The Sultanate of Oman recorded an increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by the end of the first quarter of 2025, reaching RO 30,611.5 million. Inward FDI flows during this period totaled RO 5,225.8 million, a notable rise compared to RO 4,111.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.

Preliminary statistics from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) indicate that the oil and gas extraction sector accounted for 81 percent of the total FDI, valued at RO 24,701.9 million, with cash flows reaching RO 4,812 million.

The statistics further reveal that FDI in the converting industries sector stood at RO 2,749.3 million by the end of Q1 2025, with cash flows of RO 592.3 million. In the financial intermediation sector, FDI reached RO 1,300.3 million, with cash flows of RO 217.8 million.

Investments in the real estate, rental, and commercial activities sector amounted to RO 653.1 million, marking a 36.8 percent decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.

Meanwhile, total FDI in the transport, storage, and communications sector was valued at RO 357.9 million, with flows of RO 3.2 million. The electricity and water sector saw investments totaling RO 292 million, an 11 percent decrease compared to the corresponding quarter in 2024. The trade sector recorded total investments of RO 262 million, with flows of RO 14.5 million.

Total investment in the hotels and restaurants sector by the end of the first quarter of the current year reached RO 116.6 million, a 0.5 percent decrease in value compared to the same period in 2024.

The total value in the construction sector was RO 88.5 million, experiencing a decrease in flows estimated at RO 4.9 million. The total value in other activities reached RO 89.9 million, with flows of RO 7.3 million.

The United Kingdom led in total FDI by the end of the first quarter of the current year, accounting for 50.9 percent of the total, valued at RO 15,574.3 million. It was followed by the United States with a total investment of RO 7,824.5 million, then Kuwait with RO 1,223.6 million, the People’s Republic of China with RO 894.9 million, the United Arab Emirates with RO 753 million, Qatar with RO 669.3 million, Bahrain with RO 462.4 million, the Netherlands with RO 364.1 million, India with RO 306 million, and Switzerland with RO 301.3 million. Other countries contributed RO 2,238.1 million.

Source: Oman News Agency