Real Estate Activity in Oman During the First Half of 2026: OMR 1.434 Billion in Traded Value

An analysis of official real estate activity data in the Sultanate of Oman until the end of June 2026, including sale contracts, mortgages, number of contracts, and issued title deeds.

The traded value of real estate in the Sultanate of Oman reached approximately OMR 1.434 billion during the first half of 2026 (January – June), compared to about OMR 1.360 billion in the same period of 2025, representing a growth of nearly 5.4%, according to official data issued based on the records of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.

This figure provides a picture of the volume of activity, but it becomes more useful when we know its components: the value of sale contracts, the value of mortgages, the number of contracts, and the issued title deeds. As we will see, the three components did not move in the same direction.

Sale Contracts: OMR 688 Million with 12.2% Growth

The traded value of sale contracts reached approximately OMR 688 million during the first half of 2026, compared to about OMR 613 million in the corresponding period of 2025, an increase of nearly 12.2%.

As for the number of sale contracts, it reached 34,017 contracts, compared to 31,831 contracts in the first half of 2025, an increase of nearly 6.9%.

The important observation here is that the value grew at approximately double the pace of the number's growth. This means that the average value of a single sale contract increased — from about 19.3 thousand OMR to about 20.2 thousand OMR. In other words, the growth was not only the result of a larger number of small transactions, but also of an increase in the average transaction value, which aligns with the rise in the price index in the first quarter.

Mortgages: Number Jumps and Value Declines

Here appears the strangest signal in the first-half data. The traded value of mortgage contracts reached approximately OMR 740.2 million, compared to OMR 742.2 million in the first half of 2025 — a slight decline of nearly 0.3%.

However, the number of mortgage contracts rose during the same time to 13,383 contracts, compared to 10,647 contracts, an increase of nearly 25.7%.

A larger number by almost a quarter, and a steady total value. The direct mathematical meaning is that the average value of a single mortgage contract decreased significantly: from about 70 thousand OMR to about 55 thousand OMR, a decline of nearly one-fifth.

What could explain this? The possibilities are multiple: smaller-sized financing, a change in the mix of mortgaged properties, or an increase in individual mortgages versus large institutional mortgages. The aggregate data does not settle the cause, and integrity requires presenting the observation without attributing a single explanation to it.

The important thing for the reader is to note the difference between the two indicators: whoever looks at the number of contracts alone will say that real estate financing is growing strongly, and whoever looks at the value alone will say it is stagnant. Both are reading half the picture.

Swap Contracts

Swap contracts recorded a value of approximately OMR 5.8 million, an increase of about 20.3%, but their number declined to 362 contracts compared to 596 contracts, a decrease of nearly 39.3%. This is a relatively small category in the market, but it is an additional example that number and value can move in opposite directions.

Decline in the Number of Issued Title Deeds

Despite the growth in traded value, the number of issued title deeds decreased by about 8% during the first half of 2026, reaching 101,700 title deeds compared to 110,551 title deeds in the same period of 2025.

Specifically in the category of GCC citizens, 541 title deeds were issued compared to 697 title deeds, a decline of nearly 22.4%.

It is important here not to confuse the "number of issued title deeds" with the "number of sale transactions." The two indicators measure two different administrative activities and may move in different directions during the same period, exactly as happened in these data.

Foreign and GCC Investment

The value of real estate transactions for foreign investment exceeded OMR 60 million by the end of June 2026, while investments by GCC citizens surpassed OMR 13 million. Furthermore, the contribution of real estate activities to the Gross Domestic Product during 2025 reached about OMR 1.08 billion.

How Do We Read the 5.4% Growth?

Growth in traded value means that the volume of money associated with registered real estate transactions has increased compared to the previous year. However, it does not tell us alone whether the reason was rising prices, an increase in transactions, or a change in the mix of traded properties.

In the specific case of the first half of 2026, we now know that growth came from sale contracts, not mortgages: sales rose by 12.2% while mortgages declined by 0.3%. The overall percentage of 5.4% is an average that completely conceals this divergence.

This is why it is better to read activity data alongside the price index. In the first quarter of 2026, the real estate price index rose by 15.9% annually, with strong growth in residential land prices. Combining the two indicators gives a broader picture: the market witnessed a clear price increase while a notable volume of transactions continued.

What Do the Numbers Mean for Brokers and Developers?

For brokers, surpassing 34,000 sale contracts in six months means an active market exists that requires marketing, valuation, negotiation, and transaction completion services. However, competition is also increasing, especially with the expansion of digital platforms and improved access to information.

As for developers, the rise in the number of mortgage contracts alongside the decrease in their average value is a signal worth pausing at: it could mean that a broader segment of buyers is entering the market through financing, but with lower purchasing power per transaction. This directly affects the determination of unit types, payment plans, and target price ranges.

What Does It Mean for the Individual Investor?

High activity does not mean that every property is easy to resell. Liquidity varies between regions, types, and price ranges. The investor must ask about the volume of real demand for the type of unit they are buying, the number of competing properties, and the average marketing duration, rather than just the size of the national market.

Similarly, the volume of mortgages reminds the investor of the importance of financing costs. The return on a financed property must be measured after financing interest or costs and operating expenses.

Important Comparison with 2025

The total traded value of real estate in the Sultanate during the full year of 2025 reached approximately OMR 3.368 billion, which is almost identical to the level of 2024 (with a slight decline of about 0.4%). Therefore, the data for the first half of 2026 form part of an annual trajectory that needs to be monitored until the end of the year before issuing a complete judgment.

It is simply not valid to double a six-month figure to predict the year, because real estate activity changes seasonally, and numbers can be affected by large transactions and the timing of registration.

Conclusion

Until the end of June 2026, official data showed growth in traded real estate value driven by sales, not financing: sale contracts increased in both value and number, while the value of mortgages remained steady despite a jump in their number, and the number of issued title deeds declined. The general picture is positive in terms of activity, but it is complex and cannot be reduced to a single number.

For those working in the market, the best practice is to monitor three things together: prices, transaction values, and the number of contracts. This provides a more balanced reading than following headlines alone.

Why Should Value and Number of Transactions Be Separated?

The data of this half provides a textbook example: the number of contracts may increase by a large percentage while the value remains stable, if activity is concentrated in lower price categories — which is what happened with mortgages. The reverse is also possible: value may rise faster than number if the property mix changes or larger transactions are recorded — which is what happened with sales.

This is why a professional market reading combines at least three indicators: the number of sale contracts, their value, and price trends. If you add mortgage data and new projects, the picture becomes clearer. Using only a single indicator can lead to exaggerated conclusions, especially in a market that includes vastly different lands, residential units, and commercial properties.