Largely lacking its neighbours’ energy revenues, Oman is often portrayed as the Gulf’s most somnolent country. But, in one regard at least, that characterisation would be an injustice: Muscat’s stock market has been far from dozy.

Undeterred by global credit worries and inflation concerns, Muscat is one the best performing bourses in the Gulf – up 19 per cent this year. A dollar invested in the Muscat Securities Market 12 months ago would have doubled by now.