The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) continues to support the government’s broader drive toward comprehensive digital transformation, while improving Oman’s investment environment and facilitating business start-up procedures. These efforts aim to encourage investors to establish diverse projects that contribute to the national economy and stimulate economic activity.
The Ministry affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman has, in recent years, charted an ambitious course toward a knowledge-based economy and a digital society through the development of national strategies for e-government and digital transformation. These strategies address all areas required to build a digital society—ranging from human-capacity development and infrastructure readiness to the implementation of e-government tools and the establishment of trust, legal frameworks and regulatory systems.
Statistics released by the Ministry show that commercial registrations reached 395,100 by the end of the third quarter of this year. A total of 75,663 transactions were completed through the Oman Business Platform, while applications for company liquidation reached 8,323, and applications for company cancellation stood at 257,035. The number of foreign investment registrations reached 70,900, and completed industrial licences across Oman’s governorates totalled 108,800.
Figures also show that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Oman reached RO 30.279 billion by the end of the first half of 2025—an increase of 12.8 percent compared with the same period in 2024. FDI in the manufacturing sector amounted to RO 2.701 billion. Total trade between Oman and global markets stood at RO 26.707 billion by the end of August 2025.
Total merchandise exports reached RO 15.318 billion, including RO 9.775 billion from the oil and gas sector, RO 4.421 billion from non-oil exports, and RO 1.122 billion from re-exports.
The Ministry noted that manufacturing contributed RO 1.965 billion to GDP at current prices by the end of June 2025. Industrial activities accounted for 18.6 percent of GDP, while manufacturing accounted for around 9.5 percent. The number of approved certificates of origin reached 25,177 in the third quarter of 2025. Forty-four customs exemption applications were approved, and employment in the manufacturing sector during 2024 reached 240,761 workers, including 57,627 Omanis—representing an Omanisation rate of 23.9 percent.
The Ministry continues to roll out development and technical programmes designed to simplify procedures and stimulate investment through the Oman Business platform. These include enhanced smartphone applications and new e-services such as digital lease contracts, financial reports and an interactive trade-name directory. The platform integrates with 17 government agencies and exchanges data with 35 others, including the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, enabling investors to complete transactions within a unified digital environment. Ten government agencies have activated the compliance register to offer a more integrated experience for beneficiaries.
By the end of 2024, digitised services accounted for 76.5 percent of the Ministry’s total services, and 89 percent of commercial activities were licensed automatically without prior approvals. More than 748,000 automatic licences have been issued since April 2021.
Since the launch of the system, commercial registrations reached 395,197 by September 2025, including 70,900 foreign investment registrations and 4,990 registrations by GCC citizens. A total of 580,189 commercial licences, 108,829 industrial licences and 113,674 investment licences were issued. The Ministry also issued 508,960 certificates of origin, and more than 2.8 million transactions were completed through the platform.
During the past year, the Ministry implemented 41 initiatives—29 of which have been completed, with an overall completion rate of over 70.7 percent. This year, it is working on 15 initiatives with a completion rate of 76 percent as of October. These initiatives span trade, industry, competition protection, investment services, standards and metrology.
Applications filed with the Ministry for trademarks, patents, copyrights, neighbouring rights and industrial designs totalled 3,718 in the third quarter of 2025, including 3,490 trademark applications, 181 patent applications and 10 design applications.
The Ministry continues to enhance the investment environment by reducing commercial registration fees for foreign investors—offering them service parity with Omani investors—and providing incentives to encourage the establishment of new projects that support economic growth.
The “Invest in Oman” Hall serves as a central point for investor services, bringing together the efforts of 14 government entities and six private-sector partners under one umbrella equipped with advanced systems to streamline procedures.
This year, the Ministry also launched the “Oman Exports” initiative to provide targeted support for Omani exporters, expand access to international markets, strengthen the non-oil export sector and open new opportunities for companies and SMEs.
Oman’s non-oil exports recorded notable growth in the first quarter of 2025, rising to RO 1.618 billion—an increase of 8.6 percent compared with the same period in 2024. This growth was driven by surging exports of electrical appliances and equipment, which increased by 141 percent to RO 128 million, and metal products, which grew 14.1 percent to RO 462 million.
The Ministry continues to provide integrated support for exporters through international promotion, procedural facilitation, participation in global exhibitions, and activation of trade agreements. It also supports the “Made in Oman” identity and encourages innovation, value addition and SME participation in global markets.
Through the “Advantage Oman” roundtables, the Investment Promotion Department has targeted high-quality investments from Belgium, Russia, India, Canada and Indonesia, as well as prospective investors in the United States, Japan and Algeria. Two additional roundtables—focused on Vision 2040 priority sectors—are scheduled in Türkiye and South Africa.
The National Program for Private Sector Development and Foreign Trade (Nazdahar) seeks to empower the private sector by creating an attractive investment environment, simplifying business procedures and strengthening international partnerships. The program includes initiatives to develop value chains, enhance global competitiveness and maximise the benefits of international agreements.
The Oman Center for Strategic Partnerships and Foreign Trade works to unify national efforts in promoting strategic partnerships, improving Oman's global trade competitiveness, managing international negotiations and strengthening cooperation across public and private sectors.
Through the Golden Visa Program, the Ministry aims to reinforce Oman’s position as an attractive long-term investment destination. As of September 2025, 2,593 investors had received ten-year residencies, 815 investors had received five-year residencies and 5 retirees were granted residency under the programme.
The Ministry also launched the “Tejarah” communication channel, the Najd Agricultural Area Guide, the Engagement Window for investor participation in regulatory evaluation, the Rapid Intervention Window and the Distinguished Companies Initiative.
In the standards and metrology sector, the Ministry recorded a 6 percent rise in registered conformity assessment bodies by October 2025. More than 109 testing and calibration laboratories were registered, and 126 conformity assessment bodies were licensed. Over 200 new Omani standards were issued, and 900 Gulf standards were reviewed.
The Directorate General of Standards and Metrology issued more than 13,500 electronic conformity certificates, processed 22,000 customs release permits and conducted 31 technical field visits with 105 assessors. It also trained more than 250 participants over the past two years. A total of 203 new Omani standards were issued this year, and 983 Gulf standards were studied as part of the 2025 plan.
The Ministry’s initiative to establish the Omani Accreditation Center aims to strengthen confidence in conformity assessment outputs, build national capacities, support quality infrastructure and raise awareness about accreditation in Oman.
In cooperation with the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, the Ministry continues working on the “Smart Production Factories” project, which promotes Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in local factories. The second phase—covering assessments of 60 factories—began in 2025.
The Ministry is also overseeing implementation of the National E-Commerce Plan based on eight strategic pillars. As of now, it has achieved 75 percent of the plan’s targets. Completion rates include 75 percent for ICT infrastructure, 90 percent for transport and logistics services, 100 percent for electronic procurement, 20 percent for electronic payments, 100 percent for the legal and regulatory framework, 50 percent for skills and awareness, and 100 percent for business facilitation through the “Ma’roof Oman” platform.
Work is also underway to regulate licensing for the national product identity in order to standardise the branding of Omani products, enhance competitiveness and target new export markets. Initiatives include the “Made in Oman” Campaign, the “Made in Oman” Platform and the Discounts and Offers Festival.
The Ministry continues to support job creation and human-capital development. Omanis employed in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail sectors reached 10,891 during the first quarter of this year. The Ministry maintains its commitment to advancing Omanisation and creating sustainable, high-quality employment opportunities in partnership with the private sector and academia.
The National Team for Combating Illicit Trade continues to strengthen Oman’s business environment by monitoring 106 activities—including those restricted for foreign investment, as well as activities in telecommunications, pharmacies and dental clinics. Sanad Service Centers completed approximately 813,000 transactions during the first ten months of 2025.
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Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Oman Observer, 20.11.2025
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