Oman today_ Oman is finalising a significant agreement with the World Bank Group to establish an official country office in Muscat. This move represents a strategic step by the Omani government to strengthen its financial and economic cooperation with international institutions and to support the nation’s development goals under Oman Vision 2040.
The agreement will be signed on the sidelines of the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., where a high-level Omani delegation led by His Excellency Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance, is participating in key discussions on economic cooperation and sustainable development.
The new World Bank office in Oman will represent all major institutions of the Group, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). The presence of these institutions in Oman is expected to enhance knowledge transfer, attract foreign investment, finance infrastructure projects, and improve the overall business environment.
In addition to the agreement signing, the Omani delegation will take part in a series of specialised meetings with Arab finance ministers, heads of international financial institutions, and global banks. These discussions will focus on strengthening financial stability, developing infrastructure, diversifying the economy, and advancing structural reforms.
According to economic experts, the establishment of a World Bank office in Oman signals growing international confidence in the country’s economic stability and investment climate. It is also expected to facilitate the implementation of major national development projects — particularly in the areas of infrastructure, renewable energy, education, and digital transformation.
Analysts further note that this initiative will not only deepen Oman’s partnership with the World Bank but also position the Sultanate as an emerging regional hub for financial and developmental cooperation in the Gulf.