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. 


Saudi Arabia raises $1.5bn in November sukuk issuance: NDMC 

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Saudi Arabia raises $1.5bn in November sukuk issuance: NDMC 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Debt Management Center has raised SR5.83 billion ($1.55 billion) through its latest sukuk issuance, maintaining monthly offerings above the $1 billion mark. 

The November total represents a 22.7 percent decline from October, when the Kingdom raised SR7.54 billion. Saudi Arabia issued SR8.03 billion in September and SR5.31 billion in August, extending a trend of strong activity in the domestic debt market.  

Sukuk are Shariah-compliant financial instruments similar to bonds, granting investors a share of an issuer’s underlying assets and adhering to Islamic finance principles that prohibit interest-based transactions. 

According to NDMC, the November issuance was divided into five tranches. The first tranche was valued at SR700 million and is set to mature in 2027. The second amounted to SR1.37 billion, maturing in 2029, while the third tranche, worth SR180 million, will expire in 2032.  

The fourth portion, valued at SR197 million, is due in 2036, while the last tranche due in 2039 was valued at SR3.38 billion. 

Saudi Arabia’s debt market has expanded rapidly in recent years, with fixed-income instruments drawing increased attention as rising global interest rates reshape investor demand. 

This comes as the Gulf Cooperation Council sukuk outstanding climbed 12.7 percent to $1.1 trillion by the end of the third quarter of 2025, according to a recent Fitch Ratings report. 

The US-based credit rating agency said debt capital market activity in the GCC is expected to remain strong into 2026, supported by a healthy pipeline of anticipated issuances.      

The report noted that sukuk issuances increased 22 percent year on year in the first nine months of this year, accounting for 40 percent of total GCC DCM outstanding. Sukuk also outpaced bond growth, which expanded 7.2 percent year on year.