Oman considers financial help from Gulf neighbours as coronavirus pandemic sinks economy

Oman has held discussions with its Gulf neighbours about the possibility of receiving financial aid as low oil prices and coronavirus lockdown measures hit the sultanate's finances.

Two officials in the region told Bloomberg that financial aid was one of several topics discussed at a "recent high-level political meeting" between officials from Gulf countries. 

The talks, which reportedly took place at the leadership and foreign ministry level, remain preliminary.

Oman has been experiencing economic difficulties since before the coronavirus crisis and is considered the most vulnerable economy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bloomberg reported.

A US official told Bloomberg that the other Gulf nations have reognised Oman's financial difficulties and are unanimous in their desire to help. 

The US is also exploring ways it can help, the official said.

Oman's new Sultan Haitham bin Tariq was sworn in shortly after former Sultan Qaboos,  the longest-serving leader in the modern Arab world, died in January. 

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As part of his pledge to make fiscal stability a priority, the Omani government has been looking to shear costs. 

As part of these reforms, new Omani civil servants were told in May they would see significant salary cuts .

Ten of thousands of Omanis are employed by the state but the government is looking to ease public spending by increasing the size of the private sector and encouraging more Omanis to start their own companies.

Oman's economy has been hit by years of low oil prices and more recently by the coronavirus crisis, which has had a devastating impact on local businesses.

The sultanate's GDP growth is expected to shrink this year, with the government announcing a range of budget cuts to cope with the decrease in finances.

The state will force public workers with more than 30 years service to retire and half the salaries for board members of government organisations.