Monday 27 / October / 2025
Muscat: Seventy-four percent of the Oman Vision 2040 performance indicators show remarkable advancement towards achieving their established targets, according to the fourth periodic progress report.
The Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit in its comprehensive report for 2024-2025, details significant implementation efforts and concrete achievements across various units of the State Administrative Apparatus during the previous year (2024) and the first half of the current year (2025), demonstrating substantial progress toward realizing the Vision's objectives across multiple economic and developmental sectors.
Dr. Khamis bin Saif Al Jabri, Head of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, emphasised that the report's publication reflects the government's institutional commitment to transparency and community engagement as fundamental components of the national work system.
The document provides a thorough assessment of national priority performance within the Vision's framework and presents detailed analysis of indicators measuring tangible progress toward target achievement.
Al Jabri noted that accomplishments realised in recent years demonstrate the sustained commitment of all government entities and national sectors to their respective responsibilities, embodying the collaborative spirit that forms the foundation of Oman Vision 2040.
He affirmed that practical experience has validated integrated cross-sectoral collaboration as the optimal methodology for achieving the nation's transformational objectives and enhancing Oman's preparedness to navigate global developments while advancing confidently toward the future.
He further observed that international developments directly impact national economies and development strategies, necessitating sophisticated flexibility in strategic management, adaptive response capabilities, and efficient management of external influences.
He commended government entities for their substantial investments in institutional capacity development aligned with the comprehensive modernization required to fulfill Vision objectives.
This has been demonstrated through the effective implementation of numerous national and strategic programs, projects, and initiatives, supported by the coordinated efforts of national priority support teams, specialised technical units within the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, and their counterparts throughout government institutions.
Al Jabri stressed that the continued successful implementation of Oman Vision 2040 requires persistent coordination and integration across all sectors, noting that current achievements represent initial milestones in the Vision's ongoing journey toward the comprehensive realization of its national goals and strategic targets.
Within the People and Society pillar, the report documents numerous qualitative achievements across education, healthcare, social welfare, protection systems, citizenship development, and national heritage preservation.
These components form the foundational framework for enhancing quality of life and citizen empowerment, translating national aspirations into tangible progress toward a prosperous, cohesive, and advanced society.
The Sultanate of Oman continues to strengthen its integrated educational and research ecosystem with an emphasis on quality enhancement.
The education sector has implemented curriculum modernisation through the adoption of international standards in science, English language, and information technology, activated the national school evaluation framework, and advanced digital literacy initiatives.
A comprehensive national framework for technical and vocational education, developed in partnership with the private sector, is currently being implemented to equip Omani youth with the technical competencies required for future workplace demands.
In higher education, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) achieved significant advancement in global rankings, rising to 334th position from its previous ranking of 362nd, with its performance metric improving from 31.7 to 42.3 points due to enhanced academic reputation, research quality, and graduate employment outcomes.
Additionally, three private institutions gained international accreditation for the first time, signalling the growing global competitiveness of Oman's higher education sector.
In innovation and research, Oman advanced five positions in the Global Innovation Index to reach 69th globally, achieved a remarkable 60-position improvement in the patent index to claim 38th place, and rose to 47th position in the trademarks index.
These advancements reflect the maturation of Oman's innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurship environment, alongside strengthened national incentives for scientific research and technological development.
Omani universities attracted more than 3,400 international students through the "Study in Oman" initiative, approved 475 research projects, funded 61 applied research initiatives valued at over RO 2.5 million, registered 128 patents, and engaged over 5,000 researchers on the "Shuaa" digital platform.
Innovation-driven programmes including "Upgrade," the Oman Innovation Festival, and the Cybersecurity Laboratory have successfully translated research concepts into practical applications and startup enterprises, contributing significantly to the knowledge-based economy.
The healthcare sector achieved measurable improvements in service quality and operational efficiency, marked by the enactment of the Public Health Law, the inauguration of 10 new healthcare facilities, and the enhancement of 21 existing institutions.
The sector celebrated the opening of the University Medical City and the Medical City for Military and Security Services, while achieving the milestone of Oman's first successful heart transplant from a brain-dead donor.
Digital health transformation advanced through the implementation of virtual clinics and electronic reservation systems, complemented by expanded early screening programs for genetic disorders, a comprehensive national survey for non-communicable diseases, and the integration of mental health services into primary care delivery.
Social welfare and protection systems demonstrated significant strengthening through the expansion of social housing programmes, including the launch of the " Iskan" initiative that has facilitated financing for over 61,000 families while reducing waiting periods to under six months.
More than 200 new housing units valued at over OMR14 million have been allocated, while social protection coverage now encompasses all categories of employment contracts, including mandatory registration for self-employed workers.
Additional pension benefits have been disbursed to more than 76,000 eligible citizens, complemented by youth empowerment programs such as the National Youth Strategy and the "Sanad" volunteer programme. Oman advanced nine positions in the Social Progress Index to rank 59th globally and fourth among GCC states.
Cultural development and national identity preservation achievements include the inauguration of the Oman Cultural Complex and the Oman Encyclopedia for Youth, the inclusion of the historical manuscript "Al-NuniyahAl-Kubra(The Great Nuniyah) in UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme, and the recognition of the "Shabab Oman" sailing training vessel program for peace and sustainable cultural dialogue through inscription on UNESCO's Register of Good Safeguarding Practices for Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024.
By May 2025, Oman had secured the inclusion of 17 cultural elements in UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage alongside five world heritage site designations.
The Sultanate of Oman's global cultural presence has been further elevated through the Oman Gallery exhibition at Russia's Hermitage Museum and the prestigious Best Design award at the 2025 London Design Biennale, demonstrating the successful integration of creative expression into socioeconomic development while strengthening national identity.
Oman's economic diversification strategy continues to enhance the contribution of non-hydrocarbon sectors to national GDP while strengthening resilience against global market fluctuations.
During 2024, non-oil sectors accounted for 72.8% of economic output compared to 30.9% from hydrocarbon activities, with manufacturing recording 8.3% growth and agriculture and fisheries expanding by 2.8%.
The current account achieved a surplus of 1.83% for the third consecutive year, substantially exceeding the -7% target and reflecting Oman's strengthened financial capacity and growing foreign reserves.
Public expenditure increased to 29.5% of GDP while non-oil revenues stabilized at 8.53% with an annual growth rate of 6.8% throughout the 2021-2024 period. Public debt decreased to RO 14.4 billion, representing 35.5% of GDP and reinforcing fiscal sustainability.
Private sector investment rose to 17% of GDP with an 8.4% annual growth rate, while foreign direct investment increased by 18% to reach RO 30.1 billion, accounting for 11.1% of GDP and surpassing the Vision's annual target of 7%. Oman maintained its 58th position globally in the 2025 Economic Freedom Index.
The Sultanate of Oman continues to build a diversified, technology-driven knowledge economy, achieving credit rating improvements through prudent debt management and establishing the RO 2 billion "Future Fund Oman" to finance promising projects in future economic sectors. Development and operation agreements for the first phase of the Al Rawdah Economic Zone in Al Buraimi Governorate have been finalized, while the Oman Building Code has been implemented to enhance energy efficiency in construction. More than 25 economic initiatives have been launched, including programs for repurposing mining industry byproducts, localizing solar panel manufacturing, and reassessing mineral resource potential in Musandam Governorate.
Private sector engagement has been strengthened through the establishment of the National Negotiation Team and the creation of the specialised Investment and Commerce Court. Cumulative investment across economic zones, free zones, and industrial estates has reached approximately OMR20.9 billion, while the clean energy portfolio has expanded to include eight green hydrogen projects.
Entrepreneurship support mechanisms include dedicated programs for startups and small-to-medium enterprises, streamlined regulatory processes through the " Invest Oman Lounge", and the Rapid Intervention Window which resolved 63 investor requests by mid-2025. Enhanced governance standards for family businesses ensure their long-term sustainability and contribution to economic development.
Five integrated economic clusters have been established to support industrial diversification, while the Royal Decree establishing the Promising Companies Market has been issued. The second phase of the "Nazdahir" programme has been launched to strengthen the national business environment, private sector development, and international trade. The newly established National Foresight Office has introduced 29 leadership development programmes and initiatives to build national capacity for managing economic transformation and achieving institutional integration.
Sustainable urban development projects include the Urban Planning Law, Detailed Planning Guidelines, and the Urban Observatory monitoring system, complemented by strategic road network expansions and delegated administrative authorities to governorate-level directors. Community engagement has been enhanced through the "All Oman" initiative, benefiting approximately 4,185 citizens since its launch by the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit last year.
Labour market modernization includes updated legislative frameworks and the activation of digital platforms such as "Marsad," "Khuta," and the "Freelance Work Platform," supported by comprehensive youth training and qualification programs. These initiatives have increased skilled employment in the private sector to 56.6%, achieved 2.2% labour productivity growth, and raised the Omanis share of new employment opportunities to 11.8%, supported by the National Employment Program and educational alignment with market requirements.
The Environment and Sustainable Development pillar reflects Oman's commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable economic growth that safeguards resources for future generations.
The 2024-2025 period witnessed substantial achievements in environmental protection and sustainability initiatives.
Climate action advancements include the establishment of the Oman Net Zero Centre to coordinate emissions reduction strategies, while protected natural areas expanded to 31 sites through the addition of five new reserves. National afforestation efforts have planted over 3.3 million trees and distributed 24 million seeds, with 44 engineered landfills developed to increase recycling rates to 38%.
Waste management infrastructure has been transformed through the Barka waste-to-energy facility, processing 4,500 tonnes daily while generating 140 megawatts of electricity, supported by 50 air quality monitoring stations and 37 radiation monitoring installations.
Circular economy initiatives include the waste trading platform and 86 construction waste recycling sites, alongside progressive restrictions on single-use plastics.
Food and water security measures include the designation of 25 essential commodities within the national food basket, the OMR5 million Omani Wheat Initiative running through 2027, 48 strategic commodity storage facilities, and the Sohar Port grain silos complex. Aquaculture development encompasses 37 projects with investments exceeding OMR278 million, enhancing food security while creating new economic opportunities.
Clean energy investments totalling OMR533 million include the Amin solar project, Ibri 2 station, and Manah 1 and 2 stations, supplemented by two green hydrogen agreements in Dhofar Governorate.
With eight total projects and anticipated investments exceeding OMR6.5 billion by 2030, these initiatives accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, particularly within the Special Economic Zone at Duqm where hydrogen and green steel projects are advancing rapidly.
Environmental performance shows notable improvement, with Oman advancing 94 positions in the Environmental Performance Index to rank 55th globally and second among Arab states, driven by Net Zero Carbon Strategy implementation and protected area expansion. Water security metrics remain stable at 520 cubic metres per capita annually with projections of 600 cubic metres by 2030, while renewable energy consumption is expected to grow progressively as solar, wind, and hydrogen projects come online.
Governance and institutional performance have been substantially enhanced during 2024-2025, reflecting the national commitment to operational excellence, transparency, and public trust in government institutions.
Anti-corruption efforts have advanced Oman's position by 20 places in the Corruption Perceptions Index to 50th globally, following implementation of the National Integrity Plan and legislative reforms for public fund protection.
The specialised Investment and Commerce Court established under Royal Decree No. (35/2025) has reduced Supreme Court appeal timelines from 186 to 136 days, while technical integration between judicial and civil registration systems enhances investor protection. The Supreme Judicial Council's first operational plan (2024-2030) has been implemented, alongside virtual court proceedings and 142 judicial service guides, complemented by an AI-enabled digital legal library.
E-government development has advanced Oman's ranking by nine positions to 41st globally, driven by digital service expansion and the " Tajawob" stakeholder engagement platform.
Implementation coordination has been strengthened through 64 Vision’s follow-up offices across government entities, while 267 automated services improve efficiency and transparency. Leadership development programmes have enhanced administrative capabilities in governance, management, and digital transformation, ensuring strategic alignment with the Vision’s priorities and institutional performance improvement.
