The total number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) registered with the Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) increased to 44,083 at the end of March 2020, a 13.7 per cent growth compared to the same period a year ago.

According to the figures released by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Muscat governorate topped the list with 34 per cent SMEs registered till March 2020, followed by North Batinah with 16 per cent, Dakhliyah with 13 per cent, Dhofar with 8 per cent, and other governorates with 29 per cent.

In Muscat governorate, 14,857 SMEs were registered till the end of March 2020, followed by North Batinah with 6,967, Dakhliyah with 5,569, Dhofar with 3,710, South Batinah with 3,267, and North Sharqiyah with 2,996 SMEs registered.

In other governorates, Dhahirah registered 2,623 SMEs, South Sharqiyah 2,505, and Buraymi 926 SMEs, in addition to 495 SMEs in Al Wusta and 168 in Musandam till March 2020.

The total number of SMEs registered in February 2020 stood at 43,592, compared to 43,134 in January 2020.