New Initiatives to Boost Small Hotel Apartment Market in Oman: What Investors and Entrepreneurs Need to Know
Muscat – Visit Oman and Omran Group have unveiled new initiatives to support small hotel apartment owners in listing their properties more effectively.
Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) has announced the acquisition of a stake in the UK-based UnderTheDoormat Group, a short-term rental and property technology company. This investment is valued at RO 1.81 million (approximately $4.7 million).
Shabib bin Mohammed al Maamari, Managing Director of Visit Oman, emphasized the significance of this move, stating, “This investment will bolster the short-stay rental market in the Sultanate of Oman.”
UnderTheDoormat’s technology enables property owners—whether they have houses, apartments, or farmhouses—to distribute their listings across more than 50 platforms, including Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia. Al Maamari explained, “If you own multiple properties, the system digitally manages and distributes them, preventing double bookings and managing inventory on your behalf. It also features a payment gateway, offering a seamless experience for both customers and property owners.”
He highlighted a common issue in the sector: “Property owners listing a single apartment across various platforms often face double bookings. UnderTheDoormat resolves this by managing inventory and calculating tax. Additionally, it can link with relevant authorities to provide necessary information such as passport or ID copies for verification. This data also benefits agencies like the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism by supplying demographic insights useful for marketing campaigns.”
In addition to this investment, Visit Oman has recently established partnerships with several Omani travel technology companies: the ‘My Ticket’ platform for managing ticket bookings and tourist experiences; ‘Yalla Pass’ for event tickets; ‘My Events’ for event management; ‘Valu’ for hotel and chalet reservations; the ‘Masarra’ app for rest houses, chalets, and apartments; and the ‘Joula’ platform for tourist guides.
Moreover, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed an agreement with a national travel operator to develop and implement an integrated digital platform enabling Omani tourist guides to directly offer and showcase their experiences to visitors.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
Oman’s strategic investment in UnderTheDoormat signals a transformative shift for the short-stay rental market, offering small property owners scalable digital distribution and inventory management across multiple global platforms. This creates significant growth opportunities for hospitality entrepreneurs to leverage technology for operational efficiency and enhanced customer reach while also minimizing risks like double-booking. Smart investors should consider the rising potential in Oman’s tourism tech ecosystem, especially in integrated digital platforms enabling seamless service delivery and data-driven marketing insights.
