{"id":9549,"date":"2026-03-03T17:41:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T13:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/news\/economy\/oman-safe-hormuz-moody-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T00:28:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T20:28:31","slug":"oman-safe-hormuz-moody-sp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/news\/economy\/oman-safe-hormuz-moody-sp\/","title":{"rendered":"Oman&#8217;s Resilience to Hormuz Blockage: What Moody\u2019s and S&#038;P Ratings Mean for Investors and Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(14px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-slideup{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(20px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-pulse{0%,100%{box-shadow:0 0 14px #dc262688}50%{box-shadow:0 0 32px #dc2626,0 0 60px #dc262655}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-shimmer{0%,100%{opacity:0.3;transform:scaleX(0.4)}50%{opacity:1;transform:scaleX(1)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-glow{0%,100%{opacity:0.6}50%{opacity:1}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-badge{from{opacity:0;transform:scale(0.8)}to{opacity:1;transform:scale(1)}}\r\n<\/style><style>\r\n.hitv3sogw{container-type:inline-size;width:100%;max-width:970px;margin:0 auto;box-sizing:border-box}\r\n.hitv3soga{display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;text-decoration:none;color:#fff;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,system-ui,sans-serif;position:relative;overflow:hidden;cursor:pointer;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#111118 0%,#080808 100%);border:1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.08);border-radius:14px;gap:20px;padding:20px 40px;transition:border-color .2s}\r\n.hitv3soga:hover{border-color:#dc262688}\r\n.hitv3sogg1{position:absolute;inset:0;background:radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 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solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-radius:20px;padding:3px 10px 3px 7px;margin-bottom:clamp(5px,0.6vw,9px);animation:hitv3sog-badge 0.5s ease both;\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:6px;height:6px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size:clamp(8px,0.9vw,10px);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.07em;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);text-transform:uppercase;white-space:nowrap;\">EXCLUSIVE OMAN OFFER<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogh\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.15s;\">Websites For <span style=\"color:#dc2626;\">Omani Businesses.<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogs\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.3s;\">Empower your brand with custom digital solutions designed for high conversion and market dominance.<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogbl\"><div class=\"hitv3sogbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Responsive designs built for growth<\/span><\/div><div class=\"hitv3sogbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Fast loading with smart automation<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogct\">\r\n    <button class=\"hitv3sogbtn\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-pulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;animation-delay:1s;\">Build Your Free Website <span style=\"opacity:.9;\">\u2192<\/span><\/button>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogbr\">hit.land<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>MUSCAT: Oman\u2019s strategic location outside the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz\u2014currently a major hotspot of conflict between Iran and Western powers allied with Israel\u2014positions it more favorably than other GCC countries to maintain largely uninterrupted energy and commodity exports, according to leading international ratings agencies.<\/p>\n<p>Moody\u2019s Ratings highlighted that Oman, not dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for its exports, could <strong>benefit from elevated prices and uninterrupted shipping<\/strong>. Similarly, S&amp;P Global Ratings noted that Oman&#8217;s export facilities in Suhar (on the Sea of Oman) and Al Duqm (on the Arabian Sea coast) completely avoid the Strait. Despite some related infrastructure being affected by Iranian actions, Oman is seen as less vulnerable to risks from a potential Strait blockade. These container facilities may serve as alternatives to Gulf ports, supporting regional trade routes, potentially strengthening Oman\u2019s external position and fostering economic growth.<\/p>\n<p>Moody\u2019s also pointed out that the overall credit impact will depend on the &#8220;duration of energy disruption and instability&#8221; related to the Iran conflict. While core energy infrastructure has not been directly targeted, marine traffic through the Strait has nearly halted as insurers withdraw coverage and shipping companies avoid the area amid ongoing hostilities. Several regional ports have suspended operations due to Iranian strikes, and much of the region\u2019s airspace remains closed or heavily restricted.<\/p>\n<p>According to Moody\u2019s, the credit outlook hinges on whether any disruption at the Strait proves temporary and whether alternative arrangements ensure continued energy availability. In the short term, oil reserves stored outside the Gulf\u2014such as cargoes on offshore tankers that departed before the attacks\u2014provide a buffer, similar to the mechanism following the 2019 Saudi oil facility attacks, helping to avert major export losses. Additionally, the planned OPEC+ production increase of 206,000 barrels per day from April offers limited further mitigation.<\/p>\n<p>Moody\u2019s baseline scenario assumes the conflict will be relatively short-lived, lasting a matter of weeks, with navigation through the Strait resuming at scale thereafter. Under this scenario, Moody\u2019s considers there would be no significant credit impact on rated issuers.<\/p>\n<p>However, a prolonged disruption could trigger a sustained rise in oil prices, increase global risk aversion, and widen credit spreads in high-yield markets. This would heighten refinancing risks for issuers facing near-term debt maturities, especially within energy-intensive and cyclical sectors already challenged by rising input costs.<\/p>\n<p>S&amp;P echoed these concerns, warning that an effective closure of the Strait could spread credit stress across multiple sectors. Shipping companies have already begun cancelling voyages due to threats from Iranian naval forces and soaring insurance premiums. The agency emphasized that the severity and duration of the conflict will determine the overall impact, with key transmission channels including trade and supply chains\u2014particularly energy\u2014energy prices and export volumes (notably to Asia), capital flows, tourism, and possible population movements.<\/p>\n<p>S&amp;P further warned that borrowing costs are expected to rise sharply in the near term, increasing risks for issuers with significant or imminent refinancing needs.<\/p>\n<p>In summary, Oman\u2019s geographic positioning outside the immediate conflict zone and its alternative export infrastructure could provide it with a relative advantage in sustaining trade flows and economic stability amid ongoing regional tensions.<\/p>\n<p><style>\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(14px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-slideup{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(20px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes 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solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-radius:20px;padding:3px 10px 3px 7px;margin-bottom:clamp(5px,0.6vw,9px);animation:hitl8gak-badge 0.5s ease both;\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:6px;height:6px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size:clamp(8px,0.9vw,10px);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.07em;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);text-transform:uppercase;white-space:nowrap;\">EXCLUSIVE OFFER<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakh\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.15s;\">Your Website <span style=\"color:#dc2626;\">Should Sell.<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gaks\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.3s;\">Custom-built websites with smart automation & AI-powered features.<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakbl\"><div class=\"hitl8gakbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>SEO-optimized & lightning fast<\/span><\/div><div class=\"hitl8gakbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Smart features built for your business<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitl8gakct\">\r\n    <button class=\"hitl8gakbtn\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-pulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;animation-delay:1s;\">Get Free Consultation <span style=\"opacity:.9;\">\u2192<\/span><\/button>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakbr\">hit.land<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman&#8217;s Market<\/p>\n<p>Oman\u2019s geographic advantage of being outside the Strait of Hormuz positions it as a <strong>strategic beneficiary amid regional tensions<\/strong>, offering businesses greater stability in energy exports and trade flows. <strong>Smart investors and entrepreneurs should capitalize on Oman\u2019s potential role as a regional logistics and export hub<\/strong>, while remaining vigilant of risks from prolonged regional instability that could disrupt global markets and elevate financing costs. This scenario underscores the importance of <strong>diversifying supply chains and preparing for volatility in energy prices and credit markets<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oman\u2019s strategic location outside the Strait of Hormuz positions it better than GCC peers for uninterrupted energy exports amid Iran-West tensions. Ratings agencies Moody\u2019s and S&#038;P highlight Oman\u2019s export ports bypassing the Strait, reducing risk and possibly boosting growth despite regional instability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":9550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[482],"tags":[4033,1498,161],"class_list":["post-9549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","tag-energy-exports","tag-geopolitical-risks","tag-oman"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3312454.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9549"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9551,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9549\/revisions\/9551"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}