Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said gives a speech after being sworn in before the royal family council in Muscat in 2020
Oman carves out niche in global energy trade
The country punching way above its weight in energy is less the story of a hydrocarbon bonanza and more that of a nation seeking to make the best out of what is available
Oman, a small yet strategically positioned nation in the Middle East, is rapidly emerging as a significant player on the global energy market. Capitalising on its neutrality, recent discoveries and midstream and downstream expansion, the country is also pivoting to renewable energy and seeking to attract much-needed foreign investment to fuel its economy amid regional and global upheaval. “Oman makes it look possible to both clean up traditional oil and gas extraction while also attracting investment and interest in new energy infrastructure,” said Karen Young, a senior energy expert at US-based thinktank the Middle East Institute. “It ticks a lot of attractive boxes, as a strategic location
Also in this section
13 November 2025
The new federal government appears far more supportive of oil and gas than former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s climate-focused administration, but the prospects look better for the latter hydrocarbon
12 November 2025
The November 2025 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
10 November 2025
The Russian firm made a significant attempt to expand overseas over the past two decades but is now trying to divest its global operations
10 November 2025
OPEC+ has proven to be astute at bringing back oil production, but mysteries around Chinese buying, missing barrels and oil-on-water have left the group in wait-and-see mode
