Oman has completed nearly 87% of its National E-Commerce Plan 2022–2027, marking another major step in the Sultanate’s efforts to strengthen its digital economy and establish itself as a regional e-commerce hub.

According to recent reports, 26 of the programme’s 30 initiatives had been completed by the end of 2025, corresponding to a completion rate of 86.7%. Four additional initiatives were delivered during the second half of 2025 alone.

The programme covers several areas considered essential for building a competitive digital-commerce ecosystem, including regulation, digital services, electronic payments, logistics, business facilitation and e-commerce awareness.

The remaining initiatives are expected to be completed before the National E-Commerce Plan reaches its scheduled conclusion in 2027.

Oman wants to become a regional e-commerce hub

The National E-Commerce Plan forms part of the wider Oman Vision 2040 economic transformation programme, through which the country is attempting to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on traditional oil and gas revenues.

The e-commerce strategy is specifically designed to improve the environment for digital businesses and SMEs while strengthening the infrastructure required for domestic and cross-border online trade.

Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology describes the national strategy as a programme aimed at empowering businesses, particularly SMEs, through better digital infrastructure, logistics services and electronic payment capabilities.

The plan covers eight main areas, including ICT infrastructure, transportation and trade facilitation, payments, digital skills, e-procurement and the legal and regulatory environment.

Progress has accelerated significantly

Implementation of the programme has accelerated over the past several years.

By the end of 2023, Oman had completed 14 of the 30 planned initiatives, representing approximately 46% of the programme. By November 2024, that figure had increased to 21 completed initiatives, or around 70%.

Current reporting now puts the number at 26 initiatives.

That means Oman has moved from completing fewer than half of the programme's initiatives in 2023 to completing almost nine out of ten within roughly two years.

The government aims to complete the entire programme by 2027.

Regulation and consumer trust are becoming increasingly important

Building infrastructure alone is not sufficient to develop a mature e-commerce market.

Oman has therefore also focused on creating a more formal regulatory environment for online merchants.

Previous initiatives under the programme have included measures aimed at regulating digital marketplaces, simplifying the registration of online businesses and developing mechanisms designed to increase consumer confidence in legitimate e-commerce operators.

This becomes increasingly important as more small businesses and entrepreneurs move from social-commerce channels into formal digital retail.

For international sellers, greater standardisation could also make Oman a more predictable market in which to operate, particularly when it comes to business registration, payments and marketplace compliance.

Digital payments support Oman's e-commerce expansion

Payments represent another important component of the country's digital-commerce strategy.

Oman's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion recently reported significant growth in the use of digital payment methods during 2025, alongside continued development of fintech, digital banking and e-commerce infrastructure.

Improving payment infrastructure can remove one of the most persistent barriers to e-commerce adoption in developing digital markets.

It also makes the market more accessible to international merchants, payment providers and marketplaces looking to serve consumers in the Gulf region.

Logistics remains central to the strategy

Oman's ambitions extend beyond domestic online retail.

Its National E-Commerce Plan is designed to help position the country as a regional digital-commerce hub, making logistics and trade facilitation critical components of the programme.

Oman's geographical position between Asia, the Middle East and East Africa gives the country potential advantages as a logistics and distribution gateway.

For cross-border e-commerce operators, improvements to customs processes, addressing systems, logistics networks and digital trade infrastructure could therefore be as important as growth in domestic consumer demand.

China is already an important source market for goods purchased online by Omani consumers, particularly in categories such as furnishings, machinery and construction-related products, according to the US International Trade Administration.

A growing opportunity for cross-border sellers

The development of a more mature e-commerce ecosystem could gradually make Oman a more attractive destination for international retailers, marketplaces and logistics companies.

Industry estimates also point towards continued growth in the country's online retail sector. Mordor Intelligence estimates the Omani e-commerce market at approximately $3.26 billion in 2026 and forecasts it could reach $4.62 billion by 2031.

Market forecasts should always be treated as estimates rather than guaranteed outcomes, but the direction is consistent with the government's wider push towards digitalisation.

The broader ambition is significant. The IMF has previously noted that Oman wants the digital economy's contribution to GDP to increase from around 2% to 10% by 2040 as part of its economic transformation strategy.

What happens next?

With 26 of 30 initiatives now reported as completed, Oman is entering the final phase of its National E-Commerce Plan.

The remaining challenge will be translating government programmes into measurable commercial outcomes: more digital businesses, higher online sales, greater consumer trust, smoother cross-border transactions and stronger participation by Omani SMEs in international markets.

For international e-commerce businesses, Oman is unlikely to rival neighbouring Saudi Arabia or the UAE in market size in the immediate future.

Its importance may instead come from its position as an increasingly sophisticated digital market and potential logistics gateway connecting the Gulf with Asia and East Africa.

If Oman completes its remaining initiatives by 2027, the National E-Commerce Plan will provide an important test of whether government-led digital infrastructure programmes can successfully turn a relatively small Gulf market into a more significant participant in regional cross-border commerce.

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