Foreign Investment License in Oman

Oman has opened its economy to full foreign ownership. An investor from outside the country can now set up and run a business without handing part of it to a local partner. The document that makes this legal is the foreign investment license. This guide explains what the permit is, the law behind it, which activities qualify, the documents you prepare, and how the license fits into forming your company.

What the foreign investment license is

The foreign investment license is the official permit that lets a non-Omani person or company own and run a business in the Sultanate. It is issued alongside your commercial registration once the authorities approve your activity and your papers. In practice the permit and the registration arrive together, so you are ready to trade, hire staff, and open a bank account. The license confirms that your ownership stake, up to 100 percent, is recognised under Omani law.

The Foreign Capital Investment Law and 100% ownership

The rules come from the Foreign Capital Investment Law, issued under Royal Decree No. 50/2019. This law replaced the older investment regime and removed the need for an Omani partner in most sectors. A foreign investor can now hold the entire project alone.

Full ownership is the default across most economic activities. Limits remain in a small number of strategic or sensitive fields, where the law may still ask for a share of Omani participation. These are the exception, not the rule. For the large majority of trade, service, and industrial activities, 100 percent foreign ownership is allowed.

Which activities qualify

Most sectors are open to foreign investors. Trade, manufacturing, professional services, technology, tourism, and logistics are all commonly approved. The activity you choose matters, because it decides which ministry approvals you need and how long the review takes.

A short list of sensitive activities stays restricted or needs extra clearance. If your plan touches health, the environment, or another regulated field, expect an approval from the relevant ministry before the permit is granted. Pick your activity with care. A clear choice at the start saves you time and repeat filings later.

The application process step by step

The process runs through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, known as MOCIIP. You file through its online portal, called Invest Easy. Most of the work is done from a screen. The main stages are simple, and our guide to the steps for establishing a company in Oman walks through them in more detail.

Choose your activity and company type. Decide what the business will do and which legal form fits. Most foreign investors set up a limited liability company.

Reserve your trade name. Register the company name with MOCIIP. The name must be available and follow the naming rules.

Prepare and submit documents. Gather the papers listed below and file them through the system.

Pay the government fees. Settle the official charges for the registration and the license.

Receive your registration and license. Once approved, you get the commercial registration and the foreign investment license together.

Open a bank account and register with other bodies. Set up the company account, then register with the Public Authority for Social Insurance and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry as your activity requires.

Documents you need to prepare

The paperwork is manageable if you gather it early. You will usually need copies of the passports of all shareholders and directors. You also file the official application forms and the company's articles of association and bylaws.

For financial proof, a bank letter showing you can fund the project is standard. Larger projects may need a feasibility study that sets out the plan and expected returns. Some activities need approvals from a specific authority, for example the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, depending on the sector. Clean, complete documents are the single biggest factor in a fast approval.

How it connects to company formation

The license does not stand alone. It is part of forming a company, not a separate step you do afterwards. When your company is registered, the foreign investment license is what confirms your right to own it as a non-Omani. This is why the two arrive together.

Because the license and the company are linked, the choices you make when forming the business shape the permit. The activity, the legal form, and the shareholders all carry across. If you are still weighing your options, our overview of the types of commercial companies in Oman helps you pick the right structure before you file.

Costs, timeframes, and what to expect

Government fees in Oman are charged in Omani rials, not in foreign currency. The exact amount depends on your activity, your company type, and any sector approvals you need, so there is no single flat figure. Fees can change, so confirm the current charges on the official Invest Easy portal or with an advisor before you budget. Plan for the license, the trade name, and any approval charges. Ask us for a quote based on your exact activity.

Timeframes vary in the same way. A simple trading activity clears faster than a regulated one that waits on a ministry sign-off. There are real benefits at the other end. Priority sectors and free zones can offer tax exemptions, and investors and their families can apply for residence visas once the business is set up.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an Omani partner to invest in Oman? No, not in most sectors. The Foreign Capital Investment Law removed that requirement. A local partner is only needed in a few strategic or sensitive activities where the law still asks for Omani participation.

Can I own 100 percent of my company? Yes, in the large majority of activities. Full foreign ownership is the default across most trade, service, and industrial sectors under the current law.

What business types can foreigners own? Trade, manufacturing, professional services, technology, tourism, and logistics are all commonly approved. Most foreign investors register a limited liability company. A small set of regulated fields needs extra ministry clearance.

How much does the foreign investment license cost? Fees are set in Omani rials and depend on the activity, the company type, and any approvals required. There is no single fixed price, so check the current figures on the official portal before you plan your budget.

Does the license give me residency? The business itself does not grant residency, but it opens the door to it. Once your company is set up, you and your family can apply for an investor residence permit, such as the two-year Oman investor visa.

How City Squares can help

Setting up in a new country is easier with a team that knows the local system. City Squares handles the full route, from choosing your activity to filing with MOCIIP and collecting your commercial registration and license. Our company formation service in Oman covers the paperwork, the trade name, and the ministry approvals so you avoid the common delays.

The support does not stop once the company is live. Through our post-company formation services we help with bank accounts, social insurance registration, and investor residence. To start your foreign investment license or ask a question, contact City Squares on WhatsApp and our team will guide you through the next step.