Muscat Securities Market Surpasses 6,000 Points: What This Historic Milestone Means for Investors and Businesses in Oman
MUSCAT: The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) has surpassed the 6,000-point mark for the first time in over nine years, achieving a historic milestone that cements Oman’s capital market as the best-performing stock exchange in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
In early 2026, the MSX 30 Index broke through the 6,000-point level, a peak last reached in the third quarter of 2016. This achievement reflects sustained positive momentum driven by regulatory reforms, market development initiatives, and growing investor confidence. Since the beginning of 2026, the benchmark index has risen approximately 3 percent compared to its close in 2025, continuing the robust upward trend established the previous year.
Haitham Al Salmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Muscat Stock Exchange, called this breakthrough a defining moment for the market. He stated, “Reaching the 6,000-point level is a significant milestone in the history of the Muscat Stock Exchange, a level not seen since the third quarter of 2016. This performance results from a cumulative upward trend over the past five years following the exchange’s legal transformation and the implementation of effective regulatory and developmental strategies, which paved the way for this historic achievement in early 2026.”
The rally has been supported by notable improvements in key market indicators. Market capitalisation increased by around 16 percent over the past year, exceeding RO 32 billion. Meanwhile, total trading value surged by more than 300 percent, reaching RO 5.04 billion. The average daily trading value rose to approximately RO 20.4 million, also up over 300 percent compared to the previous year. These figures signal enhanced liquidity, greater trading activity, and stronger engagement from both domestic and international investors.
The MSX’s resurgence follows a stellar performance in 2025, when Oman ranked as the top-performing equity market in the GCC. Data from Vision Capital and Kamco Invest shows the MSX 30 Index gained 28.2 percent during the year, significantly outpacing regional counterparts amidst varied market conditions across the Gulf.
By contrast, Saudi Arabia’s equity market declined by 12.8 percent in 2025, marking it as the region’s weakest performer. Abu Dhabi recorded a gain of 6.1 percent, Dubai advanced 17.2 percent—primarily driven by strength in real estate and services stocks—Qatar had a marginal increase of 1.8 percent, Bahrain rose 4.1 percent, and Kuwait, the GCC’s second-best performer, posted a 21.2 percent gain, still well behind Oman’s pace.
Several structural factors have underpinned the MSX’s strong performance. These include diversification of listed securities through a series of initial public offerings by the Oman Investment Authority, initiatives under the National Programme for Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Sector Development (Estidamah), and the activation of liquidity providers and market makers to boost market depth and trading balance. Collectively, these efforts have reduced concentration risk, improved investment efficiency, and expanded the investor base.
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The Muscat Stock Exchange crossing the 6,000-point mark signals renewed investor confidence and robust market fundamentals, presenting a compelling opportunity for businesses to leverage increased capital access and enhanced liquidity. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should capitalize on Oman’s improving regulatory environment and diversified market offerings while monitoring potential volatility linked to regional economic shifts. This milestone underscores Oman’s rising prominence as a GCC investment hub, encouraging strategic long-term positioning in its evolving capital market landscape.
