MUSCAT — Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology said the disruption that hit the delivery sector last November following operational issues involving Talabat was sudden and caused confusion across the market, resulting in lost business opportunities for drivers, merchants and small firms.
Speaking exclusively to The Arabian Stories, His Excellency Eng. Saeed Al Mawali said the incident created concern across the sector after deliveries were temporarily affected, prompting swift intervention by authorities to restore order and limit the economic fallout.
The minister said the government granted 200 permits to selected small and medium-sized enterprises owned by Omanis as part of efforts to raise local employment in the online delivery sector. Authorities also encouraged the use of motorcycles, which he said help reduce emissions while improving delivery efficiency.
“The issue in the delivery sector was sudden and caused a degree of confusion and concern, resulting in the loss of many opportunities,” Al Mawali said, adding that the response focused on restoring order, safeguarding jobs and aligning the sector with sustainability goals.
The disruption, which occurred in November last year, caused widespread interruptions and significant inconvenience for residents who rely on online delivery platforms for their daily meals. However, the issue was quickly resolved by the delivery company, allowing services to resume.
Commenting more broadly on logistics and trade flows, the minister said around 80% of goods do not enter the country through official Omani entry points, noting that most are collected domestically and have value added before reaching consumers.
