LONDON/DUBAI- Oman's state oil company OQ has hired banks to arrange an international bond sale, two sources familiar with the matter said.

OQ, formerly Oman Oil, follows the Omani government in hiring banks to tap the international debt markets as cheap oil and the coronavirus crisis weigh on the country's finances.

The company did not immediately respond to an emailed Reuters request for comment.

Oman hired banks for a three-tranche dollar bond sale on Monday, its first of the year which is expected this week. 

(Reporting by Tom Arnold and Yousef Saba, editing by Louise Heavens) ((Yousef.Saba@thomsonreuters.com; +971562166204))