Sales growth anchors a broader recovery
According to data published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) and carried by regional outlets, total traded value of real estate in Oman rose 7.7% year on year to OMR 1.7157bn (about US$4.46bn) by end-July 2026. This compares with OMR 1.593bn (around US$4.14bn) in the same period of 2025. The result marks a clear step-up from the 5.4–5.5% growth seen in the first half of the year, positioning the sector as one of the more stable asset classes in the Sultanate.
Sales contracts were the main driver. NCSI figures show the traded value of sales contracts increased 15.7% year on year to OMR 843.2m by July 2026, compared with OMR 728.5m a year earlier. The number of sales contracts also rose, by 3.9%, to 39,719, up from 38,226 in 2025. Higher ticket sizes appear to be combining with broader activity, which typically points to improving buyer confidence and deeper liquidity.
Mortgage financing provided a more measured, but still supportive, backdrop. The traded value of mortgage contracts increased 0.7% to OMR 864.4m by end-July, compared with OMR 858.4m in the same period of 2025. Meanwhile, the number of mortgage contracts jumped 22.3% to 15,441, from 12,621 previously. Banks are underwriting more deals even as average mortgage sizes stabilise, helping keep leverage controlled while extending credit to a wider base of borrowers.
Swap contracts, a small but telling segment, also moved higher. Their traded value reached OMR 8.2m by July 2026, up from OMR 6.1m in 2025, with activity rising about 41.6% to 411 contracts. This suggests investors and landowners are using swaps more actively to rebalance portfolios and unlock development potential within existing holdings.
One regional analyst captured the shift neatly: Oman’s real estate market is moving from passive ownership to active capital deployment, with mortgages and swaps now supporting a more dynamic trading phase.
How do ownership trends shape the opportunity set?
While transaction values strengthen, ownership data show a more nuanced picture. According to statistics cited by regional media, the number of issued properties in Oman stood at 119,832 by end-July 2026, compared with 134,206 in the same period of 2025. Units issued to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens reached 643 properties, versus 724 previously. By contrast with the growth in traded value, this points to a shift in how assets are held and transferred, rather than a simple rise in net new issuance.
For capital allocators, this mix matters. Rising activity in Oman real estate, coupled with slightly lower counts of issued titles, indicates that secondary trading and refinancing are taking a larger share of market turnover. As a result, investors focused on yield and capital recycling may find more entry points in existing stock, while developers need to be selective about new supply.
Regional coverage also highlights the growing link between transaction growth and digitalisation in the sector, including better data on traded values and contract types. This transparency helps institutional investors compare Oman with other GCC markets on metrics such as turnover velocity, sales-to-mortgage ratios and average deal size.
For cross-border investors, the steady presence of GCC buyers remains important. Although the number of units issued to GCC citizens has moderated, continued participation from regional investors signals that Oman real estate retains its appeal as a diversification play within Gulf portfolios. Oman’s property sector is gradually positioning itself as a complementary market to larger hubs, rather than a direct rival.
Looking ahead, investors should watch three signals: whether double-digit sales growth persists into the fourth quarter, how mortgage volumes evolve as interest rates shift, and whether GCC buyer activity stabilises or re-accelerates as new residential and logistics projects come to market.
Quick answers
The total traded value of real estate in Oman reached OMR 1.7157bn (approximately US$4.46bn) by end-July 2026, a 7.7% increase year on year, according to NCSI data.
The traded value of sales contracts rose 15.7% year on year to OMR 843.2m by July 2026, while the number of contracts increased 3.9% to 39,719.
GCC citizens were issued 643 properties by end-July 2026, down from 724 in the same period of 2025, though continued regional participation signals that Oman remains a meaningful diversification play within Gulf portfolios.
