MUSCAT : The Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Center plays a central role in maintaining economic balance, combining market supervision with policies that enhance both micro- and macro-economic stability. At the microeconomic level, the center regulates business behavior, prevents monopolistic practices, ensures fair pricing and promotes healthy competition, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to operate on an equal footing while expanding consumer choice.

At the macroeconomic level, the center contributes to national growth by attracting investment, stabilising productive sectors, improving efficiency and reducing risks arising from market concentration or price distortions. By safeguarding equal opportunities and transparency, its work directly supports economic diversification objectives under Oman Vision 2040, while strengthening trust in the fairness of the business environment.

Ahmed bin Salem Al-Rasbi, Director General of the center, said that competition is not merely a regulatory requirement but an effective economic tool that enhances market efficiency, improves the attractiveness of the investment climate and supports a sustainable economy built on innovation and quality. He noted that the center operates through an integrated system that enhances compliance in sensitive sectors, protects SMEs from restrictive practices, improves price and information transparency, and analyses economic indicators to detect risks linked to monopoly or excessive concentration.

Al-Rasbi also revealed a set of upcoming initiatives, including the development of national competition indicators based on advanced economic methodologies, the automation of services to accelerate monitoring and analysis, and new sectoral studies covering construction, building materials and e-commerce—sectors with a direct impact on prices and competitive dynamics. He added that cooperation with government bodies and the private sector will be expanded to build a more flexible and fair business environment.

Highlighting recent performance, the center completed investigations into 15 complaints related to anti-competitive practices in the first half of 2025, contributing to stronger compliance and a healthier, more stable market. Khalid bin Khamis Al-Masrouri, Director of the Department of Prohibited Practices, said the cases involved suspected abuse of dominant positions, price manipulation and barriers to new market entrants, all handled in accordance with the law. The center also reviewed seven cases of economic concentration to prevent the emergence of monopolies that could harm the national economy.

Wahiba bint Rashid Al-Hinai, an economic researcher at the center, stressed that monitoring mergers and acquisitions is a critical macroeconomic safeguard, warning that poorly assessed concentrations could undermine competition, pricing, production and innovation. She described oversight of economic concentration as a national line of defence that preserves market structure before dominance takes hold.

Further progress has been achieved through sectoral studies, particularly in the hypermarket sector, according to Rajwa bint Mohammed Al-Rashidiya, a competition specialist. She noted that the implementation of strategic study recommendations has improved consumption and investment dynamics, while investigations into unfair competition have helped protect national products from dumped imports that threaten local industries.

Badr bin Mubarak Al-Hajri, Head of the Anti-Dumping Department, said the center continues to investigate dumping, subsidy, countervailing and safeguard cases in coordination with GCC authorities. Over recent years, 14 investigations into foreign imports and more than 10 into Omani exports have been conducted, underscoring the center’s preventive role in protecting markets and reinforcing a fair, competitive business environment.

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