Middle East Deal Study | Market Spotlight: Oman
0 (0 Likes / 0 Dislikes)
Oman traditionally had a stable economy.
While levels of M&A and JV activity in the country
have to date been relatively muted
compared to neighbouring countries with more aggressive
and ambitious growth plans,
several factors could mean that opportunities for deal making
in Oman are likely to increase as we look ahead.
One of the reasons is the recent promulgation of
public private partnership and privatisation laws,
which are likely to result in PPP projects as well as privatisation
of different state assets.
We are also seeing the results of the diversification efforts of
the country in the form of the new Liwa Plastics
projects coming up, in the form of new investments
around the Duqm Special Economic Zone taking place
and other industrial projects being set up in the deep-sea ports
that the country has.
We are also witnessing projects in the food securities sector coming up.
We are also likely to witness consolidation in the banking
and insurance sectors which will
spur more deal making activity in the country.
Traditionally, healthcare and education sectors have witnessed a lot of M&A
and JV activity in the region.
That has not been the case in Oman so far
but that is likely to be the case
moving ahead and finally we see
that a lot of the businesses in the country are still owned
by family groups or the sovereign wealth funds.
As they move away to diversify their own portfolios,
this is likely to result in both M&A and joint venture activities
in the country.