Thursday 16 / April / 2026
Muscat: The Capital Market Authority (CMA) conducted a panel discussion on initial public offerings (IPOs) and addressed the regulations and requirements of this process, as a preparation for the upcoming IPO.
The discussion session was with the participation of representatives of the Oman Investment Authority, Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX), Muscat Clearing and Depository, OQ, Omani Securities Association and other related entities.
This is part of the CMA's efforts to review the policies and requirements of public offerings in the securities market and encourage institutions of the private sector to convert into public stock companies.
Ahmed bin Ali bin Saif Al Mamari, CMA’s Executive Vice President initiated the panel discussion’s agenda with the opening speech saying that this panel is based on the community partnership adopted by the CMA when reviewing and assessing the legislative and regulatory frameworks of the financial services market in the Sultanate of Oman.
He also pointed out that this meeting aims at reviewing and assessing the procedures for conversion into public companies and streamlining such procedures to achieve the aspirations of companies and MSX traders, as a preparation for the upcoming IPO and with the participation of institutions directly related to the upcoming IPO. Such participation will assist in achieving convergence of views that ensure the success of the upcoming IPO as well as enhancing the MSX performance.
Al Mamari also stressed that new IPOs always contribute to providing new investment opportunities for local and international investors and clears the way for new investors to join the market. This eventually boosts the ratios of free shares in the market and increases trading activity. The discussion will focus on several topics assessing listing requirements, pricing mechanisms, allocation policies and other topics related to technical and legislative aspects.
In addition, the Executive Vice President also pointed out that this panel discussion aligns with the government’s interest in benefiting from the potential of the capital market regarding financing major production projects led by the private sector and is counted on to achieve one of the main priorities of Oman Vision 2040 aiming at diversification of the Omani economy, enhancing the Sultanate’s financial resources and activating the role of the private sector in the national economy.
He also said that the government has adopted a national policy aiming at privatising a part of government-owned companies' ownership to accomplish financial and economic objectives that serve the public interest.
The Oman Investment Authority supervises the implementation of such policy after it announced its intention to exit 35 owned companies and their affiliates within five years.
During its opening speech, Al Mamari emphasised that the CMA and its legislative policies pay great attention to full transparency in all public offerings and listing processes through suitable pricing of securities and ensuring fair opportunities for all investors including individuals and small investors. This is because the objectives of the national policy related to the privatisation of public companies through public offering are not limited to achieving financial returns to the country and attracting foreign investments but also attracting savings to individuals by providing them with proper investment opportunities and enhancing their investments in the MSX.
It is worth mentioning that the panel has received positive interaction from participants by looking through previous experiences. The panel also contributed to presenting the latest updates of the global markets on the management of issuances especially with the role played by technology breakthroughs. Additionally, efforts of assessing and reviewing listing requirements are one of the CMA’s targets that aims at enhancing the performance of the capital market and the CMA’s competency, in line with the CMA’S strategic plan (2021-2025).
