 points, or 2.41 percent, at 3,598.89 points, with both indexes recording their highest levels ever during the trading ...

European Shares Hit Record HighBrussels, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- European stocks recorded a record high today, as investors assessed a series of corporate results ahead of the release of US inflation data. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.1 percent, and Germany's DAX index rose marginally amid volatile trading, approaching an 11-day winning streak, the longest series of gains since 2014 if current levels hold. Shares of Danish offshore wind energy company Ørsted jumped 5.7 percent to the highest level in a month. ...

Omani-Italian Relations Enter New Economic ChapterMuscat, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Omani-Italian relations are entering a new chapter of economic cooperation, as the visit of Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of the Italian Republic to the Sultanate of Oman represents a step towards maximizing this cooperation for a more diverse and sustainable partnership.Over recent years, Muscat and Rome have strengthened political coordination and supported the foundations of economic cooperation. This momentum was embodied in the meeting held last December between His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and ...

MSX Drops 14 Points Muscat, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed lower today, dropping by 0.23 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,178.11 points, registering a decline of 14.5 points from the previous close of 6,192.57 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 27,540,979, reflecting a drop of 39.5 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 45,516,810. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went down by 0.020 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.13 ...

Second Phase of “Street View” Launched in Oman Muscat, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, in cooperation with the National Survey and Geospatial Information Authority (NSGIA) and Google, launched the second phase of the "Street View" feature project. This enables users inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman to explore natural landscapes, historical landmarks, and modern infrastructure through 360-degree panoramic images via the Street View feature on Google Maps. The second phase was launched through an official ...

Oman Oil Price Rises 47 Cents Muscat, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 62.21 US Dollars, comprising a rise by 47 cents, compared to the price of yesterday “Monday” which was 61.74 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (January delivery 2026) stabilized at 64.44 US Dollars per barrel, thus 60 cents per barrel lower than December delivery 2025. ---Ends/AG ...

Omantel Invests Over RO 500 Million in Digital Infrastructure Muscat, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman Telecommunications Company “Omantel” has invested more than RO 500 million in digital infrastructure in the Sultanate of Oman over the past six years. This enhances support for the national economy and digital infrastructure and cements Omantel’s position as a national platform for innovation and leadership. Eng. Aladdin Baitfadhil, Chief Executive Officer of Omantelexplained that the company has become a national platform and an integrated regional technology group, with ...

Investments Worth RO 1.2 Billion Attracted in Communications, Information Technology Sector in 2025 Muscat, 12 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Investment in the logistics sector in the Sultanate of Oman during the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) increased to approximately RO 3.4 billion. During its annual media briefing held today in Muscat, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology indicated that it succeeded in attracting investments in the communications and information technology sector worth RO 1.2 billion in 2025. This includes approximately RO 65 million ...

MSX Gains 28 PointsMuscat, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed higher today, increasing by 0.47 percent.The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,192.57 points, registering a rise of 28.8 points from the previous close of 6,163.73 points.Total trading turnover reached RO 45,516,810, reflecting a drop of 19.6 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 56,609,538.MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.237 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.13 billion.The trading activity of ...

Oman Oil Price Rises 65 Cents Muscat, 12 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 61.74 US Dollars, comprising a rise by 65 cents, compared to the price of last “Friday” which was 61.09 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (January delivery 2026) stabilized at 64.44 US Dollars per barrel, thus 60 cents per barrel lower than December delivery 2025. ---Ends/AG ...

Increased Allocations for Governorate Development Underscore Royal Care to Social Welfare Muscat, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Royal directives to increase the allocations for the Governorate Development Program to RO 270 million during the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan (2026–2030) confirm the Royal care to enhancing social welfare and ensuring balanced development in the governorates. This financial boost supports the expansion of the program’s projects, aims to maximize investment and economic returns, and builds upon the successes of the Tenth Five-Year Plan in ...

Royal Directives Issued on Legislative Amendments to Social Protection System Muscat, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA) — The Royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to amend the provisions of certain social protection schemes reaffirm the government's established approach to developing the social protection system, enhancing the fairness of entitlement, and improving the efficiency of directing benefits to the most eligible. This aligns with economic and social changes and places the individual and the family at the forefront of national priorities. The Royal ...

Minister of Finance Receives Delegation from Rwanda Muscat, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA0 --- Sultan Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance, received at his office today Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, and his accompanying delegation. The visit comes within the framework of strengthening financial, investment, and trade cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Rwanda. They discussed areas of joint ...

Agreement Signed to Develop Zinc Ash Recycling Industrial Park in Sohar Freezone Sohar, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- SOHAR Port and Freezone has signed an RO 19.2 million (USD 50 million) investment agreement with Oman Zinc LLC, to develop a Zinc Ash Recycling Industrial Park on a 10-hectare site within SOHAR Freezone. Designed to turn steelmaking residues into valuable industrial materials, the project strengthens SOHAR’s position as a regional hub for sustainable metals processing and circular economy manufacturing. Delivered in phases, the industrial park will process zinc ...

Oman Air to Launch Direct Flights to Rwanda With Effect From June 2026 Muscat, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- In a significant step in enhancing air connectivity between the Sultanate of Oman and the African continent, Oman Air today announced the launch of direct flights from Muscat to Kigali with effect from June 2026. The announcement coincides with the official visit of Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda, to the Sultanate of Oman. Muscat-Kigali route is expected to support the growing relations between the Sultanate of Oman and ...

MSX Gains 37 Points Muscat, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed higher today, increasing by 0.62 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,163.73 points, registering a rise of 37.7 points from the previous close of 6,126 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 56,609,538, reflecting a rise of 7.4 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 52,699,412. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.368 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.05 ...

Oman, Rwanda Discuss Ways to Enhance Tourism Cooperation Muscat, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Rwanda explored today avenues for strengthening tourism cooperation, joint marketing, and the exchange of expertise in the management and development of tourism resources and products. The discussions aimed to bolster bilateral relations and support sustainable tourism development efforts in both friendly nations. This occurred during a meeting held today by Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, at his office with Olivier ...

Oman, Rwanda Sign 4 Agreements, Cooperation Programmes Muscat, 11 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Rwanda today signed four agreements and cooperation programmes aimed at consolidating the two countries’ partnership and expanding areas of collaboration in the fields of logistics, dry ports, supply chains, data centers, cloud computing, infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) projects and services. The first agreement included a cooperation programme in the field of logistic services and the operation of dry ports and services related to ...

Robust Vision Leads Oman Towards a Prosperous Economic FutureMuscat, 10 Jan 2026 (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman welcomes the anniversary of the eleventh of January, marking the day His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik assumed power in the country, while achieving financial and economic accomplishments that reflect the resolve and sublime vision to establish Oman as an attractive investment environment supported by clear and favorable legislation, through plans, programs, and efforts from all parties to realize these achievements.Furthermore, the launch of the Eleventh Five-Year Development ...

MSX Gains 26 Points Muscat, 8 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed higher today, increasing by 0.43 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,126 points, registering a rise of 26.3 points from the previous close of 6,099.70 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 52,699,412, reflecting a rise of 0.5 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 52,421,628. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.142 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 32.93 ...