Friday, May 08, 2026

Oman News

Central Bank of Oman reserves hit RO 7 billion, gold holdings triple

The Central Bank of Oman’s (CBO) foreign assets and gold bullion rose to RO 7.068 billion by the end of December 2024, marking a 4.9% increase from RO 6.734 billion in December 2023.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Muscat: This growth reflects strengthening investor confidence in the Omani economy, which saw 2.7% GDP expansion, reaching RO 30.6 billion by the third quarter of 2024.

CBO’s foreign assets are composed of:

Foreign currency deposits: RO 2.865 billion

Securities: RO 3.510 billion

IMF reserve account: RO 458.7 million

Gold bullion: Soared 200%, from RO 77.3 million to RO 234 million

Commercial banks also witnessed a 9.2% rise in foreign assets, reaching RO 4.578 billion by the end of December 2024, underscoring the competitiveness and stability of Oman’s banking sector in handling external financial fluctuations.

According to CBO’s December 2024 statistical bulletin, the total assets of the central bank grew 4.7% to RO 7.429 billion. With a capital base of RO 1 billion, Oman’s banking sector remains resilient, with banks continuing to expand capital, strengthen financial positions, and diversify offerings.

Preliminary data also highlights a 15.2% jump in net profits for banks listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange, reaching RO 522.6 million in 2024, up from RO 453.5 million in 2023.

Close