Muscat Stock Exchange expects three companies to list in 2027 from the energy, information technology and consumer sectors, chief executive officer Haitham Al Salmi said.
Al Salmi told Kuwait’s Al Rai newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday that the second tranche of Asyad Shipping is expected to be announced in the coming period.
He said the Oman Investment Authority is continuing its divestment program, which is built on a five-year plan.
The plan includes direct listings on the exchange, direct sales to foreign investors and restructuring of existing companies to prepare them for future listings, he said.
Trading and ownership
The exchange’s index has risen about 31% since the start of 2026, Al Salmi said.
Trading value exceeded 9 billion Omani rials from the start of the year to the end of the third quarter, compared with 5 billion rials in 2025, he said.
Ownership by foreign and Gulf investors rose to 19% from 14% last year, according to Al Salmi.
He said foreign investment remains affected by the geopolitical situation, and that the exchange will keep allocating part of upcoming offerings to foreign investors.
New products
Al Salmi said he hopes to list the exchange’s first exchange-traded fund before the end of 2026.
He said the next phase will focus on adding investment tools such as exchange-traded funds, short selling and securities lending and borrowing.
Trading in derivatives would require the creation of a central counterparty and other infrastructure, he said.
Cross-border market making through the Tabadul platform, which links Oman with Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, exceeded 250 million rials in 2025 and more than 1 billion rials in the first half of 2026, equal to about 17% to 18% of total trading value, Al Salmi said.
He also said the exchange is confident it meets the requirements for a full upgrade by index provider FTSE Russell, after Oman was added to its watch list.
Family-owned companies are being encouraged to list through government incentives that include tax exemptions or reductions and priority at the Tender Board, he said.
