JEDDAH: Oman is intensifying efforts to attract investment into its industrial sector and advance toward high-value, technology-led activities through an official visit to China.
The delegation was headed by Saleh Said Masan, undersecretary for commerce and industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, who visited a number of major Chinese manufacturing facilities, according to the Oman News Agency.
Industrial development is a central pillar of Oman Vision 2040 and the Industrial Strategy 2040, which target a tripling of manufacturing output, the attraction of approximately 40 billion Omani rials ($104 billion) in investment, and the expansion of advanced and green industries.
“These visits fall within ongoing efforts to strengthen investment in the industrial sector, in line with Oman’s strategy to develop integrated industrial clusters and shift toward high value-added industries driven by innovation and advanced technologies,” ONA reported.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured global solar energy firm JA Solar, where discussions with senior management focused on the latest smart solar cell and panel manufacturing technologies.
Both sides reviewed progress on the establishment of JA Solar’s facility in the Sohar Freezone, following a previously signed memorandum of understanding with the ministry to develop an integrated solar cell and module plant with an estimated investment of $564 million.
Officials confirmed that construction is proceeding according to plan, underscoring Oman’s goal of positioning itself as a regional hub for clean energy technologies and supporting its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
The delegation also visited the headquarters of BAIC Motor Corp., where recent advancements in electric and smart vehicles, along with next-generation transportation systems, were presented.
During the visit, Masan highlighted the incentives and support mechanisms offered by Oman to attract investment in the electromechanical and transport industries, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to facilitating high-quality industrial projects.
“This direction aims to establish joint ventures in automotive assembly and manufacturing, helping diversify the industrial base and create specialized employment opportunities for Omani professionals in engineering and digital technologies, in line with Industrial Strategy 2040 objectives,” ONA stated.
Concluding the visit, the undersecretary said the engagements reflect the ministry’s focus on a qualitative shift toward capital-intensive and technology-driven industries.
He added that integrating renewable energy projects with JA Solar and localizing vehicle technologies with BAIC would enhance manufacturing’s contribution to gross domestic product and strengthen the competitiveness of national products under the Made in Oman brand.
Masan emphasized the ministry’s commitment to fostering an attractive investment climate that encourages foreign direct investment and supports the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises into the global supply chains of leading international companies.
Oman targets clean energy, EVs in China talks
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Oman targets clean energy, EVs in China talks
Saudi Arabia nears 2030 tourism target as visitor numbers hit 122m in 2025
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is getting closer to its 2030 tourism target after it welcomed an estimated 122 million visitors in 2025, a 5 percent annual increase, according to preliminary official data.
The milestone marks a significant step toward Vision 2030’s target of 150 million annual visitors. It comes as total tourism spending reached an estimated SR300 billion ($81 billion), up 6 percent from 2024, underscoring the sector’s growing economic impact, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
The development reflects strategic investments in global destination projects, visa reforms, and expanded hospitality infrastructure that underpin Vision 2030’s drive to diversify the economy and position the Kingdom as a leading tourism hub.
The Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the achievement on X, thanking Saudi Arabia’s leadership for their support, which he said “delivered another year of record performance and sustained growth.”
He added: “These preliminary figures, unveiled at WEF26 (World Economic Forum 2026), underscore a clear reality: Saudi tourism is no longer an emerging story. It is a growth engine, building investor confidence, shaping global demand, and unlocking long-term opportunity at scale.”
In 2024, the Kingdom welcomed 116 million tourists, exceeding its annual visitor target for the second consecutive year, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s statistical report released in June.
The total comprised 29.7 million inbound visitors, marking an 8 percent year-on-year increase, and 86.2 million domestic trips, up 5 percent from 2023.
After surpassing its original 100 million visitor target six years ahead of schedule in 2023, the Kingdom revised its tourism ambitions, setting a new goal of 150 million annual tourists by 2030, including 70 million international visitors and 80 million domestic tourists.
Tourism currently accounts for 18 percent of global gross domestic product and 5 percent of the Kingdom’s GDP, Minister Al-Khateeb said, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Speaking at a session titled “AI and the Future of Tourism” during the ninth Future Investment Initiative conference in October, Al-Khateeb said: “We aspire to double that figure within the next five years, which will represent 10 percent of total jobs.”
The minister highlighted the rapid transformation of the Kingdom’s tourism landscape, driven by the expansion of new segments such as entertainment, sports, culture, and conferences, events, and exhibitions.
