Oman Investment Fund

The Oman Investment Authority is a sovereign wealth fund, established in 2006 in accordance with a royal decree of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman. The fund was abolished in 2020 and all of its assets were transferred to the newly created Oman Investment Authority.

History

The Oman Investment Fund was established in 2006 and was the successor to the Oman Oil Fund, which was formed in 1993 to invest in the domestic oil industry. The fund received an additional US$1 billion from the Omani government expanding its assets under management.

Under a Royal Decree in June 2020, most of the country's sovereign wealth funds, including the Oman Investment Fund and State General Reserve Fund, were merged into the newly-established Oman Investment Authority.[1][2] Before its closure, the Oman Investment Fund had assets of roughly $3.4 billion.[2]

Strategy and objectives

The fund is legally prohibited from publicly disclosing information about its investment strategy or asset allocation. It is therefore only possible to estimate its funds under management, and a full list of its investments is not publicly available.

The fund has a long-term investment horizon, and its mandate includes seeking above-average returns. Its primary objective upon its establishment was to generate economic growth in the Sultanate of Oman, through direct investment in domestic companies, by assisting foreign companies to extend their investments and operations in Oman, or by facilitating knowledge and technological transfer to domestic entities.

The fund has made investments in real estate and private equity.[3] Other investment sectors in which it has historically invested include:

  • Travel and leisure
  • Media and entertainment
  • Industrial goods and services
  • Industrial transportation and engineering
  • Financial services
  • Utilities
  • Telecom infrastructure

Given the Oman Investment Fund's imperative to generate above average-returns through long-term investments, it has shown a particular interest in emerging industries within Oman, as well as markets with promising growth potential. It has shown a preference for high-growth emerging markets, such as India, where Oman has historical trading ties.

Governance

The fund's sole shareholder is the Government of the Sultanate of Oman. It is overseen by Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council and the Ministry of Finance of Oman.[4]

References

  1. ^ "HM the Sultan Issues Royal Decree Establishing Oman Investment Institution". Oman News Agency. 2020-06-04. Archived from the original on 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  2. ^ a b "Oman to set up investment authority to manage state assets". Reuters. 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  3. ^ "Oman Investment Authority Generated a 10.3% Average Annual Return Since OIA Inception - SWFI". www.swfinstitute.org. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  4. ^ SWF Institute. "Oman Investment Fund". SWF Institute.
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