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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

3 clusters · 3 sources · 16 days · First seen 19 days ago · Last updated 3 days ago

Categories: BUSINESS

Oman‑UAE business continuity & ESG regulation push

Entities: United Arab Emirates · Oman · ISO 22301 · Oman Financial Services Authority · Muscat Stock Exchange

Overview

In late July 2026 Oman’s Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) issued a directive obliging licensed electricity, water and wastewater providers to implement ISO 22301‑aligned business‑continuity management systems within six months, with fines up to 500,000 rials for non‑compliance. The move, driven by heightened cyber‑attack, natural‑disaster and supply‑chain risks, spurred demand for BCM and ISO 22301 consultants to perform gap analyses, risk assessments and continuity‑plan development.

Within days, UAE firms, though not subject to a formal mandate, faced growing regulatory expectations and inter‑sectoral dependencies, prompting them to seek similar consulting services to achieve ISO 22301 certification. A follow‑up report on 27 July confirmed that both markets were expanding their use of specialised BCM consultants for business‑impact analyses and resilience frameworks.

On 6 August, Oman’s Financial Services Authority introduced mandatory ESG reporting for listed companies under IFRS S1/S2 and the Muscat Stock Exchange’s 30‑metric ESG requirement. While focused on sustainability disclosures, the announcement also reiterated ISO 22301 certification as a strategic resilience measure, further broadening the consulting market.

The same day, the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority and local exchanges issued guidelines requiring listed firms to disclose ESG information in line with international standards and to integrate business‑continuity management, referencing ISO 22301 and the national NCEMA 7000 framework. The guidance emphasised the role of professional consultants in risk assessment, recovery‑plan development and ongoing compliance, reinforcing the parallel surge in consulting demand across both jurisdictions.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] BCM consultants perform business impact analyses and set recovery time objectives for organisations.
[● 2 SOURCES] ISO 22301 consultants guide organisations through gap assessments, system design, implementation and external audit to achieve certification.
[○ 1 SOURCE] UAE businesses face risks such as cyber threats, supply chain interruptions, and natural events.
[○ 1 SOURCE] UAE regulatory expectations for business continuity are high.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Oman introduced regulations mandating comprehensive risk management and business continuity systems for licensed entities in the electricity, water, and sanitation sectors.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Penalties for non‑compliance with Oman’s business continuity regulations can be up to 500,000 Omani riyals.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Oman’s Vision 2040 emphasizes economic diversification and organizational resilience.
[○ 1 SOURCE] ISO 22301 is an internationally recognised standard for Business Continuity Management Systems.

Timeline

3 days ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
UAE companies urged to adopt ESG reporting and business continuity standards
UAE regulators are mandating ESG disclosures and business continuity standards, prompting firms to seek professional consultancy for compliance with ISO 22301 and NCEMA 7000.
13 days ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Business continuity and ISO 22301 consulting expands in UAE and Oman
UAE and Oman firms boost business continuity planning, hiring BCM and ISO 22301 consultants as Oman enforces new continuity regulations with heavy penalties.
19 days ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Oman mandates ISO 22301 for utilities, driving business continuity consulting
Oman’s APSR requires utilities to adopt ISO 22301 business‑continuity systems within six months, imposing hefty fines; BCM consultants offer gap analyses, system design and risk assessments to ensure compliance

Sources

californianewswire.com · evere.co · socialbee.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history