Muscat: According to the FSA, crowdfunding platforms financed 243 projects during 2025, up from 114 projects in 2024, reflecting growing confidence among entrepreneurs and investors in this fast-evolving financing model.
The total value of financing also recorded a substantial increase, reaching approximately RO 19 million in 2025, compared to RO 5.9 million in 2024. The sharp rise underscores the growing reliance on crowdfunding as a key source of funding for businesses and startups.
Since the launch of crowdfunding activities in Oman, cumulative financing has reached around RO 29.4 million, supporting 357 projects across multiple sectors. The figures demonstrate the expanding role of crowdfunding platforms in the Sultanate’s financial ecosystem.
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The number of licensed crowdfunding platforms stood at seven in 2025, all actively operating in the market. This compares with nine platforms in previous years, indicating a shift towards greater efficiency and stronger market sustainability among active operators.
The sector has shown consistent growth since its inception. Funded projects increased from 21 in 2022 to 49 in 2023, rising further to 114 in 2024 before reaching 243 in 2025. Funding values followed a similar trajectory, growing from RO 1.7 million in 2022 to RO 2.8 million in 2023, RO 5.9 million in 2024, and RO 19 million in 2025.
Projects supported through crowdfunding have spanned a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, media and marketing, vehicle services, interior design, retail, logistics and shipping, technology, manufacturing of chemical and cleaning products, shopping malls, and beauty centres. The diversity highlights the flexibility of crowdfunding as a financing tool capable of serving businesses of varying sizes and sectors.
Crowdfunding platforms have emerged as an important solution for bridging financing gaps, particularly for SMEs and startups. By enabling a broad base of investors to contribute varying amounts, these platforms improve access to capital while promoting financial inclusion, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
FSA noted that the rapid growth of the sector reflects increasing investment awareness and the continued development of Oman’s regulatory framework, enhancing the attractiveness of crowdfunding as an investment and financing avenue.
The Authority began regulating crowdfunding activities in early 2021 through the introduction of a dedicated legislative and regulatory framework aimed at strengthening investor protection and market transparency. The first licensed crowdfunding platform was launched in 2022.
