TUNIS: Tunisia expects to reduce its fiscal deficit to 5.5 percent next year from a forecast 7.7 percent this year, driven by austerity measures that could pave the way for a final deal with the International Monetary Fund on a rescue package.
The country has been in urgent need of international help for months as it grapples with a crisis in public finances that has raised fears it may default on debt and has contributed to shortages of food and fuel, according to government critics.
The Economy Ministry said on Friday that economic growth next year would be 1.8 percent, compared with 2.5 percent expected this year.
The country’s external borrowing needs next year will increase by 34 percent to 16 billion dinars ($5.2 billion) while public debt is expected to rise by 44.4 percent to 20.7 billion dinars.
Tunisia has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a $1.9 billion rescue package in exchange for unpopular reforms, including cutting food and energy subsidies, and overhauling public companies. It aims to reach a final deal in weeks.
PAINFUL REFORMS
According to next year’s budget published by the economy ministry, Tunisia intends to reduce subsidy expenditure by 26.4 percent to 8.8 billion dinars.
The government is also seeking to raise tax revenue by 12.5 percent to 40 billion dinars with the rate for some jobs increasing to 19 percent from 13 percent.
The powerful UGTT union, with about 1 million members, has said it would reject the finance law if it was passed, adding it could cause a social explosion as Tunisians struggle with poverty and inflation, which hit a record 9.8 percent last month.
The ministry said it expects inflationary pressure to continue with the start of the reforms, which union called “very painful.”
Tunisia seeks to cut fiscal deficit to 5.5% in 2023, led by economic reforms
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Tunisia seeks to cut fiscal deficit to 5.5% in 2023, led by economic reforms
- The country has been in urgent need of international help for months as it grapples with a crisis in public finances
- The Economy Ministry said on Friday that economic growth next year would be 1.8%, compared with 2.5% expected this year
Oman airport passenger traffic rises 2.8% in 2025
RIYADH: Passenger traffic through airports in Oman increased by 2.8 percent in 2025, reaching 14.9 million travelers by the end of December, up from 14.5 million passengers a year earlier, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information and reported by Oman News Agency.
Despite the rise in passenger volumes, total flight movements across the country’s airports declined by 2.8 percent to 104,510 flights in 2025, compared with 107,546 flights during the same period in 2024, indicating higher load factors and network optimization by airlines.
At Muscat International Airport, international flights fell by 4.5 percent to 82,913 in 2025 from 86,797 a year earlier. Nevertheless, international passenger numbers rose by 1.3 percent to 11.8 million, compared with 11.6 million in 2024. Domestic activity at Muscat showed stronger momentum, with flights increasing 6.6 percent to 9,606 from 9,009, while domestic passenger numbers climbed 12 percent to 1.3 million, up from 1.1 million.
At Salalah Airport, international flights declined 2.4 percent to 4,886 in 2025, compared with 5,008 in 2024. International passenger numbers remained broadly stable at 678,591, slightly higher than 678,402 a year earlier. Domestic operations recorded robust growth, with flights rising 14.3 percent to 6,227 from 5,450 and passenger numbers increasing 17.7 percent to 1,023,529, up from 869,954.
Sohar Airport saw a sharp contraction in international traffic, as flights dropped 77.8 percent to 110 in 2025 from 495 in 2024. International passenger numbers plunged 99.1 percent to 390 travelers, compared with 44,897 a year earlier. Domestic flights at Sohar declined 9.1 percent to 150 from 165, while passenger numbers fell 21.8 percent to 18,247, down from 23,331.
At Duqm Airport, domestic flights edged down 0.6 percent to 618 in 2025 from 622 in 2024. Passenger numbers slipped marginally by 0.4 percent to 60,893, compared with 61,137 the previous year.
Overall, the figures reflect steady growth in passenger demand across Oman’s main airports, driven largely by domestic travel, even as airlines reduced flight frequencies during the year.
