Muscat: Oman’s monetary and banking indicators recorded broad-based growth by the end of July 2026, with increases in domestic liquidity, money supply, private sector deposits and bank financing.
The effective exchange rate index of the Omani Rial rose by 0.4 per cent to 116.8 points at the end of July 2026, compared with 116.3 points during the same period in 2025.
Preliminary data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information showed that currency issued in the Sultanate increased by 4.9 per cent to RO 1.585 billion, up from around RO 1.511 billion at the end of July 2025.
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The narrow money supply recorded a significant increase of 28 per cent, reaching RO 9.209 billion at the end of July 2026, compared with RO 7.193 billion a year earlier.
Domestic liquidity also rose by 14.9 per cent to RO 29.252 billion, compared with RO 25.451 billion at the end of July 2025.
Meanwhile, foreign assets declined by 1.7 per cent to RO 7.284 billion, down from RO 7.411 billion during the corresponding period last year.
In the banking sector, private sector deposits with commercial banks and Islamic windows increased by 12.9 per cent to RO 24.711 billion by the end of July 2026, compared with RO 21.890 billion at the end of July 2025.
Total loans and financing extended by commercial banks and Islamic windows also grew by 12.2 per cent, reaching RO 38.258 billion, compared with RO 34.101 billion a year earlier.
At the same time, the average interest rate on total loans declined by 3.6 per cent, falling from 5.510 per cent at the end of July 2025 to 5.311 per cent at the end of July 2026.
