Overview
The World Bank’s Government Effectiveness indicator, part of the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service, the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government’s commitment to stated policies. It draws on over 30 data sources from survey institutes, think tanks, and international organisations.
Oman’s Position
Oman consistently scores in the 55th to 70th percentile on government effectiveness, reflecting a public administration that delivers core services reliably – particularly in security, infrastructure, and basic social services. The Sultanate benefits from political stability, clear policy direction under the Sultan’s leadership, and a professional civil service. Areas for improvement include policy coordination across ministries, evidence-based policymaking, and reducing bureaucratic complexity in business-facing services.
Regional Comparison
The UAE and Qatar lead the GCC on government effectiveness, with the UAE regularly scoring above the 80th percentile. Saudi Arabia has improved dramatically through Vision 2030 implementation machinery, including dedicated delivery units and performance management systems. Bahrain scores comparably to Oman. Kuwait’s parliamentary system introduces policy volatility that constrains its effectiveness score. Oman’s stability is an asset, but the pace of administrative modernisation has been slower than in the UAE or Saudi Arabia.
Trajectory
Vision 2040 places governance reform at the centre of Oman’s development strategy. The establishment of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, the adoption of results-based budgeting, expansion of e-government services, and civil service reform initiatives all target government effectiveness. The challenge is moving from planning to execution at pace, ensuring that institutional reforms translate into measurable improvements in service delivery and policy outcomes.