Tuesday 22 / September / 2026
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman on Tuesday launched the National Fintech Strategy and Oman Fintech Portal. The move aimed at accelerating responsible financial innovation, attracting investments and specialized talent, empowering entrepreneurs, and strengthening the Sultanate of Oman's position as a competitive and trusted fintech destination with global connectivity.
This launch, undertaken by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) in strategic partnership with the Financial Services Authority and the National Programme for Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Sector Development "Estidamah" at the Ministry of Finance, embodies coordinated national efforts developed in close cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, "Invest Oman," and other partners across the public and private sectors.
These institutions are joining efforts to fulfil a clear national ambition: to build a future-ready financial ecosystem that harnesses technology to expand opportunities, facilitate access to financial services and elevate their efficiency and quality, enhance national competitiveness, and drive the Sultanate of Oman's transition towards an innovative, diversified, and sustainable digital economy, in alignment with Oman Vision 2040.
The National Fintech Strategy provides an integrated framework for translating this ambition into measurable outcomes. It charts a unified national direction for developing the fintech ecosystem in the Sultanate of Oman, harmonizes the priorities of relevant entities, and sets out a methodical roadmap for coordinated implementation.
The Central Bank of Oman will oversee the implementation of the Strategy and coordinate national efforts with relevant entities, while each institution continues to exercise its legally mandated competences and its policy and regulatory responsibilities. A disciplined governance and implementation framework will reinforce accountability, measure progress, and ensure that strategic priorities are translated into tangible economic and social value.
Ahmed Jaafar Al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, stated that the launch of the National Fintech Strategy marks a pivotal step in the Sultanate of Oman's financial transformation journey. Its impact extends beyond the adoption of new technologies, as it embodies a national commitment to building a more innovative, inclusive, and competitive financial system, better equipped to anticipate the needs of a rapidly evolving digital economy.
He added that the ambition goes beyond the Sultanate of Oman responding to transformations shaping the future of the financial sector, to contributing to shaping its contours. The integration of regulation, technology, investment, and entrepreneurship within a coherent national framework would create the conditions for responsible innovation to move from concept to market, and for promising ideas to become scalable solutions that deliver tangible value for individuals, businesses, and the economy as a whole.
The Governor affirmed that there is no conflict between innovation and stability; each reinforces the other when grounded in sound governance, proportionate regulation, and effective institutional coordination. The Central Bank of Oman's responsibility lies in fostering an environment that enables innovators to develop, test, and grow with clarity and confidence, while safeguarding financial stability, market integrity, cybersecurity, consumer protection, and public trust.
He explained that the Strategy seeks to consolidate the Sultanate of Oman's position as a trusted fintech destination with global connectivity, one that attracts investments and expertise, develops national capabilities, empowers Omani entrepreneurs, and delivers accessible, needs-driven financial solutions that compete internationally.
The Strategy will enhance interoperability, consolidate public-private sector cooperation, and develop the digital infrastructure, competencies, and institutional capacities required for a modern financial economy. These ambitions will be pursued in adherence to the highest standards of financial stability, market integrity, cybersecurity, and consumer protection, and in preservation of public trust.
In his turn, Abdullah Salim Al-Salmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Authority, affirmed that the National Fintech Strategy provides a clear roadmap for keeping pace with the rapid developments reshaping the fintech sector. He noted that its launch represents an important step towards unifying existing efforts and initiatives across various financial services sectors, and supporting the development of innovative business models and financial solutions that respond to evolving customer needs and enhance the efficiency and quality of financial services.
He added that the Strategy will enhance the Sultanate of Oman's attractiveness for local and international investments in the fintech sector, through a regulatory and legislative environment supportive of innovation and business growth, creating new opportunities for companies and investors, attracting quality investments, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge, expertise, and advanced technologies to the Omani market.
He affirmed that the Financial Services Authority will continue, in cooperation with relevant entities, to develop a regulatory environment that enables innovation in non-banking financial services sectors, including capital markets, insurance, accounting, and auditing. These efforts will keep pace with global fintech developments, accelerate the adoption of advanced technological solutions, and support the continued development of these sectors and the enhancement of their contribution to the national economy.
In support of the Strategy's implementation and the translation of its objectives into practical market opportunities, the Central Bank of Oman also launched Oman Fintech Portal, a dedicated platform that provides fintech companies and entrepreneurs with a clearer, more efficient, and better coordinated pathway to enter the Omani market.
Oman Fintech Portal will serve as a central gateway for innovators seeking to understand the market, assess their readiness, and connect with relevant entities. The platform will provide guidance on applicable requirements, streamline initial application procedures, connect applicants with ecosystem partners, and help promising solutions advance towards engagement with regulatory authorities and exploration of market entry possibilities.
Strengthening coordination and reducing the fragmentation of efforts through Oman Fintech Portal will enhance transparency, procedural clarity, predictability, and efficiency for local and international fintech companies. The platform will also strengthen the Sultanate of Oman's ability to identify innovations with promising potential and support their responsible development within an ecosystem that balances opportunity with appropriate safeguards.
Mahmoud Abdullah Al Awaini, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance and Supervisor-General of the National Programme for Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Sector Development "Estidamah" affirmed that the National Fintech Strategy constitutes an integral part of broader national efforts to develop the financial sector in the Sultanate of Oman and enhance its contribution to growth and economic diversification.
He noted that the Strategy represents one of the key enablers for accelerating the financial sector's transformation and enhancing its efficiency, competitiveness, and capacity for innovation, in alignment with the objectives of the "Estidamah" programme and Oman Vision 2040.
For her part, Ibtisam Ahmed Al Farouji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, affirmed that the integration of Oman Fintech Portal with Invest Oman platform reflects the Sultanate of Oman's orientation towards developing a more integrated investment experience, one that is not limited to making information and opportunities available, but extends to facilitating access to the business ecosystem and relevant entities and enhancing clarity of the pathway for investors, thereby raising the market's readiness to receive investments and companies specialized in fintech.
She affirmed that this step comes within the context of national efforts to enhance the Sultanate of Oman's attractiveness for quality investments in future sectors, and to attract technologies, expertise, and innovative business models, thereby contributing to the development of the fintech sector, supporting the transition towards a more diversified and competitive digital economy, and reinforcing the Sultanate of Oman's position as a trusted destination for investment and innovation.
