Muscat: Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Oman increased 8.7% year-on-year to RO32.197bn at the end of the first quarter of 2026, supported by sustained inflows into the oil and gas sector, according to preliminary data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The figures showed FDI inflows during the January-March period reached RO2.567bn, reflecting continued investor confidence in the sultanate’s economy.

The oil and gas extraction sector remained the largest recipient of foreign investment, with FDI stock rising 9.5% to RO25.889bn by the end of the first quarter. The sector attracted RO2.238bn in investment inflows during the three-month period.

The manufacturing sector ranked second, with FDI increasing 5.4% to RO2.87bn, while investment inflows totalled RO146.7mn.

The financial intermediation sector recorded FDI of RO1.565bn, up 9.6% from a year earlier, with inflows reaching RO137.7mn.

By source country, the United Kingdom remained Oman’s largest foreign investor, with investments rising 9.9% to RO16.885bn.

US investments increased 10% to RO8.696bn, while Kuwaiti investments grew 4.6% to RO1.444bn. Chinese investments also continued to expand, rising 9.3% to RO901.5mn by the end of the first quarter.

The latest figures underscore the continued dominance of the hydrocarbons sector in attracting foreign capital, while manufacturing and financial services also posted steady growth, reflecting broader investor interest across key sectors of the Omani economy.