“Can Sohar International become Oman's anchor digital bank by opening its infrastructure via APIs while expanding SME lending and cross-border payments across the GCC?”
Sohar International is an established Omani bank operating under a national banking licence from the Central Bank of Oman, offering retail, wholesale and Islamic banking (via the Sohar Islamic window). In recent years the bank has pursued a digital transformation agenda, launching Oman's first API Banking Portal in 2024 to open its rails to fintechs, government bodies and corporates. It has simultaneously expanded its SME lending reach through public-private partnerships (e.g. with Future Fund Oman and Beehive) and its international payments capability, positioning itself as a modern, API-driven bank for the GCC/MENA region.