Sunday 04 / January / 2026
Muscat: Oman’s Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Center is emerging as a cornerstone of the national economic framework, playing a pivotal role not only in market oversight but also in reinforcing economic cohesion and investor trust across micro and macroeconomic levels.
At the microeconomic level, the Center regulates business conduct, curbs monopolistic practices, ensures fair pricing, and enhances market efficiency by promoting competition. These efforts directly benefit consumers through greater choice, protect entrepreneurs, and empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to compete fairly in a healthy and well-regulated environment.
On the macroeconomic front, the Center contributes to national economic growth, attracts investment, stabilizes productive sectors, boosts productivity, and mitigates market risks stemming from monopolies and price distortions. By safeguarding the business environment and ensuring equal opportunities, the Center supports Oman Vision 2040’s economic diversification goals and reinforces investor confidence in a transparent and equitable market.
*Strategic Vision and Future Projects*
Ahmed bin Salem Al Rasbi, Director General of the Center, emphasized that promoting competition is not merely a regulatory function but a strategic economic tool that enhances market efficiency, increases investment appeal, and fosters a sustainable economy driven by innovation and quality. He highlighted the Center’s integrated approach, which includes bolstering compliance in sensitive sectors, supporting SMEs, improving price and information transparency, and analyzing economic indicators to detect potential monopolistic risks.
Al Rasbi unveiled several upcoming initiatives, including the development of national indicators to measure competition using advanced economic methodologies, automation of regulatory and analytical services, and sectoral studies in construction, building materials, and e-commerce—sectors with direct impacts on pricing and competition. He also stressed the importance of collaboration with government entities and the private sector to build a more flexible and equitable business environment.
Enforcement and Market Oversight
In the first half of 2025, the Center investigated 15 complaints related to anti-competitive practices, significantly improving market compliance and stability. Khalid bin Khamis Al Masroori, Director of the Prohibited Practices Department, noted that these complaints involved allegations of abuse of dominant positions, price manipulation, and obstruction of new market entrants. All cases were handled with legal precision, raising awareness among businesses about their regulatory obligations.
The Center also reviewed seven economic concentration cases to prevent the emergence of monopolies that could harm the national economy. Economic researcher Waheeba bint Rashid Al Hinai emphasized that monitoring mergers and acquisitions is a vital tool for protecting macroeconomic stability, warning that unchecked concentrations could hinder competition and affect prices, production, and innovation.
Sectoral Studies and Anti-Dumping Measures
Raja bint Mohammed Al Rashidiya, a competition specialist in the Monitoring and Analysis Department, highlighted the Center’s progress in implementing strategic sectoral study recommendations, including a comprehensive review of the hypermarket sector. These studies aim to regulate behavior in key consumption and investment sectors and continue to investigate anti-competitive practices.
The Center has also concluded several cases protecting domestic industries from unfair competition, particularly from dumped imports that threaten the viability and growth of Omani manufacturers. Badr bin Mubarak Al Hajri, Head of the Anti-Dumping Section, stated that the Center, in coordination with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s General Secretariat, has conducted 14 investigations into foreign imports and over 10 into Omani exports. These efforts underscore the Center’s preventive role in shielding the market and enhancing the business climate.
As Oman advances toward its Vision 2040 goals, the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Center remains a vital regulatory pillar, fostering a competitive, transparent, and resilient economy that supports sustainable growth and investor confidence.
