Oman recorded OMR2.6bn worth of real estate transactions in 2017, a Y-o-Y drop of 61%, according to a new report by the Ministry of Housing. On a positive note, fees collected from real estate transactions rose to more than OMR80mn, registering a Y-o-Y increase of 22%. First time land registrations saw a marginal increase of 6%, with 58,433 land plots registered in 2017. The number of properties issued to residents from other GCC countries also witnessed a small increase, as 1,200 properties were registered by non-Omani GCC nationals in 2017, compared to 1,917 in 2016. The governorate of Muscat accounted for 70,903 real estate transactions, the highest in any province, followed by North Batinah and South Batinah, with 66,769 and 56,419 transactions, respectively. (