The map·Oman·Government programmes

Central Bank of Oman — FinTech

CBO FinTech Framework and Roadmap 2023.

What
Regulatory permission to test products live; no funding provided.
Who
FinTech, payments and digital banking startups.
Cost
No equity — service or permission
From abroad
A company in Oman is required — Foreign company must obtain a Commercial Registration in Oman in order to apply All programmes open to founders from abroad →
Status
Active

Checked · September 2026 · cbo.gov.om · How we check ↗

In detail

Central Bank of Oman — FinTech is a regulatory framework + sandbox in Oman. CBO FinTech Framework and Roadmap 2023. Regulatory sandbox for FinTech innovation. ITHCA collaboration.

Amount
Regulatory permission to test
Eligibility
FinTech, payments, digital banking startups
Sectors
FinTech, Payments, Digital Banking
Status
Active

What the source says

“A foreign company that is not based in Oman and does not have any activities here must therefore obtain a Commercial Registration in order to apply to the FRS.”

cbo.gov.om/Pages/FintechFAQs.aspx · seen September 2026

“Fintech Regulatory Sandbox (FRS) refers to live testing of new products or services in a controlled and test regulatory environment for which regulators may (or may not) permit certain regulatory relaxations for the limited purpose of testing.”

“The initiative cultivates advanced and innovative products, services and business models in the domestic financial services industry, and in turn contributing to enhancing financial inclusion, increasing financial depth and generating economic growth.”

Closing soon on the map

Cultural Development Fund (CDF)

Grant · Saudi Arabia
Up to SAR 500,000 non-repayable per project, capped at 20 projects total.
No equity — grant
29 Sep 2026closes

Finspire

Accelerator · Saudi Arabia
SAR 100,000 development funding, earmarked rather than paid as cash.
Equity via SAFE, capped at 5%
4 Oct 2026closes

QSTP Incubation

Accelerator · Qatar
In-kind support: Doha workspace and housing for a four-week Sprint, talent and investor access.
Equity — 1.5% deferred SAFE-style stake
1 Nov 2026closes

All published deadlines →

More government programmes in Oman

Duqm Free Zone

Government · Oman
Free zone incentives plus a 30-year tax holiday.
No equity — service or permission

Future Fund Oman

Government · Oman
VC OMR 4K–100K (ideation to seed); SME equity OMR 250K–5M; SME debt OMR 100K–500K; projects to OMR 100M.
Equity or debt — up to 40% stake on project track

Riyada — ASMED

Government · Oman
Grants and loans; amount depends on the project.
No equity — grant or loan

Knowledge Oasis Muscat

Government · Oman
Free zone benefits and tax exemptions.
No equity — service or permission

All government programmes in Oman →  ·  Across the Gulf →

More programmes that take no equity →

Sources

Primary source · cbo.gov.om · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/central-bank-of-oman · Checked September 2026

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