OMAN - International Financial Center Planned

Oman plans to set up an international financial center in the country, the state news agency reported, as the small oil producer joins its bigger neighbors in seeking to attract foreign companies eager to capitalize on the region’s growth.

The financial center would have “legislative, administrative, and regulatory independence, and will be built on a new financial, judicial, and legislative system aligned with global standards,” it said.

Oman has followed the lead of other oil-producing countries that are seeking to diversify in its pursuit of investment in the financial sector and the privatization of companies, including state energy firm OQ.

-www.reuters.com, 6 January 2026

Commentary: This small nation of under 4 million inhabitants lists its per capita GDP as $36,700 (2024 estimate), with a life expectancy of 77.4 years. About 56.4 percent of the population are Muslim; the rest is made up of various religions including Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist.

What becomes evident from the excerpts of this report by Reuters is the tendency to diversify their economy away from oil. A Google search reveals that approximately 1.6 billion vehicles depending on oil are on the road globally.

While production of electric-powered vehicles is rapidly increasing, most statistics available place the share at less than 4% (2025). Thus, there is no end in sight for the gradual increase in internal combustion engines being replaced by the much-acclaimed, environmentally friendly EV transportation.

It is interesting that oil-producing countries have seriously started implementing economic systems not based on oil.

One thing is crystal clear: namely, the interdependence of the nations of the world. In the long run, no state can afford to be isolated. The development of various new inventions is now being shared globally.

Once again, we see the tendency of the nations of the world to merge into one, led by economic necessity.

When it comes to the one nation among all others on planet earth that is decisive, we must look to Israel. Ezekiel 37:22 declares: “And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.” Actually, the beginning of that process started on 14 May 1948, when Jews from countries around the world moved to the land of Israel to become one nation. The world will, sooner or later, have to follow.