Overview
In the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International, Oman improved its global ranking by 20 places — reaching rank 50th globally (from approximately rank 70 in 2023). This is among the largest single-year improvements recorded by any country in recent CPI history, and the most significant GCC improvement.
What is the CPI?
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) measures the perceived level of public sector corruption in countries worldwide, based on assessments from business people, country analysts, and other expert respondents. It is the most widely referenced international corruption indicator.
- Scale: 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean)
- Coverage: 180 countries
- Publication: Annual (January of the following year)
CPI measures perceived corruption — it reflects expert and business perception of corruption levels, not measured corruption events. Perceptions can change rapidly with high-profile prosecutions, institutional reforms, or policy signals.
Oman’s Improvement
| Year | Oman CPI Rank |
|---|---|
| 2018 (Baseline) | ~70 |
| 2022 | ~58 |
| 2023 | ~70 |
| 2024 | 50 |
The 2024 improvement is striking — particularly the speed of change.
Likely Drivers
Investment and Commercial Court (Royal Decree 35/2025): The establishment of a specialised commercial court with expert judges directly addresses perceptions of arbitrary or corrupt commercial dispute resolution.
Prosecution visibility: High-profile anti-corruption prosecutions and asset recovery actions by Omani authorities have increased the perceived credibility of enforcement.
Institutional reform: The restructuring of government entities under Sultan Haitham, with clearer accountability lines and reduced overlap, reduces opportunities for rent-seeking.
Digital government: The digitisation of 2,680 government procedures reduces human interaction in bureaucratic processes — a significant corruption prevention mechanism (fewer opportunities for discretionary favour).
Credit rating upgrades: Improved sovereign ratings reflect (in part) improved governance perceptions from financial analysts — reinforcing the CPI signal.
Vision 2040 Target
Vision 2040 targets Oman in the top 30 of the CPI by 2040 — rank 50 (2024) represents significant progress toward this target. Sustaining and extending the improvement requires continued institutional reform and enforcement credibility.