Real Estate and Property in Oman

Real Estate and Property in Oman

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. Oman starts from the opposite end to most Gulf markets: Royal Decree No. 29/2018 lists the places where non-Omanis may not own land or real estate, and ownership elsewhere is checked against that list and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning's regulations. A new Real Estate Regulation Law (Royal Decree No. 79/2025) was issued in September 2025 and applies 180 days after publication.

Restricted places and the tourism-complex route

Under Royal Decree No. 29/2018 and its Executive Regulation (Ministerial Decision No. 292/2020), non-Omanis may not own land or property in places that include Dhofar outside Salalah, Musandam, Buraimi, Ad Dhahirah and Al Wusta, the wilayats of Liwa, Shinas and Musairah, strategic mountains such as Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams, all islands, zones around royal palaces and security sites, archaeological sites, and agricultural land. The exception that matters most to foreign buyers is the integrated tourism complex regime (Royal Decree No. 12/2006). GCC nationals have a separate regime (Royal Decree No. 21/2004).

The new law, registry and escrow checks

The Real Estate Regulation Law of 2025 repeals the brokerage law, the apartments-and-floors ownership system and the escrow system for development projects, and its executive regulation is due within a year of its entry into force. Until that settles, we check which rules govern a given purchase, the registry entry under the Real Estate Registry System (Royal Decree No. 2/98), the location against the restricted places and the developer's position, and coordinate with our partner office. For the wider practice, see General Commercial & Corporate; to scope a specific transaction, 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 foreigners buy property in Oman?

Only outside the places closed to non-Omanis by Royal Decree No. 29/2018, and in integrated tourism complexes under Royal Decree No. 12/2006. Each purchase is checked against the location and the buyer's category.

Where are non-Omanis not allowed to own property?

The restricted places include Dhofar outside Salalah, Musandam, Buraimi, Ad Dhahirah, Al Wusta, Liwa, Shinas and Musairah, all islands, strategic mountains, zones around royal palaces and security sites, archaeological sites and agricultural land.

Who handles Oman property 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 · Real Estate and Property in Egypt · Real Estate and Property in Saudi Arabia · Real Estate and Property in the UAE · Real Estate and Property in Qatar · Real Estate and Property in Bahrain