Since its launch three years ago, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, through its "Invest in Oman" initiative, has successfully reshaped the investment promotion landscape in the Sultanate of Oman. This transformation involved transitioning from a traditional promotion model to a unified institutional framework dedicated to efficiently managing the investor journey and enhancing the attractiveness of quality investments, aligning with the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan and the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
These changes occurred within a context of significant economic developments, supported by royal directives focused on improving the business environment, streamlining procedures, strengthening the role of the private sector, and developing legislative and regulatory frameworks to solidify Oman's position as a stable and attractive investment destination.
Investment has undergone a qualitative shift from multiple entities and channels to a unified national model through "Invest in Oman" at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. This platform has become an integrated government portal for strategic investments, bringing together public and private entities within a single system that manages the investor journey from initial inquiry through evaluation and negotiation to implementation and expansion. This has contributed to unifying communication channels with regional and international investors. Economic indicators confirm that the stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Sultanate of Oman reached approximately US$78.78 billion by the end of the second quarter of 2025. This clearly demonstrates that the national economy has entered a more mature phase in its investment attraction cycle, based on deepening added value and strengthening investments related to supply chains and future industries. This also reflects the growing confidence in the investment environment.
Since its inception, "Invest in Oman" has focused on enhancing the enabling factors that attract investors, primarily improving the business environment, simplifying procedures, reducing administrative complexities, and enhancing transparency. This is supported by an integrated digital system that includes a multilingual website and a digital platform that allows for clear tracking of procedures, in addition to providing aftercare services to ensure the sustainability of projects.
It also worked to frame ready investment opportunities according to comprehensive studies and link them to market needs. Since its launch, the investment map has included 75 investment opportunities, 30 of which were planned for 2025. Currently, the platform includes 51 ready-to-invest opportunities across various sectors, including manufacturing, renewable energy, the digital economy, tourism, logistics, mining, and healthcare.
Institutional integration, encompassing more than 20 government and private entities, has contributed to providing a unified work environment that allows investors to complete their procedures through a single point of contact. This has reduced the need to move between different entities, expedited processes, and increased efficiency.
The role of investor relations managers and the national negotiation team in managing major projects has also been prominent, contributing to faster decision-making and the transformation of opportunities into actual projects.
These efforts have yielded tangible results, including the localization of approximately 40 investment projects across various sectors. In addition, 14 projects were signed during 2025 with a total value of around 1.6 billion Omani rials, and 8 projects were signed through the National Negotiation Team with a value of nearly 2.6 billion Omani rials. Furthermore, more than 55 projects benefited from the expedited procedures, and services were provided to over 3,500 international investors, underscoring the system's effectiveness in transforming opportunities into viable projects.
At the sectoral level, the industrial sector, particularly manufacturing and advanced technologies, led the list of sectors attracting investments, followed by the food security sector. Investments in renewable energy, including solar panel manufacturing projects, also saw growth, reflecting the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to a green economy and enhanced sustainability. The pharmaceutical, logistics, and tourism sectors also emerged as key areas for project localization.
Regarding the geographical distribution of investments, the Sultanate of Oman adopts an open approach to diversifying its global partnerships, supported by active economic diplomacy, including the activation of the Omani Trade Office in the United States, with the aim of attracting quality investments in advanced technology, renewable energy, and the digital economy.
The establishment of the Investment and Trade Court has contributed to enhancing the efficiency of the judicial system and expediting dispute resolution, thereby increasing confidence and legal certainty. This is further supported by the Golden Visa program, which offers long-term residency of up to 10 years, thus promoting investor stability and encouraging investment expansion.
These achievements align with the objectives of the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan, which focuses on economic diversification, stimulating foreign direct investment, and empowering the private sector. The "Invest in Oman" initiative has served as an implementation tool for translating policies into tangible projects and linking strategic planning to concrete results.
Her Excellency Ibtisam bint Ahmed Al Farouji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, affirmed that the achievements of the past three years reflect the Sultanate of Oman's transition to a more mature stage in managing its investment promotion system. She noted that the focus is on the quality of investment and its economic impact, as well as building long-term partnerships that contribute to achieving the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
Her Excellency explained to the Oman News Agency that the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion's approach has resulted in improving the investor journey, reducing procedural time, and increasing the efficiency of application processing. This is in addition to developing aftercare programs to ensure the sustainability and expansion of projects within the Sultanate of Oman, as well as enhancing the international investment discourse by presenting a model based on transparency and results.
Her Excellency stated that the Sultanate of Oman aims to attract high-quality investments during the period 2026-2028, focusing on advanced industries, tourism, the digital economy, logistics, and food and pharmaceutical security, thereby contributing to maximizing the benefits of investment.
