Gulf markets · Muscat
Oman
Oman’s state investments are held by the Oman Investment Authority, created in 2020 from the State General Reserve Fund, the Oman Investment Fund and the investment directorate of the Ministry of Finance, and divided between a domestic and an external portfolio. Government pension funds have been brought together in the Social Protection Fund.
Sovereign and state investors
Oman Investment Authority (OIA)
Established by Royal Decree 61/2020 on 4 June 2020, which transferred to it the assets and investments of the State General Reserve Fund, the Oman Investment Fund and the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate General of Investments. It has financial and administrative independence and reports to the Council of Ministers. The OIA reported total assets of around OMR 23 billion at the end of 2025; Oman accounted for nearly two thirds of its investments, which span 52 countries.
National Development Portfolio
The OIA’s domestic portfolio, with assets of around OMR 13.09 billion in 2025 and more than 160 local companies and assets.
Generations Portfolio
The OIA’s external portfolio, valued at OMR 8.57 billion at the end of 2025, with investments in 210 investment funds.
Future Fund Oman
Launched by the OIA in January 2024 with capital of OMR 2 billion, to be deployed over five years (OMR 400 million a year) across eight sectors, with 10% allocated to SMEs (7%) and startups (3%).
Family offices and private wealth
The public sources used for this page include no official statistics on family offices or private wealth in Oman, and no dedicated family office regime, so we do not describe this segment here.
Institutional investors
Social Protection Fund
Established by Royal Decree 33/2021. Royal Decree 50/2023 transferred to it eight government pension funds, the Public Authority for Social Insurance, and the pension programmes of Petroleum Development Oman and the Central Bank of Oman.
Financial centres and regulators
Muscat, the capital since 1793, is Oman’s political and economic centre, and home to the OIA, the FSA and the Muscat Stock Exchange.
Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
The regulatory and supervisory authority of the banking sector, operating under the Banking Law issued by Royal Decree 2/2025, which repealed the Banking Law of 2000. It manages Oman’s foreign exchange reserves with the stated objectives of capital preservation, sufficient reserves and liquidity to sustain the rial’s peg to the US dollar, and an optimal mix of return and risk.
Financial Services Authority (FSA)
Established by Royal Decree 20/2024, replacing the Capital Market Authority. It regulates the capital market, insurance, and the accounting and auditing profession.
Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX)
Took over from the Muscat Securities Market under Royal Decree 5/2021, which established it as a closed joint stock company owned by the OIA.
National agenda
Oman Vision 2040 is the national reference for economic and social planning for 2021 to 2040. Its economy and development pillar seeks a productive, diversified economy driven by the private sector.
Sharia-compliant finance
Islamic banking was formally introduced in Oman in 2012 by Royal Decree 69/2012. According to the Central Bank of Oman, Islamic banking assets were approximately OMR 9.156 billion at the end of December 2025, around 20% of total banking sector assets.
Working week and time zone
- Working week
- Sunday to Thursday for the public and private sectors, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend since 1 May 2013 (as reported by Gulf News).
- Time zone
- UTC+4 (Gulf Standard Time), Muscat; no daylight saving time.
Preparing a raise in Oman
Oman works Sunday to Thursday on UTC+4: the same clock as the UAE, but a different week. Monday to Thursday is the window it shares with the UAE and with Europe.
Since 2024 the capital market and insurance have been regulated by the Financial Services Authority, and banking by the Central Bank of Oman. How a raise may be presented in Oman is a question for legal counsel before materials are circulated.
Artane Partners has no affiliation with, and is not endorsed by, any institution named on this page.
Sources
Each figure is given as its source published it, with the date stated on this page. All sources were accessed on 23 October 2026.
- Royal Decree 61/2020Establishing the Oman Investment Authority (English translation, decree.om)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of OmanOman Investment Authority results for 2025
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of OmanFuture Fund Oman launched
- Royal Decree 33/2021Establishing the Social Protection Fund (decree.om)
- Royal Decree 50/2023System of the Social Protection Fund (decree.om)
- Central Bank of OmanAbout the CBO
- Royal Decree 2/2025Banking Law (decree.om)
- Central Bank of OmanReserve management
- Royal Decree 20/2024Establishing the Financial Services Authority (decree.om)
- Financial Services AuthorityWebsite
- Royal Decree 5/2021Establishing the Muscat Stock Exchange (decree.om)
- Oman Vision 2040The vision
- Central Bank of OmanIslamic banking sector in Oman
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of OmanOman by region
- Gulf NewsOman to follow a uniform Friday-Saturday weekend, April 2013
- UAE Government portalWorking hours in the public sector
- IANA time zone databaseTime zone data for Asia
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