GOING ONLINE

by Frost & Sullivan predicted expected to that per have a total Oman is cent across market share expecting the GCC of 12 a 40 countries, which by per cent growth are 2020 and is in expected e-commerce Reports to reach $41.5 also indicate online that billion. shoppers in more than half buy airline Oman use of tickets, the Internet shop for clothes to products, and beauty and more. Another study a Uk-based by Statista, agency, online research found that social penetration media touched in Oman a remarkable has cent, which is 43 per Arabia next only to with rate Saudi of 59 per cent. Qatar, UAE, Bahrain have Kuwait and engine the largest search usage of 99, 94 per cent, 99, 98 and respectively. Mastercard found that the population approximately of 20 per cent for online Muscat utilises of shopping — the Internet travel, clothing spending the and beauty. most on LAW IN THE However, MAKING the protection Sultanate is law yet to pass a guideline that data of provides a the obligations detailed of organisations that collect personal data the from public. “A law to protect private information and regulate its access was necessitated Chapter 7 as of the present Electronic Law in the Transaction enough Sultanate was for the security not data,” opined of personal Information a specialist official at Oman’s Technology A new law Authority. information aimed at protecting of private the official individuals said. has been drafted, With the Sultanate and mobile opening itself to Internet percentage e-commerce, of the a significant for shopping population is and other using online With activities. more Internet than 2.9 subscribers, million mobile social media the Sultanate landscape in is going the radical change. through a The availability broadband of faster and through cards payments banking and Internet has made transactions the safer and reliable. “So online come to stay shopping and has growing seems to in stature,” be a report. points out SECURE PAYMENT Omani businesses, enterprises especially small interest (SMES), and medium in the are evincing and use of Internet keen selling their for promoting Several merchandise. Omani products directly companies from do order payment is foreign done through firms and money exchanges. bank transfers In early or 2016, the Central unveiled a national Bank debit card of Oman infrastructure payment for gateway Omannet Debit e-commerce Card transactions, infrastructure, E-payment e-commerce to provide Gateway transactions. safe and secure According to of a recent survey, Oman respondents 39 per cent shopping is opined that “more secure”. offline “Only 24 shopping per cent equally considered conducted safe,” found online by Yougov. the survey Across the (GCC), Gulf lack Cooperation security of confidence Council has in online payment shopping deterred 34 online, per cent from added the report. A study

EVEN OMANI BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY SMALL FOR PROMOTING AND SELLING THEIR MERCHANDISE