Businesses in the Sultanate of Oman are required to make e-payment options available for customers effective from early 2022, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

According to Azza Ibrahim al Kindi, Director of Commercial Affairs and E-commerce at the Ministry, e-payment will become mandatory for businesses practicing certain types of commercial activities in the first phase of the roll-out of the initiative starting in early 2022. However, customers can continue to exercise the cash payment option if they so choose, she noted, adding that the initiative is in line with the digital transformation strategy set out in Oman Vision 2040.

She urged commercial institutions in the Sultanate of Oman to press ahead with the completion of procedures to enable e-payment services.

According to the Ministry, e-payment options ensure faster and secure transactions, minimise the risk of fraud, and facilitate easy record-keeping. (With inputs from ONA)