Over the years of his reign, His Majesty has displayed great generosity to his people. He has given financial assistance to worthy causes both outside and within Oman. It was His Majesty who made the first contribution to the Omani Organisation for Charitable Works which was established by Royal decree in January 1996. He has always shown particular concern for those in society whom are disadvantaged. In November 1995, His Majesty ordered the exemption of disabled people of limited income from paying private vehicle registration and renewal fees.

During 1995, His Majesty made a personal donation of RO 1.5 million to 42,047 families on social security, and to coincide with the 25th National Day he donated a kidney stone dispersal machine to the Ministry of Health. In 1996, he donated $7 million to help relieve the sufferings of the Palestinian people and $1 million to al-Azhar University in Cairo. During the State Visit to India, His Majesty ordered a donation to the Indian Medical Research Council and in 1997, a plaque was unveiled in The Hague, commemorating his donation to the Centre for Handicapped Children. In 1987, His Majesty directed that those in the Social Housing Programme would have their monthly repayments reduced from RO 45 to RO 25. Salaries were also raised for certain categories of Government employees.

Besides humanitarian gestures, His Majesty has given unstinted support to youth and sports clubs. In 1998, a new financial grant and sports trophy, to be known as His Majesty's Cup for Youth, was introduced and following the 1997 National Day festivities in Salalah, His Majesty awarded grants to all the clubs and Omani Women's Associations in the Governorate of Dhofar to mark the occasion. Visits by Sultan Qaboos University students to other universities in neighbouring Arab and Islamic countries have also been funded by His Majesty. In the past, His Majesty has established a number of prizes for communities, companies and industries which are competed for annually. In 1997, it was announced that the Sultan Qaboos Prize for Architecture would be awarded for the best architectural project designed by an Omani firm of consultants.