Private Sector Value Added Tops RO 8.6 Billion: What This Growth Means for Investors and Entrepreneurs in Oman
MUSCAT: The number of active private establishments in Oman saw a slight increase of 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, reaching 268,286 compared to 267,734 in the same period the previous year, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Medium-sized enterprises experienced the most significant growth, rising by 5.6 percent to 1,972 establishments, up from 1,867 a year earlier. Small enterprises also grew by 4.5 percent, totaling 31,000 establishments. Large enterprises increased by 3.6 percent, reaching 751 compared to 725 in the previous year. In contrast, micro-enterprises declined slightly by 0.4 percent, falling to 234,042 from 234,979.
The total value added by all enterprises amounted to RO 8.6774 billion in Q4 2025, up 4.7 percent from RO 8.2844 billion in Q4 2024. The contribution of these businesses to GDP rose by 4.6 percent, reaching approximately RO 11.0619 billion, up from RO 10.5743 billion the previous year.
Among the enterprise categories, micro-enterprises posted the fastest growth in value added at 5.6 percent, reaching RO 903 million from RO 855.2 million. Large enterprises followed with a 4.9 percent increase, rising to RO 6.3257 billion from RO 6.0321 billion. Small enterprises saw value added grow by 4.7 percent to RO 748.2 million, while medium-sized enterprises expanded by 2.7 percent to RO 700.5 million.
Employment in private sector establishments reached 1,824,477 in Q4 2025, reflecting a modest increase of 1 percent from 1,806,518 a year earlier. Medium-sized enterprises led this growth with a 7.9 percent rise in employment, reaching 163,771 employees. Small enterprises followed with a 6.7 percent increase to 573,530 employees, and large enterprises expanded their workforce by 4.4 percent to 451,491 employees. However, employment in micro-enterprises declined by 7.2 percent to 635,685 from 684,907.
— ONA
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The steady growth in medium, small, and large enterprises, alongside increased value added and employment, indicates a shifting focus toward more scalable and sustainable business segments in Oman. For businesses and investors, this trend presents an opportunity to leverage expanding mid-sized companies and capitalize on their rising economic contribution, while cautioning against overreliance on micro-enterprises, which are contracting in both numbers and workforce. Smart entrepreneurs should thus prioritize scaling operations and innovation to align with market dynamics favoring medium and large enterprises for sustained growth.
