Oman has set a target of 7% annual growth for its Halal products and services sector. A strong signal for Italian food companies looking to diversify exports to Gulf markets, where demand is structured and certification requirements are precise.
On 1 September 2026, a three-day workshop on Halal tourism opened in Salalah, organised by Oman's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion together with the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and Omran Group. The stated goal is clear: the Sultanate of Oman is aiming for 7% annual growth in the Halal products and services sector, as reported by Muscat Daily.
For anyone involved in Italian food exports, this is not background colour. It is an industrial-policy signal: Oman is building a structured Halal ecosystem, with planned standards, training and investment. And when a Gulf country moves in this way, the market follows.
Oman is a net importer of food products. Its population is growing, the middle class is well established and consumer habits are increasingly oriented towards products of certified quality. The country is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and shares an integrated Halal regulatory framework with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
This means that a Halal certification recognised by the Gulf authorities — such as those issued by bodies recognised in line with SASO requirements for Saudi Arabia and GAC/EIAC for the Emirates — also opens the door to the Omani market. It is not a separate route, but a single regional recognition system.
A 7% annual growth target, announced at institutional level, is not just a statistical objective: it is a commitment to creating demand, simplifying import procedures for certified products and attracting international operators. For a correctly positioned Italian food company — with the right certification and its paperwork in order — this translates into shelves waiting to be filled.
To export food products to Oman, an Italian company must meet a number of fundamental conditions:
When a country announces a sector growth plan with quantified targets, the first certified suppliers to enter the market gain a structural advantage: they build commercial relationships, acquire local references and take shelf positions that are then hard to dislodge. Latecomers find a more competitive market and distributors already tied to other suppliers.
Oman is not a frontier market. It is a stable country, with solid logistics infrastructure and a business community used to working with European suppliers. Italian companies already exporting to Saudi Arabia or the Emirates often have the right certification to access it. Those that do not should ask themselves how much longer they can afford to wait.
If your company produces food — meat, cured meats, preserves, cheeses, bakery products, ingredients, semi-finished goods — and does not yet have a Halal certification recognised in the Gulf countries, now is the time to act, not when the market is already saturated.
The certification process with HQC Italia involves an initial document review, a check of production processes and an on-site audit. HQC is recognised by the main international Islamic authorities, including SASO and SFDA for Saudi Arabia, and GAC and EIAC for the Emirates and the Gulf. The quote is free and is sent within 24 hours of the request.
You do not need to know everything about Oman to get started. You need to know whether your product is ready to enter a market that has decided to grow.
Source: Halal Times, "Oman Targets 7 Percent Annual Growth in Halal Products and Services Sector", 1 September 2026. Read the original article.
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