Oman launches national fintech strategy

The Sultanate of Oman has launched a national fintech strategy and a centralised Oman Fintech Portal, led by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) in partnership with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Ministry of Finance’s National Programme for Financial Sustainability and Financial Sector Development (Istidama). The strategy sets a unified roadmap to develop the country’s financial technology ecosystem, expand access to financial services, improve interoperability, and attract international investment and expertise.

“The ambition goes beyond the Sultanate of Oman’s role in responding to shifts in the future of the financial sector; it aims to actively shape that future,” said Ahmed bin Jaffer al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, underscoring the strategy’s intent to move innovation from concept to market while maintaining financial stability.

Implementation, governance and partners

The CBO will oversee implementation and coordinate participating institutions while each regulator and government body retains its statutory responsibilities for policy and regulation. Key partners named in the rollout include:

• Financial Services Authority (FSA)
• Ministry of Finance’s Istidama programme
• Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion
• Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology
• Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
• Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development
• Invest in Oman

The strategy aims to coordinate national fintech initiatives, bolster digital infrastructure, build specialised skills, and support public–private cooperation. It emphasises maintaining standards for financial stability, market integrity, cybersecurity and consumer protection while enabling innovators to develop, test and scale products.

Oman Fintech Portal: a single entry point

Alongside the strategy, authorities launched the Oman Fintech Portal as a centralised platform to provide fintech companies and entrepreneurs with a clearer route into the Omani market. The portal will offer market information, readiness assessments, guidance on regulatory requirements and streamlined preliminary application procedures. It will connect firms with regulators and ecosystem participants, helping promising businesses transition toward formal regulatory engagement and assess market-entry opportunities.

Abdullah bin Salim al Salmi, Chief Executive Officer of the FSA, said the framework “would unify existing initiatives across different segments of the financial services industry” and support innovative business models that respond to changing customer needs while improving service efficiency and quality. The FSA will continue efforts to support innovation in non-banking financial services, including capital markets, insurance, accounting and auditing.

Context and strategic priorities

Mahmoud bin Abdullah al Awaini, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance and General Supervisor of Istidama, said the strategy forms part of broader efforts to develop Oman’s financial sector, increase its contribution to growth and diversify the economy in line with national objectives. Ibtisam bint Ahmed al Farooji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, noted that integrating the Oman Fintech Portal with the Invest in Oman platform will create a more coordinated experience for potential investors, facilitating access to stakeholders and clarifying the investment process.

Officials said a governance framework will be established to monitor progress, strengthen accountability and ensure the strategy generates measurable economic and social benefits. The initiative is positioned to attract high-quality investment, technology and expertise while developing Omani capabilities and enabling domestic entrepreneurs to create competitive, export-capable financial products.