Oman’s digital payments landscape is undergoing rapid transformation following the rollout of card tokenization guidelines in 2023 and the subsequent launch of Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. According to the Central Bank of Oman, these mobile wallets have enabled millions of secure, tokenized transactions through smartphones and wearables—eliminating the need for physical cards and accelerating Oman’s shift toward a cashless economy.
Launched in April and September 2024 respectively, the two services processed 51.89 million digitized card transactions worth RO342 billion. Apple Pay has quickly dominated the market, capturing 93% of transaction volume and 92% of total transaction value, while Samsung Pay accounted for the remaining share.
Card tokenization has not only strengthened security but also created a smoother, frictionless payment experience—supporting Oman’s national digital transformation and e-commerce strategy. Debit cards remain the backbone of payments in the country, powering 584.7 million POS and gateway transactions worth RO7.133 billion. Credit cards and prepaid cards follow at much smaller volumes and values.
Oman’s Mobile Payment Clearing and Switching System (MPCSS) continues to modernize the ecosystem by offering instant payments via mobile number, alias, or QR code. Person-to-Person payments have surged dramatically—from 40.55 million in 2023 to 169.36 million in 2024, with transaction value jumping to RO5.558 billion. Person-to-Business payments also tripled in volume and value, reflecting rising merchant adoption of mobile payment solutions.
The shift signifies a fundamental change in consumer behavior and business operations—ushering in an era of higher efficiency, lower fraud risk, and broader digital financial inclusion.
