Determinants of Financial Inclusion: An Evidence from an Emerging Market

. Financial inclusion as one of the main pillars of economic development is the heart of every nation’s developmental goals, and Oman is not an exception. The objective of this empirical study is to investigate factors that have the highest influence on financial inclusion in the Sultanate of Oman. A survey questionnaire employing convenience sampling was conducted at Al-Buraimi governorate to investigate the moderation effect of financial inclusion in Oman by looking at the impact of certain variables including gender, age, and level of education among others. The structural modeling technique was applied to understand this phenomenon. The results revealed that the well-off participants were more likely to be financially included, while the youngsters were more likely to be financially excluded and less educated. Furthermore, the study found that the effect of financial literacy on financial inclusion in the Sultanate of Oman is significantly moderated by age, gender, and employment status. Finally, the study made a noticeable contribution to the endeavor of enhancing financial inclusion in the Sultanate of Oman and suggested that special attention should be paid to young people and the less affluent members of society by enhancing their financial literacy which will mitigate the problem of financial exclusion in the Sultanate of Oman.