Oman: A Trade Gateway on the Rise

Published

October 2, 2026 8:31 am

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Ryan Bellefontaine

Design

Athul Alexander
Akhila Ayyalasomayajula

The following content is sponsored by DP World

Charting Oman’s Growth as a Trade Gateway

Key Takeaways

Oman’s average monthly exports rose from $2.65 billion in 2020 to $5.04 billion in 2025.
Imports also climbed strongly, up 65% over the same time frame, reinforcing Oman’s broader trade momentum.
The Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone could strengthen Oman’s role as a trade gateway linking Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Trade gateway stories often begin with momentum in the numbers. In Oman, stronger trade growth is helping set the stage for a broader manufacturing and logistics narrative.

This graphic, in partnership with DP World, shows how Oman’s average monthly exports and imports have expanded since 2020 using data from NCSI Oman and the IMF.

Trade Momentum Builds in Oman

Pace accelerated over the last five years. Average monthly exports rose from $2.65 billion in 2020 to $5.04 billion in 2025, while imports climbed from $2.33 billion to $3.80 billion.

Here is a table that shows Oman’s average monthly exports and imports from 2020 to 2025.

Year	Avg. Monthly Exports (USD $M)	Avg. Imports (USD $M)	Avg. Total Trade (USD $M)
2020	2,650.50	2,328.00	4,978.50
2021	3,590.90	2,576.60	6,167.50
2022	5,475.70	3,214.60	8,690.30
2023	4,962.60	3,231.20	8,193.80
2024	5,429.70	3,622.40	9,052.10
2025	5,043.00	3,800.80	8,843.80

Disclosure Note

OMR values were converted to USD using Oman’s fixed exchange-rate peg of 1 OMR = US$2.6008. Values are nominal and not inflation-adjusted.

Together, those gains translate into 13.7% annual export growth and 10.3% annual import growth from 2020 to 2025. By comparison, the Gulf region’s GDP is projected to grow 2.0% in 2026, underscoring the scale of Oman’s trade expansion.

Why Al Rawdah Matters

Against that backdrop, the Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone gives Oman a new platform for industrial growth. Launched in 2025, the UAE–Oman border zone is now under development, with Phase 1 plots expected from the end of 2027.

Because the zone is designed for manufacturing and logistics, it can help firms produce, move, and re-export goods more efficiently. That matters as companies look for trade gateways that connect regional production with global demand.

Linking Three Regions

Oman’s location supports that role. The country sits at a natural crossroads between Asia, Africa, and Europe, and global trade increasingly rewards well-placed hubs with strong infrastructure.

Moreover, the U.S.–Oman Free Trade Agreement gives qualifying Omani goods duty-free access to the U.S. market. For export-oriented manufacturers, DP World’s Al Rawdah helps show why Oman is emerging as a strategic trade gateway on the rise.

Related Topics: #exports #imports #logistics #manufacturing #international trade #supply chains #Oman #free trade agreements #special economic zones #Middle East.

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Oman: A Trade Gateway on the Rise