Key Insights as of Jun 2025
Market Demographics
Population size
180,000 people
Population growth rate
2.5 %
Age distribution
35 % under 30
Household size
5.2 people
Household composition
70 % families
Education levels
45 % tertiary educated
Economic Indicators
Median household income
28,000 OMR/year
Employment rate
92 %
Job growth
3.2 %
Dominant industries
Shipping, Manufacturing, Retail
Cost of living index
85 index
Consumer Spending & Buying Power
Retail sales per capita
3,500 OMR/year
Disposable income
22,000 OMR/year
Spending behavior - apparel
15 % of retail spend
Spending behavior - dining
20 % of retail spend
Spending behavior - electronics
10 % of retail spend
Competition & Retail Presence
Existing retail mix
Supermarkets, Apparel, Electronics
Number of competitors
12 retail chains
Market saturation
Moderate
Presence of anchor tenants
Lulu Hypermarket, Carrefour
Foot traffic from nearby businesses
8,000 daily visitors
Real Estate & Infrastructure
Rent costs
15 OMR/sq.m/month
Property values
120,000 OMR/500 sq.m
Zoning laws
Retail-friendly
Business permits
6-8 weeks
Availability of retail space
25,000 sq.m
Proximity to major roads
90 % of retail
Public transportation access
60 % coverage
Parking availability
1,500 spaces
Traffic & Accessibility
Pedestrian traffic
5,000 daily
Vehicle traffic
20,000 daily vehicles
Public transport accessibility
Moderate
Commute times
25 minutes
Work patterns
80 % daytime workforce
Psychographics & Consumer Lifestyle
Shopping preferences
Value-oriented
Brand affinity
International brands
Consumer loyalty
60 % repeat customers
Entertainment and leisure trends
Dining, Cinema
Crime Rates & Safety
Crime statistics
1,200 incidents/year
Shoplifting rates
150 incidents/year
Public safety measures
CCTV, Security
Tourism & Seasonal Factors
Tourist spending
2,500,000 OMR/year
Tourist footfall
50,000 visitors/year
Major local events
Sohar Festival
Seasonal attractions
Winter tourism
Online vs. In-Store Shopping Trends
E-commerce penetration
25 % of retail
Click-and-collect adoption
15 % of shoppers
Local preference for in-store shopping
70 % of shoppers
Retail & Mall Performance
Total retail space
150,000 sq.m
Retail space per capita
0.83 sq.m/person
Projected growth in retail space
5 % annually
Retail leakage rate
20 %
Sustainable retail demand
High
Major upcoming retail projects
Sohar Plaza
Consumer Behavior & Spending
Grocery market share - Retailer 1
Lulu Hypermarket, 40 %
Grocery market share - Retailer 2
Carrefour, 25 %
Grocery market share - Retailer 3
Al Safeer, 15 %
Consumer spending patterns
Value-driven
Grocery expenditure trends
5 % annual growth
Luxury retail performance
Low
Top mall shopping preferences
Sohar City Centre
Shopping trips to other cities
15 % of residents
Key drivers for mall visits
Dining, Entertainment
Preferred brand categories
Value fashion
Competitive & Site Analysis
Number of existing malls
3 malls
Total retail footfall
2,000,000 annual visits
Retail market gaps
Luxury retail
Trade area population
250,000 people
Retail potential in catchment area
High
Projected retail growth rate
6 % annually
Preferred mall layouts
Open-air
Site & Accessibility
Public transport access
60 % coverage
Walkability score
65 index
Road infrastructure & car access
High
Parking capacity in comparable malls
1,200 spaces
Surrounding land use & future developments
Mixed-use