Saturday 07 / November / 2026
Muscat: Oman's Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Centre initiated investigations into nine complaints and reports involving anti-competitive practices and reviewed six economic concentration applications during the first half of 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen market efficiency and safeguard fair competition.
The centre, operating under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, also monitored more than 300 transactions related to economic concentration through the Oman Business platform, alongside changes in the market shares of major shareholders using data from the Muscat Clearing and Depository Company.
The initiatives aim to prevent monopolistic practices, protect national industries and create a competitive business environment that attracts domestic and foreign investment, in line with Oman Vision 2040.
Khalid bin Khamis Al-Masrouri, Acting Director General of the centre, said fair competition was essential for building an efficient and flexible economy, improving product and service quality, encouraging innovation and ensuring equal opportunities for businesses of all sizes.
He said the centre combines enforcement of competition legislation, market monitoring and economic analysis to identify and address potential market distortions before they become more serious.
He added that reviewing economic concentration applications helps balance investment and business expansion with the need to prevent monopolistic practices and unjustified market dominance.
The centre is also working to update competition legislation, prepare an integrated national competition policy, develop indicators to measure market competitiveness and expand the use of digital tools, data analytics and early-warning systems to identify potential risks.
Meanwhile, Badr bin Mubarak Al-Hajri, Head of the Anti-Dumping Department at the ministry, said measures to combat harmful international trade practices play an important role in protecting national industries and strengthening their competitiveness.
He explained that dumping occurs when imported products are sold at prices below their normal value, potentially harming domestic producers of similar goods.
The ministry coordinates with relevant Gulf authorities to investigate unfair import practices in accordance with established legal procedures and technical and economic assessments, while balancing the protection of local industries with Oman's international trade obligations.
He added that the ministry also supports Omani exporters facing similar trade measures in foreign markets by coordinating investigations with national companies and relevant authorities and providing the necessary information to defend their interests.
In sectoral research, the centre has completed more than 90 per cent of recommendations arising from studies on hypermarkets and retail markets, as well as price variations in vehicles and spare parts.
It has also continued studies on the building materials and construction sector in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), alongside research into e-commerce and its implications for market competition.
To strengthen awareness and compliance, the centre published five guidance manuals on the ministry's official website explaining competition regulations and the requirements of the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Law issued under Royal Decree No. 67/2014 and its executive regulations under Decision No. 18/2021.
Its plans for the next phase include updating the legislative framework, developing national competition indicators, automating services and establishing a central database linked to an early-warning system to detect monopolistic practices and market distortions.
The centre also plans to strengthen cooperation with GCC countries and international organisations through memoranda of understanding, regulatory coordination and the exchange of expertise.
These measures form part of Oman's broader efforts to promote transparency, protect national industries, strengthen investor confidence and support economic diversification and sustainable growth.
