News

National Aviation Strategy 2040: A Roadmap for Sustainable, Competitive Aviation Future Muscat, 26 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today, during its media briefing in Muscat, reviewed the National Aviation Strategy 2040 and the most prominent achievements it accomplished during 2025 in the fields of safety, security, air navigation, meteorology, digital transformation, and the development of the regulatory and operational infrastructure of the aviation sector. Eng. Naif Ali Al Abri, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, affirmed during the media ...

Oman Participates in Gulfood 2026 Exhibition in Dubai Dubai, 26 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman is currently participating in the 31st edition of the Gulfood exhibition "Gulfood 2026," which commenced today at the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The event features participation from 195 countries and over 8,500 exhibitors and brands. Khalid Sulaiman Al Salhi, Director General of Marketing and Commercial Affairs at the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), stated that the new ...

Usufruct Agreements Inked for Wind Turbine Plant at SEZAD Muscat, 26 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) signed today a usufruct agreement with Mawarid Turbine to establish a wind turbine manufacturing and assembly plant in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), alongside two additional agreements to install six wind turbines to generate power required to operate the plant. The agreements were signed on behalf of OPAZ by Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of OPAZ, and on behalf of Mawarid Turbine by Mustafa Mohammed Al ...

Oman Oil Price Rises 1.11 US Dollars Muscat, 26 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 63.55 US Dollars, comprising a rise by 1.11 US Dollars, compared to the price of last Friday, which was 62.44 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/AH ...

Inflation Rate Rises in Oman by 1.6 Percent Muscat, 25 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The general consumer price index in the Sultanate of Oman recorded an increase of 1.6 percent in December 2025 compared to the same month of 2024 (base year 2018). The average inflation for the period from January to December 2025 also rose by 1 percent. Data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) showed that the category of Miscellaneous Goods and Personal Services topped the list of increases, recording a price rise of 10 percent. It was followed by the Transport category at ...

MSX Loses 23 Points Muscat, 25 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed lower today, losing 0.73 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,191.05 points, registering a decline of 23.1 points from the previous close of 6,214.18 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 31,896,550, reflecting a rise of 4.9 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 30,405,455. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went down by 0.055 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.24 billion. The ...

Agreement Inked to Build Oman’s First Locally Manufactured Tugboat Muscat, 25 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- A strategic agreement to build Oman’s first locally manufactured tugboat for Oman LNG was signed today between Asyad Drydock, a subsidiary of Asyad Group, and Svitzer. The project is a key milestone for Oman’s maritime industry, strengthening national industrial and maritime capabilities by localizing high-value marine assets. The signing ceremony was held under the patronage of Abdulsalam Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority (OIA). The ceremony was ...

Oman Perfume Show Begins in Muscat Muscat, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The sixth edition of the Oman Perfume Show commenced today. Organized by Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), the event features more than 200 exhibitors from local, regional, and international markets. The show reflects the rapid growth of the perfume industry in the Sultanate of Oman and strengthens its position as a premier destination for high-end aromatic products. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of HH Dr. Basma Fakhri Al Said. The exhibition marked the launch of its new ...

Gold Prices Fall on Easing Geopolitical TensionsSingapore, 22 Jan (ONA) --- Gold prices fell today as geopolitical tensions eased and the dollar strengthened, reducing demand for safe-haven assets. Spot gold slipped 0.8% to $4,799.79 per ounce, after hitting a record high of $4,887.82 in the previous session. US gold futures for February delivery also declined 0.6% to $4,806.60 per ounce. As for other precious metals, Spot silver fell 0.9% to $92.38 per ounce, platinum dropped 2.7% to $2,415.60 per ounce, and palladium slipped 1% to $1,821.50, after reaching a one-week high in the previous ...

Dollar Holds Overnight Gains Tokyo, 22 Jan (ONA) --- The US dollar held on to overnight gains against major peers today. The US dollar held steady at $1.1685 per euro today, following a 0.3% rebound in the prior session. It was flat at 0.7953 Swiss franc after leaping 0.7% overnight. The risk-sensitive Aussie rose 0.4% to $0.6791, a level not seen since October 2024. It also hit the highest since July 2024 at 107.52 yen. The yen was steady against most major peers in Asian trading today, but at 184.83 a ...

MSX Gains 27 Points Muscat, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed higher today, gaining 0.44 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,214.18 points, registering a rise of 27 points from the previous close of 6,187.19 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 30,405,455, reflecting a drop of 5.7 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 32,239,868. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.146 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.26 billion. The trading ...

Agreements Worth RO 1 Billion Signed to Develop CCGT Projects in Misfah, Duqm Muscat, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Nama Power and Water Procurement signed power purchase agreements with a Nebras-led consortium and a KOWEPO-led consortium for the development of combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power generation projects in Misfah and Duqm respectively, with a total investment value of approximately RO 1 billion. The signing ceremony was held under the auspices of Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals. A Nebras-led consortium consists of Etihad Water and ...

Oman Participates in Meeting of Arab Finance Undersecretaries in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman participated in the eleventh meeting of the Undersecretaries of Arab Ministries of Finance, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in the presence of representatives from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The meeting discussed several topics related to the role of fiscal policies, the prospects and opportunities for leveraging artificial intelligence ...

CBO Launches 80th, 81st Government Development Bonds Via Auction Method Muscat, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- On behalf of the Government of Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) announced the new issues of Government Development Bonds. Issue No.80 is worth RO 100 million, with a maturity period of 5 years and a coupon rate of 4.05% p.a. Meanwhile, issue No.81 is worth RO 25 million, with a maturity period of 10 years and a coupon rate of 4.30% p.a. Both issues will be opened for subscription from 25 to 29 January 2026 while ...

Preparatory Meeting Held for Launching Government Services Evaluation Survey Muscat, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) — The National Centre for Statistics and Information today held a preparatory meeting with representatives of the government entities included in the public opinion survey evaluating government services. This meeting was convened in preparation for launching a new cycle of the survey, with the participation of approximately 80 participants representing 54 government entities, along with a number of specialists from the Centre. The meeting builds upon the results of ...

Oman Oil Price Rises 85 Cents Muscat, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 63.34 US Dollars, comprising a rise by 85 cents, compared to the price of yesterday “Wednesday” which was 62.49 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 ...

Oman Participates in FITUR 2026 in Spain Madrid, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman participated today in the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR 2026, held in the Spanish capital, Madrid, from 21 to 25 January. The Omani delegation includes a number of institutions and companies operating in the travel and tourism sector, hotel establishments, and several strategic partners. Through its participation in FITUR 2026, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism aims to strengthen Oman's presence in one of the world's largest travel and tourism exhibitions. It seeks to ...

Second Annual Student Startups Forum Begins in Muscat Muscat, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The activities of the Second Annual Student Startups Forum began today. Organized by the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), the forum aims to empower students and transform their entrepreneurial ideas into sustainable projects. The event was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Numair Salim Al Said. The two-day forum, held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), features the participation of more than 30 student-led startups and 30 strategic partners, including ...

Gold Rises Above $4,800 for First TimeSingapore, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Gold surged to a fresh record above $4,800 today, buoyed by safe-haven demand and a softer dollar as geopolitical tensions flared. Spot gold rose 1.2 per cent to $4,818.03 per ounce, after scaling a record peak of $4,836.24 earlier in the session. US gold futures for February delivery added 1 per cent to $4,813.50 per ounce. The dollar languished near three-week lows against the euro and Swiss franc after White House threats over Greenland triggered a broad selloff in US assets. Spot silver added 0.1 per cent to $94.68 an ...

Credit Oman Signs Agreement to Finance SMEs Muscat, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Credit Oman, the national institution specialized in credit insurance, signed a strategic agreement today with Hal Capital—a Sharia-compliant fintech company operating in the Sultanate of Oman and licensed by the Central Bank of Oman. The agreement aims to enhance the ability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to access financing and achieve sustainable economic growth. The agreement was signed by Haitham Abdullah Al Yaqoubi, Acting CEO of Credit Oman, and Aziz Diab, CEO of Hal Capital. This ...

Nikkei Drops for Fifth SessionTokyo, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Japanese Nikkei index fell 0.4 percent today to close at 52,0774.64 points, extending a five-day losing streak, its longest in a year. The broader Topix index also fell 1 percent to 3,589.70. Japanese financial stocks declined, with the Topix sub-index for the banking sector down 3.2 percent, making it the biggest losing sector among the 33 sectors.--- ...

European Stocks Close LowerBrussels, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- European stocks dropped today, intensifying the selloff sparked by renewed trade tensions related to Greenland that overshadowed the impact of positive corporate results. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.1 percent. Financial services and banking stocks recorded the largest losses, with both sectors down 0.6 percent. Rio Tinto's results exceeded expectations for quarterly iron ore and copper production, pushing its stock up 3.1 percent, and Barry Callebaut's shares rose 5.9 percent. In London, the FTSE 100 index was flat. --- ...

Details Announced for Sohar Investment Forum with Participation from 30 Countries Sohar, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The organizing committee for the Sohar Investment Forum 2026 has revealed details for the upcoming event, scheduled to take place from 4 to 5 February 2026. The event was attended by Mohammed Sulaiman Al Kindi, Governor of North Al Batinah, with delegations from 30 countries confirmed to participate. The introductory meeting highlighted the importance of the forum as a continuation of the success achieved in its previous edition. It aligns with Oman Chamber ...

Oman Participates in World Economic Forum "Davos 2026" Davos, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) "Davos 2026," with a delegation led by the Ministry of Economy. The event, held from 19 to 23 January 2026, is themed "A Spirit of Dialogue," bringing together global leaders from various sectors to discuss common challenges and anticipate the impact of advanced technological transformations. The forum is addressing five key global challenges, including: building trust and enhancing collective ...

MSX Drops 59 Points Muscat, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed lower today, dropping 0.948 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,187.19 points, registering a decline of 59.2 points from the previous close of 6,246.39 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 32,239,868, reflecting a rise of 31.8 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 24,458,168. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.326 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.21 ...

SOHAR Port and Freezone Consolidates Its Position in Oman's Economic Diversification Journey Muscat, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- SOHAR Port and Freezone has consolidated its position as one of the most prominent national operational models embodying economic transformation on the ground, through an integrated system that links trade, industry, and investment within a highly efficient and competitive environment. SOHAR Port and Freezone plays a pivotal role in enhancing logistical connectivity, raising the competitiveness of supply chains, supporting economic diversification, and ...

Oman Oil Price Rises 27 Cents Muscat, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 62.49 US Dollars, comprising a rise by 27 cents, compared to the price of yesterday “Tuesday” which was 62.22 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 ...

OCCI Organizes Workshop on Greater Arab Free Trade Area Facilities for Omani Companies Muscat, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Ministry of Economy, and the General Secretariat of the Arab League, organized a workshop today titled "Promoting the Advantages Granted under the Framework of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA)." The workshop aimed to introduce the advantages and facilities offered by GAFTA to Omani companies. It sought to empower the private ...

Dollar at Week Low after Broad SelloffSingapore, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The dollar retreated to its lowest level in a week in early trading today after a broad selloff across ‌US stocks and government ‌bonds. The dollar index, which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, slid 0.1% to 99.004 - its lowest ‌level since Jan. 14. The yield on the US 10-year Treasury bond was up 3.0 basis points at 4.2586%. Against the yen, the dollar was flat at 158.175 yen after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called snap elections for ‍8 February. Against the Chinese ...

Oil Prices Gain on Upbeat China Data Singapore, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oil prices rose during today's trading, supported by Chinese economic data that boosted expectations of improved demand. Brent crude futures climbed 19 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $64.13 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for February — which expire today, Tuesday — rose 25 cents, or 0.4 percent. The more actively traded WTI March contract edged up 0.08 cents, or 0.13 percent, to $59.42 a barrel. --- ...