The Oman Competition Protection and Anti-Monopoly Center, in the first half of 2026, investigated nine complaints and reports related to anti-competitive behaviors and reviewed six economic concentration requests. These actions are taken to enhance market efficiency and maintain fair competition.
Monitoring Economic Transactions
This center, operating under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, has monitored over 300 transactions related to economic concentration through the Oman Trade Platform and has analyzed changes in the market shares of major stakeholders using data from the Muscat Clearing and Depository Company.
These initiatives are designed to prevent monopolistic behaviors, support national industries, and create a competitive business environment to attract both domestic and foreign investments, in line with Oman Vision 2040.
Development of Competition Laws and Policies
Khalid bin Khamis Al-Masroui, the acting director general of this center, emphasized that fair competition is essential for creating an efficient and resilient economy. He added that the center combines the enforcement of competition laws, market monitoring, and economic analysis to identify and address potential market disruptions before they escalate.
Al-Masroui also stated that reviewing economic concentration requests helps balance investment and business expansion with the need to prevent monopolistic behaviors and unjustified market dominance.
The center is also updating competition laws, preparing a comprehensive national competition policy, developing indicators to measure market competitiveness, and expanding the use of digital tools, data analysis, and early warning systems to identify potential risks.
In this regard, Badr bin Mubarak Al-Hajri, head of the anti-dumping department at the ministry, said that measures to combat harmful international trade practices play a significant role in supporting national industries and enhancing their competitiveness. He explained that dumping occurs when imported products are sold at prices lower than their normal value, which can harm domestic producers.
The ministry is coordinating with Gulf Cooperation Council officials to examine unfair import practices and is focusing on balancing support for local industries with Oman’s international trade commitments.
The ministry also supports Omani exporters facing similar practices in foreign markets and conducts investigations in coordination with national companies and relevant authorities to provide the necessary information to defend their interests.
In the area of sector research, the center has completed over 90% of the recommendations resulting from studies related to hypermarkets and retail markets, as well as price changes in vehicles and spare parts.
The center continues to collaborate with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on studies related to building materials and the construction sector and is researching e-commerce and its impacts on market competition.
To enhance awareness and compliance with the laws, the center has published five guidelines on the official ministry website explaining competition laws and the requirements of the Competition Protection and Anti-Monopoly Law.
The center's plans for the next phase include updating the legal framework, developing national competition indicators, automating services, and creating a central database linked to an early warning system to identify monopolistic behaviors and market disruptions.
The center has also planned to strengthen its cooperation with Gulf Cooperation Council countries and international organizations through cooperation agreements, regulatory coordination, and the exchange of experiences.
These actions are part of Oman’s broader efforts to promote transparency, support national industries, strengthen investor confidence, and support economic diversification and sustainable growth.
