Saturday 20 / June / 2026
MUSCAT: The Oman Business Platform is strengthening its role as a key digital gateway for investors and businesses in Oman, as the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion accelerates efforts to simplify procedures and advance the country's digital transformation agenda.
New statistics released by the ministry's Department of Information, Data and Statistics for the first quarter of 2026 show a significant shift in investor behavior toward digital services, with self-service channels becoming the preferred option for completing commercial transactions.
Hamid bin Hamad Al-Barashdi, Assistant Director of the Auditors Department and a member of the ministry's Digital Transformation Team, said several new services have been introduced on the platform, including data correction and commercial registration ownership transfer through visual documentation. Enhancements were also made to the obligations register to improve service efficiency and user experience.
Among the updates, the ministry introduced a merger option within the service pathway, while setting a 30-day objection period for merger requests from the date of announcement publication. Final approval procedures are completed after the objection period expires.
Al-Barashdi said the improvements are part of ongoing efforts to streamline procedures, enhance digital services and improve the experience of investors and business owners, supporting the broader goal of strengthening Oman’s business environment.
Aisha bint Abdullah Al-Wadadi, systems analyst and member of the ministry's Digital Transformation Team, said the growing reliance on the platform's self-service channel reflects the success of the ministry's strategy to simplify services and build investor confidence in digital solutions.
She noted that the platform has evolved beyond a tool for registering and amending commercial records, becoming an integrated business partner that facilitates trade, supports product quality assurance and contributes to building a competitive investment environment aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
According to the data, the self-service channel recorded 38,551 completed transactions during the first quarter of 2026, representing a 1.3 percent increase compared with the same period last year. The cumulative number of transactions completed through the self-service portal since its launch has reached 1.16 million.
The report also highlighted a sharp decline in reliance on traditional service channels. Transactions completed through ministry front offices fell by 86.3 percent to 2,029 during the first quarter, compared with 14,773 transactions during the same period in 2025.
Similarly, transactions processed through the ministry's regional directorates and departments declined by 47.5 percent, dropping from 2,440 transactions to 1,282, further demonstrating growing confidence in digital self-service options.
Despite the shift in service channels, the total number of transactions completed through all registration channels remained stable at 62,605 during the first quarter. Since its launch, the Oman Business platform has facilitated more than 3.09 million transactions.
The platform's role has also expanded into trade facilitation and product quality assurance through its conformity certification permits service for imported goods and products. During the first quarter of 2026, the platform processed 1,202 conformity certifications.
Cosmetic products accounted for the largest share with 413 certifications, followed by children's toys with 217 certifications and lead-acid vehicle batteries with 179 certifications. Certifications for low-voltage electrical devices and equipment increased by 35.1 percent to 127, compared with 94 during the same period last year.
The latest figures underscore the success of Oman's digital transformation strategy, with the Oman Business platform emerging as the primary channel for investors and businesses to complete transactions efficiently and securely. The growth in digital services supports the country's efforts to enhance competitiveness, improve ease of doing business and achieve the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
