MUSCAT – The survey, which explored attitudes toward financial planning, preferred investment channels, satisfaction levels, and challenges, highlights a growing interest in private ventures and property investments.

According to the survey, only thirty percent of Omanis who save part of their monthly income go on to invest those savings. The remaining seventy percent do not, pointing to a significant gap between saving habits and long-term financial growth strategies.

Among those who do invest, the most popular avenues include:
• Private projects – 48 percent
• Real estate – 31 percent
• Securities – 19 percent
• Bank deposits – 9 percent
• Gold, bullion, or jewellery – 6 percent
• Digital currencies – 5 percent
• Crowdfunding platforms – 4 percent

Interestingly, among Omanis who do not currently invest but expressed their preferred methods if they were to do so, real estate ranked highest at 92 percent, followed by private projects at 84 percent, and gold, bullion, or jewellery also at 84 percent. Securities were preferred by 73 percent, bank accounts by 63 percent, digital currencies by 56 percent, and crowdfunding platforms by 55 percent. This suggests a strong desire for tangible and local investment opportunities among the non-investing population.

On the parameter of satisfaction with investment returns and environment, the results showed 68 percent of Omanis as satisfied, while 18 percent expressed dissatisfaction and 14 percent remained neutral.

However, when it comes to the overall investment climate in the Sultanate, the sentiment was more mixed with 40 percent showing satisfaction, 43 percent dissatisfaction, and 27 neutral.
Omanis reported a range of challenges in the investment landscape:
• Issues related to expatriate workers – 28 percent
• Delays in government transactions – 27 percent
• Low returns on investment – 26 percent
• Lack of knowledge in investment fields – 16 percent
• Lack of trust in financial institutions – 16 percent
• High fees or taxes – 14 percent
• Insufficient capital – 13 percent

The data also revealed that most Omanis rely on informal means to obtain financial information. Social media emerged as the primary source, with 28 percent of individuals relying on it. Other sources include specialized websites (16 percent), family or friends (15 percent), and scientific qualification or academic study (9 percent). Traditional media like TV and radio, along with government agencies, specialized workshops, books, and financial specialists, accounted for smaller percentages. Notably, three percent of respondents indicated they do not possess any investment knowledge.