Private Enterprises Face Q2 2025 Value Added Dip: What It Means for Investors and Business Growth in Oman
MUSCAT, October 23 — Oman’s total gross value added (GVA) from private enterprises reached RO 8,147.3 million in the second quarter of 2025, marking a slight decrease of 0.8% compared to RO 8,209.9 million in the same period of 2024, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Large enterprises continued to dominate the value added, accounting for 59.3% of the total. However, their contribution declined by 2.0%, falling from RO 6,154.3 million in Q2 2024 to RO 6,031.1 million in Q2 2025.
Micro enterprises showed the most significant growth, increasing by 3.8% to RO 817.0 million, up from RO 787.5 million a year earlier. Small enterprises also grew by 3.6%, reaching RO 673.2 million, while medium enterprises experienced a 1.2% increase to RO 625.9 million.
The number of active private-sector enterprises rose by 12.1%, totaling 282,764 in Q2 2025, compared to 252,312 in Q2 2024. Micro enterprises constituted the majority at 88.8%, followed by small enterprises at 10.3%, medium enterprises at 0.7%, and large enterprises at 0.3%.
Employment within private enterprises grew by 1.2%, with total workers reaching 1,802,972 by the end of Q2 2025. Employment gains were led by micro enterprises, which saw a 3.9% increase to 696,622 workers, large enterprises, up 1.7% to 433,912 workers, and medium enterprises, which grew by 1.2% to 152,827 workers. Conversely, small enterprises experienced a 2.6% decline in employment, employing 519,611 workers compared to 533,415 the previous year.
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The slight overall decline in gross value added, led by large enterprises, signals a potential shift in Oman’s economic landscape, highlighting growth opportunities in the micro and small enterprise sectors, which are driving employment and new business formation. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider focusing on scaling innovative micro and small enterprises, while monitoring large enterprise adjustments to capitalize on emerging market dynamics. This trend underscores the increasing importance of agility and diversification in Oman’s private sector.
