Oman’s Leap in Competitiveness: What Advancing 3 Places Means for Investors and Entrepreneurs
Geneva: The Sultanate of Oman has made significant progress in the 2026 World Competitiveness Report, climbing three places to secure the 25th position globally out of 70 economies, up from 28th in 2025. This improvement highlights the ongoing enhancement of Oman’s national economic competitiveness and the increasing appeal of its business and investment environment.
This accomplishment reflects national efforts to boost competitiveness and improve the investment climate, driven by the implementation of Oman Vision 2040, economic diversification initiatives, and recent legislative and regulatory reforms.
The 2026 report marks Oman’s second participation, following its debut in 2025 through a collaboration between the National Competitiveness Office and the World Competitiveness Center at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). This partnership allows Oman to measure its performance according to an internationally recognized framework that evaluates four key areas: Economic Performance, Government Efficiency, Business Efficiency, and Infrastructure.
Oman excelled in several critical areas, ranking 15th globally in Government Efficiency and 18th in Business Efficiency. These rankings reflect effective government policies and ongoing investments in infrastructure and services that support economic growth.
The report highlights Oman’s competitive strengths as an investment destination, including 1st place globally for no personal income tax, 2nd for tax revenue collected, 4th for investment incentives and consumption tax rate, and 7th for inward foreign direct investment as a percentage of GDP—underscoring the country’s attractive investment climate and growing economic confidence.
In policy and legislative efficiency, Oman achieved high rankings: 5th in investment incentives, 7th in legal and regulatory framework, 7th in the adaptability of government policies, and 6th in public finance and social cohesion—affirming the stability and competitiveness of its business environment.
Under the Economic Performance pillar, Oman ranked 4th worldwide for low risk of business relocation abroad, 9th for inflation control, 10th for economic resilience, and 14th for growth in gross fixed capital formation, reflecting a stable economy capable of sustaining growth and investment.
In Business Efficiency and entrepreneurship, Oman ranked 1st globally in corporate engagement with potential biases in AI applications, 3rd for entrepreneurial acceptance of failure, 7th for venture capital availability, and 10th in entrepreneurial spirit—demonstrating a dynamic business environment fostering innovation.
Oman also led in Infrastructure and digital transformation, ranking 1st in mobile broadband subscribers, 4th in AI skills and corporate commitment to AI-related legislation, 5th in environmental laws, and 7th in telecommunications investment. These rankings emphasize Oman’s readiness for a digital future economy.
The CEO survey, a key element of the index, identified government policy stability as the top factor attracting investment to Oman (50.7%), followed by a business-friendly environment (42%), government efficiency (39.1%), and economic dynamism (37.7%), reflecting strong private sector confidence.
The National Competitiveness Office, in partnership with government and private sectors, continues to monitor Oman’s international performance, identify areas for improvement, and promote national competitiveness in line with Oman Vision 2040 targets. — ONA
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Oman’s rise to 25th globally in the 2026 World Competitiveness Report signals strengthened government efficiency, business climate, and infrastructure, making it a highly attractive hub for investment and economic diversification. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should capitalize on Oman’s robust policy stability, competitive tax environment, and leadership in AI and digital infrastructure to innovate and grow within a secure and dynamic market. However, continued vigilance in policy adaptation and sectoral diversification remains crucial to sustain this upward momentum aligned with Vision 2040.
