Oman’s GDP grows 0.6% in Q2 as non-oil sectors offset oil decline  

According to preliminary data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, this growth was largely driven by a 4 percent increase in non-oil activities, which rose to 7.05 billion rials from 6.78 billion a year earlier. Shutterstock
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Updated 05 October 2025
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Oman’s GDP grows 0.6% in Q2 as non-oil sectors offset oil decline  

RIYADH: Oman’s gross domestic product at current prices grew by 0.6 percent in the second quarter of 2025, reaching 10.17 billion Omani rials ($26.4 billion) compared to 10.10 billion rials during the same period in 2024.

According to preliminary data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, this growth was largely driven by a 4 percent increase in non-oil activities, which rose to 7.05 billion rials from 6.78 billion a year earlier.  

At constant prices, Oman’s economy showed firmer underlying momentum. GDP at constant prices reached 9.4 billion rials, a 2.1 percent increase, with total non-petroleum activities up 4.1 percent year on year and petroleum activities edging higher by 0.5 percent.  

The economic expansion was supported by robust performance in the services sector, which climbed 7 percent to 4.85 billion rials, and in agriculture and fisheries, which saw a 9.8 percent increase to 310.3 million rials.

This modest GDP growth aligns with the continued expansion of Oman’s Islamic finance sector. According to the Central Bank of Oman, total assets of Islamic banks and windows reached 9.1 billion rials by the end of July, accounting for 19.7 percent of the total banking sector assets and marking a 16.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.   

Financing provided by Islamic institutions rose by 12.5 percent to 7.2 billion rials, with deposits also growing by 16.1 percent to 7.2 billion rials, reflecting strong liquidity and lending activity in the sector.  

In terms of the GDP performance, the decline in oil activities was offset by a significant surge in natural gas output, which recorded a 40.7 percent increase in added value, reaching 803.6 million rials in the second quarter of the year compared to 570.9 million rials in the same quarter of 2024. 


Education spending surges 251% as students return from autumn break: SAMA

Updated 12 December 2025
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Education spending surges 251% as students return from autumn break: SAMA

RIYADH: Education spending in Saudi Arabia surged 251.3 percent in the week ending Dec. 6, reflecting the sharp uptick in purchases as students returned from the autumn break.

According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, expenditure in the sector reached SR218.73 million ($58.2 million), with the number of transactions increasing by 61 percent to 233,000.

Despite this surge, overall point-of-sale spending fell 4.3 percent to SR14.45 billion, while the number of transactions dipped 1.7 percent to 236.18 million week on week.

The week saw mixed changes between the sectors. Spending on freight transport, postal and courier services saw the second-biggest uptick at 33.3 percent to SR60.93 million, followed by medical services, which saw an 8.1 percent increase to SR505.35 million.

Expenditure on apparel and clothing saw a decrease of 16.3 percent, followed by a 2 percent reduction in spending on telecommunication.

Jewelry outlays witnessed an 8.1 percent decline to reach SR325.90 million. Data revealed decreases across many other sectors, led by hotels, which saw the largest dip at 24.5 percent to reach SR335.98 million. 

Spending on car rentals in the Kingdom fell by 12.6 percent, while airlines saw a 3.7 percent increase to SR46.28 million.

Expenditure on food and beverages saw a 1.7 percent increase to SR2.35 billion, claiming the largest share of the POS. Restaurants and cafes retained the second position despite a 12.6 percent dip to SR1.66 billion.

Saudi Arabia’s key urban centers mirrored the national decline. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 3.9 percent dip to SR4.89 billion, down from SR5.08 billion the previous week.

The number of transactions in the capital settled at 74.16 million, down 1.4 percent week on week.

In Jeddah, transaction values decreased by 5.9 percent to SR1.91 billion, while Dammam reported a 0.8 percent surge to SR713.71 million.

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia. 

The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives. 

The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the nation’s broader digital economy.