Oman Digitizes Over 2,000 Government Services: What This Means for Investors and Entrepreneurs in the Digital Economy

Muscat — Oman has digitized more than 2,000 government services between 2021 and 2025 and recorded 48 million digital transactions in 2025, a 78% increase year‑on‑year, underscoring rapid expansion of the Sultanate’s digital economy as it seeks to scale from roughly 2% of GDP today to 3% by 2025 and 10% by 2040, senior officials told a recent Ramadhan session.

"Oman’s digital economy is evolving from an ambitious concept into a billion‑dollar powerhouse significantly boosting the nation’s GDP," said Dr. Ali bin Amer al Shidani, Under‑Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, citing findings from the Global Digital Economy Report 2026 by the International Data Center Association.

Key facts and government targets

• Global ranking: 2nd in the Gulf, 3rd in the Arab world and 18th globally in the Global Digital Economy Report 2026.
• Local digitization: Over 2,000 services moved online between 2021 and 2025.
• Transactions: 48 million digital transactions in 2025, up 78% from 2024.
• Workforce: 1,289 Omani nationals employed in IT roles across 33 specialized technical professions in 2025.
• Economic targets: Increase digital contribution to GDP from ~2% to 3% by 2025; target 10% by 2040.

The government has embedded the digital economy into national strategy through the National Digital Economy Programme, approved by the Council of Ministers, and by elevating the sector to a standalone pillar in the Eleventh Five‑Year Plan alongside Oman Vision 2040. Dr. Al Shidani said the projected gains are expected to be refined with better data in collaboration with the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

The Global Digital Economy Report 2026 provides wider context: the global digital sector expanded substantially in 2025 and is forecast to grow by about 9.5% in 2026, potentially reaching roughly US$28 trillion or 22% of global GDP — more than three times the IMF’s forecasted global GDP growth rate. The report highlights investments in ICT equipment, software and databases as primary growth drivers.

For investors and entrepreneurs, the scale of public digitization and explicit policy support signal market openings across government procurement, cloud and software services, digital payments, and skills development. Omanet’s special analysis on the subject recommended proactive positioning, noting: "Smart stakeholders should prioritize digital skill development and technology investment now to stay ahead in this evolving landscape."

Practical implications include stronger demand for enterprise software, cybersecurity, systems integration and training services to support government platforms and the private sector’s digital adoption. The recorded 1,289 Omanis working in 33 specialized IT professions in 2025 points to an emerging domestic talent pool, but the numbers also imply continued need for upskilling and hiring to meet scaling demands.

Outlook: with formal programmes and targets in place, Oman’s public sector digitization provides predictable demand signals for technology vendors and service providers. Investors will watch how the National Digital Economy Programme translates into procurement pipelines and private‑sector partnerships, while entrepreneurs can leverage rising transaction volumes and state digital platforms to pilot services that address citizen and business needs.