Global connectivity
Ports on open water
A long coastline on the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, with major ports located outside the Strait of Hormuz.
3,165 km of coastline
Source [1]
Why Oman
Why Oman for international business
Oman is actively welcoming foreign investment under Oman Vision 2040. Here are the facts investors ask about first, each with a dated source.
Data as of October 2026
Aligned with Oman Vision 2040
Why Oman
A stable, open and tax-efficient gateway to the Gulf
Oman is actively welcoming foreign investment. Reforms under Oman Vision 2040, the Sultanate's long-term national strategy, are opening the economy to the private sector and to international partners.
- 100% foreign ownership is generally permitted under the Foreign Capital Investment Law (Royal Decree 50/2019), with no mandatory Omani shareholder in most activities.
- Competitive taxes: 15% corporate income tax, 5% VAT, no personal income tax at present and no withholding tax on dividends to non-residents.
- Strategic locations: free and special economic zones at Sohar, Salalah and Duqm for trade, logistics and industry.
- Expat-friendly living and working environment for your leadership team.
Open activities and conditions vary; a negative list applies. We confirm eligibility for your business first.
Why Oman?
Oman pairs a stable, investment-grade economy with ports on open water, 100% foreign ownership in most activities and a calm, safe way of life. Tap a card for the sourced detail.
Stable economy
Investment grade
Oman is rated investment grade by all three major agencies, and the rial has been pegged to the US dollar for decades.
BBB- S&P and Fitch; Baa3 Moody’s
Source [2]
Business-friendly
Own 100% of your company
The Foreign Capital Investment Law allows full foreign ownership in most activities; registration runs on the online Oman Business Platform.
100% foreign ownership, most activities
Source [3]
Quality of life
Among the world’s most liveable
Numbeo’s 2026 country rankings place Oman 4th for quality of life and 6th for safety (crowd-sourced indices).
4th Quality of Life Index 2026
Source [4]
Sources for the cards
- Invest Oman (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion), “Why Oman”, accessed 21 Oct 2026. investoman.om
- S&P Global Ratings BBB- (affirmed 27 Mar 2026); Moody’s Baa3 (July 2025); Fitch BBB- (December 2025), as reported by the agencies and Omani media.
- Foreign Capital Investment Law, Royal Decree 50/2019 (in force 1 Jan 2020), WIPO Lex. wipo.int
- Numbeo, Quality of Life Index by Country 2026 (crowd-sourced), accessed 21 Oct 2026. numbeo.com
Oman at a glance, with sources
Indicators investors ask about first. Each figure carries its source and date; crowd-sourced indices are labelled as such.
Foreign direct investment (stock)
32.2 bn OMR
End of Q2 2026, +6.4% year on year
Logistics Performance Index
43rd globally
Score 3.3 of 5
Safety Index (crowd-sourced)
6th of 150
Score 81.6, 2026 ranking
Quality of Life (crowd-sourced)
4th of 89
Highest-ranked country in Asia, 2026
Special Economic Zone at Duqm
2,000 km²
On the Arabian Sea
Industrial cities (Madayn)
14 cities
Four new cities in the 2026–2030 plan
Vision 2040 investment target
10% of GDP
FDI net inflows by 2040 (4.12% in 2017)
Sovereign ratings
BBB- / Baa3
Investment grade at all three agencies
As of October 2026. Indicative only; figures can be revised by the publishers. Numbeo indices are crowd-sourced perception data.
Sources
- NCSI preliminary data via Times of Oman, “Oman’s FDI rises 6.4% to OMR32.2bn by end-Q2 2026”, 17 Oct 2026. timesofoman.com
- World Bank, Logistics Performance Index 2023 (published April 2023). lpi.worldbank.org
- Numbeo, Safety Index by Country 2026 (crowd-sourced), accessed 21 Oct 2026. numbeo.com
- Numbeo, Quality of Life Index by Country 2026 (crowd-sourced), accessed 21 Oct 2026. numbeo.com
- OPAZ, Special Economic Zone at Duqm (area, incentives), accessed 21 Oct 2026. opaz.gov.om
- Madayn, Investment Opportunities (“14 Industrial Cities”), accessed 21 Oct 2026; and Gulf News, “Oman to establish four new industrial cities under 2026-2030 development drive”, 12 Aug 2026. madayn.om · gulfnews.com
- Oman Vision 2040 document (2040 target: FDI net inflows of 10% of GDP; baseline 4.12% in 2017). unescwa.org (PDF) · oman2040.om
- S&P Global Ratings BBB- (affirmed 27 Mar 2026); Moody’s Baa3 (July 2025); Fitch BBB- (December 2025), as reported by the agencies and Omani media.
From Oman to four regions
A practical base for trade and partnerships across the GCC, Asia, Europe and Africa. Here is what is verifiable today.
GCC · Regional access
Oman is a GCC member state and part of the GCC customs union, with road links to the UAE and Saudi Arabia and a time zone (UTC+4) shared with the UAE.
Asia · Trade and sourcing
The India–Oman CEPA has been in force since 1 June 2026, covering trade in goods and services; direct flights link Muscat with Istanbul, Baku and Tashkent.
Europe · Capital and expertise
The United Kingdom is the largest source of foreign direct investment in Oman (OMR 16.8bn at end-June 2026), followed by the United States.
Africa · Sea routes south and west
Salalah and Duqm face the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, on the routes towards East Africa, with ports located outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Sources
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion / Government of India: India–Oman CEPA in force 1 Jun 2026.
- NCSI preliminary data via Times of Oman, “Oman’s FDI rises 6.4% to OMR32.2bn by end-Q2 2026”, 17 Oct 2026. timesofoman.com
- OPAZ, Salalah Free Zone (Royal Decree 62/2006), accessed 21 Oct 2026. opaz.gov.om
Facts and figures
Oman in numbers, with sources
Each figure is dated and sourced. Treat them as indicative and confirm before you decide.
Corporate income tax
15%
Headline rate; 3% for qualifying small businesses
PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries · 2026
VAT
5%
Standard rate, against 19% in Germany and 20% in the UK
PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries · 2026
Personal income tax
0%today
Today. A 5% tax above OMR 42,000 is planned from 1 January 2028
PwC · reviewed July 2026
Foreign ownership
100%
Permitted in most activities; a negative list applies
Royal Decree 50/2019
Sovereign credit
BBB-S&P
Investment grade at all three agencies: S&P BBB- (Mar 2026), Moody's Baa3 (Jul 2025), Fitch BBB- (Dec 2025)
S&P · Moody's · Fitch
Mobile internet
15thglobally
Median mobile download of 245.10 Mbps
Speedtest Global Index · Sep 2026
Currency
2.6008USD
US dollars per rial, under a fixed peg in place since 1986
Central Bank of Oman
Owner residency
Since 2026
Sponsor-free owner visa and residency for property owners and their families
ROP Decision 87/2026 · 22 Jun 2026
Sources (accessed October 2026)
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, Oman: corporate and individual taxes, reviewed 2026. taxsummaries.pwc.com
- Foreign Capital Investment Law, Royal Decree 50/2019 (in force 1 January 2020).
- S&P Global Ratings, "Oman Ratings Affirmed At 'BBB-/A-3'; Outlook Stable", 27 March 2026; Moody's upgrade to Baa3, July 2025 (Reuters, 10 July 2025); Fitch upgrade to BBB-, December 2025. reuters.com
- Speedtest Global Index, Oman, updated September 2026 (mobile rank 15, median download 245.10 Mbps). speedtest.net
- Central Bank of Oman, "The Fixed Peg of the RO to the US Dollar" (OMR 1 = USD 2.6008), accessed October 2026. cbo.gov.om
- Royal Oman Police Decision 87/2026, Official Gazette 1653, effective 22 June 2026. decree.om
Who we help
One gateway, four routes into Oman
Whether you are building a company, shipping goods, working remotely or creating content, Shati maps the legal route, the licences and the costs for you.
Companies & investors
Register a company with up to 100% foreign ownership in most activities, choose onshore or a free zone and open your bank account.
See the tax comparison →Trading companies
Use Made in Oman, ports at Sohar, Salalah and Duqm and Oman's trade agreements to reach new markets.
Explore trade benefits →IT freelancers
0% personal income tax today, fast internet, UTC+4 and honest guidance on residency routes, since there is no dedicated freelancer visa.
See the facts →Influencers & creators
Compare Dubai and Oman by data: licences, costs and residency, then decide where your brand grows best.
Compare Dubai and Oman →
Ready to ride the next wave into Oman?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation. Tell us your company, country and plans, and we will map your route, licences and costs.
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