MUSCAT: Oman’s banking sector is expected to remain resilient despite the ongoing conflict involving Iran, with the country’s lenders benefiting from favourable economic conditions, strong capital buffers and stable funding, according to a new assessment by Fitch Ratings. In a peer review of the country’s banking sector, the ratings agency said the impact of the […]
Retirement planning might seem like a thoroughly modern concern, with pensions, investments and annuities forming part of today’s financial toolkit. But these financial tools are much older than they appear. In the later Middle Ages, people were already exchanging lump sums for steady income streams – and, in cities like Vienna, these arrangements underpinned entire […]
Muscat: Major banks in the Sultanate of Oman have indicated that they will be launching the Maal debit and credit cards. This Central Bank of Oman-initiated local card, to be launched in cooperation with six local banks, aims to strengthen the national payments system and the independence of the financial infrastructure. Bank Muscat, Sohar International, […]
MUSCAT, JAN 5 Oman’s 2026 State General Budget may be judged less by its headline deficit and more by whether it can convert improving investor confidence into steady non-oil growth, as indicators tracked by leading brokerage firm United Securities show stronger banking activity, a sharp recovery in the Muscat Stock Exchange and rising foreign direct […]
NEW YORK/HOUSTON: The US involvement in Venezuela’s oil sector offers a potential opportunity for international banks, with JPMorgan Chase in an advantageous spot due to its history in the country and past involvement with international trade financing. A clutch of banks including JPMorgan and Citigroup have historically operated in the country, but reduced operations or […]
MUSCAT: The fifth conference of the Regional Network of Central Banks began in Muscat on Wednesday, hosted by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) in cooperation with the World Bank Group’s Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan Regional Office. The two-day event brings together policymakers, economists and researchers to strengthen the role of scientific […]
MUSCAT: Alizz Islamic Bank hosted a workshop on capacity building in climate finance for Omani banks at its headquarters on Tuesday. The event was organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, in cooperation with the Oman Banks Association. The workshop focused on global trends in climate finance, priority […]
MUSCAT, MAY 23 Oman’s banks must move beyond digital transformation and build trusted, AI-enabled financial ecosystems as technology reshapes competition, customer behaviour and the delivery of financial services, the CEO of the Oman Banks Association (OBA) said last week. Speaking at the New Age Banking Summit Oman, Mustahil bin Ahmed al Mamari said the banking […]
