The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion continues to empower and develop the Ma'roof Oman platform, launched under its supervision as a free service available to all stakeholders in the e-commerce sector, both sellers and buyers. This initiative is part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to regulate the e-commerce environment and solidify the principles of transparency and trust in digital transactions.
The Ma'roof Oman platform serves as a national tool supporting the growth of the digital economy. It aims to enhance the success of online stores by verifying licensed businesses operating in the Sultanate of Oman, facilitating communication between buyers and sellers, and increasing customer confidence in digital businesses by enabling them to verify that sellers possess official licenses issued by the Ministry.
The platform works to achieve a number of integrated objectives. For sellers, it contributes to strengthening customer trust in their businesses, demonstrating the legitimacy of their operations and their possession of the necessary licenses, and facilitating their access to a wider segment of their target customers. For buyers, the platform allows them to view a list of online stores licensed by the Ministry, access their data, and evaluate them through the platform, thus empowering them to make informed purchasing decisions based on clear and reliable information. As of February 2026, the Maarouf Oman platform had registered 340 online stores and received 670 registration requests. This reflects a growing awareness among store owners of the importance of registering their online activities and an increasing consumer preference for dealing with licensed stores, particularly during peak seasons such as Ramadan and Eid, when e-commerce activity surges.
Aza bint Ibrahim Al Kindi, Director of the Department of Commercial Affairs and E-Commerce at the Ministry, affirmed that the Maarouf Oman platform represents a strategic step in regulating e-commerce in the Sultanate of Oman. She noted that the platform contributes to establishing a culture of safe and responsible shopping by enabling consumers to verify the registration of an online store before completing a purchase. This enhances the credibility of merchants who adhere to applicable regulations and legislation. Al Kindi added that the Ministry is committed to providing a reliable and stimulating digital environment for growth, and that the platform offers a free service that allows merchants to prove their legitimacy and strengthens their competitive position. Simultaneously, it empowers consumers to make smart and secure purchasing decisions, especially during periods of increased online shopping activity. The Canadian Ministry of Commerce and Industry urged consumers to verify the online store's authentication certificate on the Ma'arouf Oman platform before making any purchase. It also encouraged online store owners to expedite their authentication applications to benefit from the platform's advantages in enhancing trust and building lasting relationships with customers.
The Ministry is implementing a comprehensive media campaign through its official channels. This campaign includes a circular to consumers emphasizing the importance of verifying an online store's authentication certificate before purchasing from any website. It also includes a message to merchants urging them to quickly authenticate their stores on the platform. Furthermore, the campaign features several awareness and promotional messages focusing on the concepts of trust and security in online shopping. These include the call to "shop with confidence" during Ramadan and Eid by choosing authenticated stores, the emphasis that "your smart decision" begins with verifying the store's authentication before completing a purchase, and the message that "Ma'arouf means security" during shopping seasons. The campaign also highlights that store authentication gives its owner a competitive edge, enhances their chances of success, and fosters a lasting relationship of trust with their customers.
The campaign also emphasizes that authentication gives the store owner a competitive edge, boosts their chances of success, and helps them build lasting trust with their customers. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion affirms that the Maarouf Oman platform represents one of the national initiatives aimed at regulating the e-commerce sector, protecting consumer rights, and enhancing the credibility of online stores, in line with the trends of digital transformation and supporting the national economy.
