Oman’s Public Spending Increases 2pc

Muscat, 24 Nov 2025 (ONA) --- Public revenue totalled RO 8,481 million by the end of Q3 2025, reflecting an 8% decrease from RO 9,198 million recorded during the same quarter of 2024. The decline is largely due to a fall in hydrocarbon revenue.

The quarterly bulletin issued by the Ministry of Finance said that the net oil revenue amounted to RO 4,710 million as of the end of Q3 2025, representing a 13% decrease from RO 5,436 million collected during the same quarter of 2024, due to lower average oil prices and production.

Net gas revenue reached RO 1,296 million as of the end of Q3 2025, reflecting a 4% decline from RO 1,345 million recorded in the same quarter of 2024. This decline is attributed to the Integrated Gas Company’s methodology for collecting gas revenue.

Current revenue totalled RO 2,449 million as of the end of Q3 2025, indicating a 2% increase, i.e., RO 50 million, from RO 2,399 million collected during the same quarter in 2024.

By the end of Q3 2025, public spending totalled RO 8,914 million, marking a 2% increase, i.e., RO 191 million, from RO 8,722 million recorded during the same quarter of 2024. This increase is attributed to higher development expenditure, which rose by RO 263 million, i.e., 31% compared to the same period in 2024.

Current expenditure amounted to RO 6,227 million as of the end of Q3 2025, reflecting a 1% decrease, i.e., RO 75 million, from RO 6,152 million reported during the same quarter of 2024.

Development expenditure of the ministries and government units reached RO 1,103 million as of the end of Q3 2025, exceeding the allocated spending ceiling by 23% against the total development budget of RO 900 million for 2025, driven by the accelerated execution of ongoing development projects.

Contribution and other expenses totalled RO 1,583 million as of the end of Q3 2025, indicating a 9% decrease, i.e., RO 148 million, from RO 1,731 million recorded in the same quarter of 2024.

Subsidy allocations included RO 378 million to the electricity sector, RO 424 million to the social protection system, and RO 55 million for oil products. Furthermore, RO 300 million was transferred to the future debt obligations budget item.

By the end of Q3 2025, spending on social sectors and basic services totalled RO 3,817 million, distributed across education sector by 37%, health sector by 26%, security and social welfare by 26% and housing sector by 11%.

By the end of Q3 2025, the Ministry of Finance had paid over RO 1,225 million to the private sector, received through the financial system with complete documentation. This reflects the Ministry’s commitment to settling fully documented private sector dues within an average of five working days.

By the end of Q3 2025, public debt stood at RO 14.7 billion, up from RO 14.4 billion at the end of the same quarter in 2024. This is mainly due to: Refinancing of domestic debt instruments in accordance with the borrowing plan, Proactive management of obligations due in the fourth quarter of the 2025, capitalizing on improved debt market conditions, Continued government efforts to develop the domestic debt market by building a benchmark yield curve for public debt and Expanding the local debt market through the issuance of sovereign sukuk and local development bonds.

--- Ends/Khalid