Foreign Investment in Oman: Setup and Licensing

Foreign capital in Oman

The firm covers Oman matters in cooperation with a partner office in the Sultanate of Oman. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold an Oman law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter in the Sultanate. Foreign investment is governed by the Foreign Capital Investment Law (Royal Decree No. 50/2019), which allows full foreign ownership in most sectors, with exclusions set by decision. Incorporation runs through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

Mainland and free zones

The free zones (Duqm, Sohar, Salalah) and the special economic zone at Duqm apply their own regimes. On the mainland, common forms under the Commercial Companies Law (Royal Decree No. 18/2019) include the limited liability company, the joint-stock company and branches of foreign companies. The route is chosen against the activity and the ownership structure.

Approvals and how we work

We check any exclusion against the proposed activity, then sequence licenses, approvals and commercial registration with our partner office in the Sultanate before a launch date is committed. A commercial registration alone does not answer sector or operational permit questions. For the incorporation detail see Company Formation in Oman; for the wider practice see General Commercial & Corporate; to scope a project, contact our team.

MENA coordination

The firm was founded in Kuwait in 1986 and has a branch in Cairo. It covers MENA matters in cooperation with partner offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, and partner offices in Turkey and the United States. Those partner offices are not branches owned by the firm; local licensing and advice are assessed in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is general information, not advice for a particular entity or transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign investor own an Omani company outright?

The Foreign Capital Investment Law (Royal Decree No. 50/2019) allows full foreign ownership in most sectors, with exclusions set by decision. The exclusions are checked against the activity before filing.

Which free zones does Oman have?

The free zones in Duqm, Sohar and Salalah, plus the special economic zone at Duqm. Each applies its own regime.

Who handles Oman investment matters at the firm?

Oman matters are handled in cooperation with the firm's partner office in the Sultanate. The firm does not itself hold an Oman law practice license, and local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter.

Other markets

Company Formation in Oman · Foreign Investment in Egypt: Setup and Licensing · Foreign Investment in Saudi Arabia: Setup and Licensing · Foreign Investment in the UAE: Setup and Licensing · Foreign Investment in Qatar: Setup and Licensing · Foreign Investment in Bahrain: Setup and Licensing