Muscat: According to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Sultanate recorded approximately 12,043 new commercial registrations between April and June 2025. More notably, licensed commercial activities surged to 73,029, a massive 306.87% increase compared to the 17,494 recorded during the same period in 2024.

The rise is attributed to Oman’s expanding business base and a competitive, digitally enabled economic environment that continues to attract both local and foreign investors.

Muscat and South Al Batinah led the commercial landscape, with Muscat accounting for 6,739 registrations and South Al Batinah posting 1,171, reflecting a 70.2% increase. The number of foreign investor registrations also reached 3,783, with Muscat accounting for a dominant 86.2% of all foreign investment licenses.

Despite the growth, the ministry also reported a rise in cancelled commercial registrations, totaling 12,218, a 208.3% increase from last year. Muscat once again topped this indicator with 4,006 cancellations, followed by North Al Batinah and Dhofar governorates.

Mubarak bin Mohammed Al-Dohani, Director General of Planning at the Ministry, said the indicators reflect a resilient and investment-friendly environment enabled by flexible economic policies and advanced digital infrastructure. He emphasized the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to strategic monitoring and long-term planning in line with Oman Vision 2040.

Engineer Moammar bin Zahran Al-Abri, Director of the Information, Data and Statistics Department, added that interactive analysis and digital reporting tools have played a key role in improving visibility and planning efficiency across all governorates.