The national local content policy represents one of the most important strategic directions of Oman Vision 2040. It aims to support national industries and activities, empower Omani talent, and build an integrated system to regulate and monitor the implementation of local content across various economic sectors.
The expansion of local content programs has provided broad support to private sector institutions, particularly the entrepreneurship sector. Statistics indicate a significant increase in the number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) benefiting from government spending through tenders and procurement contracts. The number of entrepreneurial institutions registered with the Authority for Projects, Tenders, and Local Content increased from 2,075 in 2024 to 5,136 by the end of the first quarter of the current year, representing 25.7% of the total number of companies registered with the Authority.
This noticeable increase coincides with the expansion of local content programs across various sectors, along with the implementation of a decision last year requiring all ministries, government units, public authorities, and state-owned companies to award government tenders for supplies, works, and services valued at no more than OMR 25,000 to SMEs whose owners hold a Riyada card. This decision is expected to further increase both the number and value of tenders and procurements awarded to SMEs.
In 2024, such tenders saw a 92% increase, reaching 3,431 tenders, with a total value exceeding OMR 84 million, marking a 53% increase compared to 2023. Statistics also show that adopting local content enhancement policies raised the local content share of total contract value at the Oman Investment Authority to 32.4%, while its spending on SMEs rose to 19.8% of total local expenditure by the Authority and its subsidiaries.
As part of Oman Vision implementation, the Sultanate's economic policies focus on improving the business environment, enhancing competitiveness, and providing incentives and facilities to empower the private sector and support the growth of national activities. The local content policy is part of several initiatives aimed at empowering entrepreneurs, including the launch of the Promising Companies Market on the Muscat Stock Exchange and allocating 10% of the capital of the Oman Future Fund to finance SMEs and startups.
Since its implementation, the local content policy has undergone important developments that strengthen its objectives and maximize its impact. A mandatory list of government procurements has been introduced as a regulatory tool to support Omanization and promote the use of national products in government contracts, thereby enhancing their development and competitiveness.
The digitization of local content requirements in the “Isnad" e-tendering system has provided a detailed database of total spending on local content elements and ensured that SMEs receive their agreed shares in contracts. Additionally, some initiatives linked to local content programs aim to connect these programs with key national objectives, particularly employment and the empowerment of national talent.
In this context, the Authority for Projects, Tenders, and Local Content launched the national program “Imdad," which aims to create job opportunities, empower job seekers, and develop national competencies across various sectors. The program includes key strategies for job localization, such as direct employment, training linked to employment, on-the-job training, freelance platforms, employment sustainability initiatives, industrial training programs, and professional preparation programs.
Furthermore, local content performance indicators have been incorporated into the institutional excellence system in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, enabling the monitoring of progress in implementing local content programs and measuring compliance levels. These indicators cover three main areas: government entities and their procurement, operational contracts, and development projects.
In 2025, the “Rabt" platform was also launched to connect suppliers with buyers in industrial zones. The platform includes more than 5,000 industrial products and services offered by 300 factories and companies operating in industrial cities.