Muscat: Preliminary data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) show that liquidity and lending indicators in the Sultanate of Oman registered notable growth by the end of July 2025. Domestic liquidity rose by 5.2 percent, reaching RO 25,450.6 million, compared to RO 24,202.8 million in the same period of 2024.
According to Oman News Agency, issued currency, or cash in circulation, decreased by 6.1 percent, recording RO 1,511.4 million by the end of July 2025, compared to RO 1,609.8 million during the same period last year. Meanwhile, narrow money (M1) increased by 10.2 percent, reaching RO 7,193.1 million, compared to RO 6,525.9 million by the end of July 2024.
Regarding credit, the total loans and financing extended by commercial banks and Islamic windows amounted to RO 34,100.8 million, marking a growth of 8.9 percent compared to RO 31,301.2 million in the same period last year. Private sector deposits also grew by 5.8 percent, reaching RO 21,890.1 million compared to RO 20,693.2 million by the end of July 2024.
Pertaining to interest rates, the average interest rate on total loans decreased by 1.4 percent, settling at 5.510 percent, compared to 5.590 percent. Meanwhile, net foreign assets at the end of July 2025 increased by 9.5 percent, recording RO 7,411.2 million, compared to RO 6,770.7 million during the same period last year.
The Real Effective Exchange Rate Index of the Omani Rial remained stable, unchanged at 116.3 points by the end of July 2025.