The Central Bank of Oman (CBO), in strategic partnership with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the National Programme for Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Sector Development “Estidama” under the Ministry of Finance, today launched the National FinTech Strategy and the Oman FinTech Gate - two landmark national initiatives designed to accelerate responsible financial innovation, attract investment and specialised talent, empower entrepreneurs, and strengthen the Sultanate of Oman’s position as a competitive, trusted and globally connected FinTech destination.

This milestone reflects a coordinated national endeavour undertaken in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion; the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology; the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority; the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority; Invest Oman; and other public- and private-sector partners.

These institutions are united behind a clear national ambition: to build a future-ready financial ecosystem that harnesses technology to expand opportunity, improve the accessibility, efficiency and quality of financial services, strengthen national competitiveness, and advance 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 establishes a unified national direction for developing Sultanate of Oman’s FinTech ecosystem, aligns stakeholder priorities and defines a structured roadmap for coordinated implementation.

Central to the Strategy is the development of an agile, proportionate and innovation-enabling regulatory environment that accelerates the creation and adoption of secure, customer-centred financial solutions. It also seeks to deepen financial inclusion; attract high-quality FinTech companies, investment and specialised expertise; and enable Omani entrepreneurs and startups to develop, commercialise and scale competitive solutions locally, regionally and internationally.

The Central Bank of Oman will oversee the Strategy’s implementation and coordinate national efforts with the relevant authorities, while each institution continues to exercise its respective statutory, policy and regulatory mandate. A disciplined governance and implementation framework will reinforce accountability, measure progress and ensure that strategic priorities translate into tangible economic and social value.

On this occasion, His Excellency Ahmed Al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, said:

“The launch of the National FinTech Strategy marks a defining step in Sultanate of Oman’s financial transformation. It extends far beyond the adoption of new technologies; it represents a national commitment to building a financial system that is more innovative, inclusive, competitive and capable of anticipating the needs of a rapidly evolving digital economy.

“Our ambition is clear: Sultanate of Oman should not only respond to the future of finance - it should help shape it. Integrating regulation, technology, investment and entrepreneurship within one coherent national framework will create the conditions for responsible innovation to move from concept to market, and for promising ideas to become scalable solutions that generate meaningful value for individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

“Innovation and stability are not competing objectives. Supported by sound governance, proportionate regulation and effective institutional coordination, they reinforce one another. Our responsibility is to create an environment in which innovators can develop, test and grow with clarity and confidence, while financial stability, market integrity, cybersecurity, consumer protection and public trust remain firmly safeguarded.

“This Strategy seeks to establish Sultanate of Oman as a trusted and globally connected FinTech destination - one that attracts investment and expertise, develops national capabilities, empowers Omani entrepreneurs and delivers financial solutions that are accessible, relevant and internationally competitive. Ultimately, our success will not be measured by the number of initiatives launched, but by the quality of the solutions created, the opportunities unlocked and the enduring value delivered to society and the national economy.”

His Excellency Al Musalmi further emphasised:

“No single institution can build the financial ecosystem of the future alone. The National FinTech Strategy brings together the collective capabilities of the Central Bank of Oman, the Financial Services Authority, the Ministry of Finance through Estidama, and our wider network of public- and private-sector partners behind one shared national ambition.

“It builds upon the strong foundations and important progress already achieved, while introducing the strategic direction, institutional alignment and execution discipline required to accelerate development and maximise national impact. Sultanate of Oman is now progressing from individual initiatives towards an integrated ecosystem - and from ambition towards measurable delivery.”

The Strategy will also strengthen interoperability, deepen collaboration between the public and private sectors, and advance the digital infrastructure, talent and institutional capabilities required for a modern financial economy. These ambitions will be pursued while upholding the highest standards of financial stability, market integrity, cybersecurity, consumer protection and public confidence.

His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim Al Salmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Authority, affirmed that the National FinTech Strategy provides a clear roadmap for navigating the rapid developments reshaping the financial technology landscape. He noted that its launch represents an important step towards unifying existing efforts and initiatives across the various segments of the financial services sector, supporting the development of innovative business models and financial solutions that respond to customers’ evolving needs and enhance the efficiency and quality of financial services.

His Excellency Al Salmi added that the Strategy will strengthen the Sultanate of Oman’s attractiveness to domestic and international investment in the FinTech sector through a regulatory and legislative environment conducive to innovation and business growth. This environment will create new opportunities for companies and investors, attract high-quality investment, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge, expertise and advanced technologies to the Omani market.

He further affirmed that the Financial Services Authority, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, will continue advancing a regulatory environment that enables innovation across the 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, support the continued development of these sectors and strengthen their contribution to the national economy.

Supporting the implementation of the Strategy and translating its objectives into practical market opportunities, the Central Bank of Oman also launched the Oman FinTech Gate - a dedicated platform offering FinTech companies and entrepreneurs a clearer, more efficient and better-coordinated pathway into the Omani market.

The Oman FinTech Gate will serve as a central point of entry for innovators seeking to understand the market, assess their readiness and engage with relevant stakeholders. The platform will offer guidance on applicable requirements, simplify the initial application journey, connect applicants with ecosystem partners and help promising solutions advance towards regulatory engagement and potential market entry.

Greater coordination and reduced fragmentation through the Oman FinTech Gate will enhance transparency, predictability and efficiency for domestic and international FinTech companies. The platform will also strengthen Sultanate of Oman’s ability to identify high-potential innovations and support their responsible development within an ecosystem that balances opportunity with appropriate safeguards.

The Oman FinTech Gate will facilitate engagement without compromising the statutory independence or regulatory responsibilities of the Central Bank of Oman and the Financial Services Authority. All regulatory assessments and decisions will remain subject to applicable legal frameworks and the independent mandates of the respective authorities. This approach will enable innovation with greater agility while firmly protecting regulatory rigour, market integrity and financial stability.

His Excellency Mahmood bin Abdullah Al Owaini, Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance and Supervisor of the National Programme for Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Sector Development “Estidama,” affirmed that the National FinTech Strategy forms an integral part of Sultanate of Oman’s broader national efforts to advance the financial sector and strengthen its contribution to economic growth and diversification.

He noted that the Strategy represents a key enabler for accelerating the financial sector’s transformation and enhancing its efficiency, competitiveness and capacity for innovation, in alignment with the objectives of the Estidama Programme and Oman Vision 2040.

For her part, Her Excellency Ibtisam bint Ahmed Al Farouji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, affirmed that integrating the Oman FinTech Gate with the Invest Oman platform reflects the Sultanate of Oman’s drive to deliver a more integrated investment experience. This extends beyond providing information and opportunities to facilitating access to the business ecosystem and relevant stakeholders, while offering investors a clearer pathway and enhancing the market’s readiness to welcome investment and specialised FinTech companies.

Her Excellency further affirmed that this step forms part of national efforts to strengthen the Sultanate of Oman’s attractiveness to high-quality investment in future-oriented sectors and attract technologies, expertise and innovative business models. This will contribute to the development of the FinTech sector, support the transition towards a more diversified and competitive digital economy, and reinforce the Sultanate of Oman’s position as a trusted destination for investment and innovation.

Together, the National FinTech Strategy and the Oman FinTech Gate signal a decisive transition from fragmented innovation towards an integrated national ecosystem in which ideas can be developed responsibly, tested effectively and scaled confidently. They establish the foundations for Sultanate of Oman to become a trusted bridge connecting innovators, investors, regulators and markets - and a recognised centre for secure, inclusive and high-impact financial innovation.

FinTech companies and entrepreneurs interested in entering the Omani market may apply through the Oman FinTech Gate webpage on the Invest Oman platform.