2023 Investment Climate Statements: Oman

Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment

Oman actively seeks foreign direct investment and is in the process of improving the regulatory framework to encourage such investments.  The Foreign Capital Investment Law (FCIL) allowed 100-percent foreign ownership in most sectors and removed the minimum capital requirement. The law effectively provided all foreign investors with an open market in Oman, privileges already extended to U.S. nationals due to the provisions in the 2009 U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA), although the FTA goes further in providing American companies with national treatment.

The Omani government’s “In-Country Value” (ICV) policy seeks to incentivize companies, both Omani and foreign, to procure local goods and services and provide training to Omani national employees.  The government includes bidders’ demonstration of support for ICV as one factor in government tender awards.  While the government initially applied ICV primarily to oil and gas contracts, the principle is now embedded in government tenders in all sectors, including transportation and tourism.  New-to-market foreign companies, including U.S. firms, may find the bid requirements related to ICV prohibitive.

Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment

With the implementation of the FTA in 2009, U.S. firms may establish and fully own a business in Oman without a local partner.  Although U.S. investors are provided national treatment in most sectors, Oman has an exception in the FTA for legal services, limiting U.S. ownership in a legal services firm to no more than 70 percent.  Foreign lawyers may not represent cases in Omani courts at any level. The government also has a “negative list” that restricts foreign investment to safeguard national security interests. The list includes some services related to radio and television transmission as well as air and internal waterway transportation.  MOCIIP further extended this list to include approximately 70 sectors when the FCIL came into effect.

Oman bans non-Omani ownership of real estate and land in various governorates and in some restricted areas.  Non-Omanis can buy property only in designated areas called “Integrated Tourism Complexes” and in certain Ministry of Housing-designated multi-story, commercial and residential real estate buildings in Muscat, subject to eligibilities. Oman permits the establishment of real estate investment funds (REIFs) to encourage new inflows of capital into Oman’s property sector. Foreign investors, as well as expatriates in Oman, may own property units in REIFs.

Other Investment Policy Reviews

The World Trade Organization (WTO) conducted a Trade Policy Review of Oman in November 2021. Link to the 2021 report: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp518_e.htm .

Business Facilitation

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) works to attract foreign investors and smooth the path for business formation and private-sector development.  It works closely with government organizations and businesses in Oman and abroad to provide a range of business support.  MOCIIP also offers a range of business investor advice geared to support foreign companies considering investment in Oman, based on company-specific needs and key target sectors that the country’s diversification program identifies. The “Invest Oman” website ( https://investoman.om/)  provides information on Oman as a business location.

MOCIIP’s online business registration site “Invest Easy” ( business.gov.om ) allows businesses to obtain a Commercial Registration certificate from MOCIIP. MOCIIP can normally complete most registrations in approximately three or four business days; however, some commercial registration and licensing decisions may require the approval of multiple ministries and could take longer. The “Invest Easy” portal integrates several government agencies into a single portal and serves as a single window for businesses in Oman.

Outward Investment

The government neither promotes nor provides incentives for outward investment but does not restrict its citizens from investing abroad.

Transparency of the Regulatory System

The legal, regulatory, and accounting systems in Oman remain less than fully transparent and new policies are often ambiguous.  No regulatory processes managed by community organizations or private sector associations exist.  Ministries or regulatory agencies do not solicit comments on proposed regulations from the public and do not conduct impact assessments of proposed regulations.  No requirement for periodic review of regulations exists.

Majlis Oman (the Omani parliament) has limited powers.  Omani community organizations and private sector associations do not play a significant role in the regulatory environment.

The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs (MJLA) prepares and revises draft laws, drafts royal decrees, and negotiates international agreements and contracts in which the Omani government is a party.  MJLA also gives legal opinions and advice on matters from other ministries and government departments.  Its website contains copies of royal decrees and some ministerial decisions, mostly in Arabic, but some have English translations.  It also publishes Omani budget documents within a reasonable period. Decree.om  is an independent, non-governmental, online English-language database that lists Omani legislation.

Oman’s budget is widely and easily accessible to the public, including on MJLA’s website and via the Official Gazette.  The government maintains off-budget accounts, including the sovereign wealth fund.  Their portfolios are opaque, and transfers to and from these funds are only included in the debt-financing section of the budget as a debt-financing mechanism. Limited information on debt obligations is publicly available.

International Regulatory Considerations

As a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Oman largely follows its regional regulatory system, including on GCC conformity-marking system and other trade controls.  U.S. and GCC officials continue to discuss concerns about consistency of interpretation and implementation of these regulations across all six GCC member states, as well as the relationship between national conformity assessment requirements and the GCC regulations.

As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Oman is committed to update the WTO Committee on any technical barriers to trade.  Oman’s Trade Facilitation Agreement with the WTO entered into force on February 22, 2017.

Legal System and Judicial Independence

Oman’s legal system is code based, but incorporates elements from a variety of legal traditions, most notably modern English and French law, as well as Islamic law in the Ibadhi interpretation.

Oman has a written commercial law and specialized commercial courts. Oman’s Commercial Court is responsible for resolving business disputes.  The Commercial Court has jurisdiction over most tax and labor cases and can issue orders of enforcement of decisions.  The Commercial Court can accept cases against governmental bodies, but can only issue, and not enforce, rulings against the government.

Oman’s judicial system is independent and reliable, though the procedures can be long, and many steps are required to initiate a case.  Oman’s multi-level court system has an appeals process. The Supreme Court is the court of last resort for appeals of regulations and enforcement actions.

Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment

Under the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, U.S. businesses and investors have the right to 100-percent ownership of companies in Oman. Oman’s Foreign Capital Investment Law (FCIL) of 2019 removed a prior capital requirement of investing at least RO 150,000 (about $390,000) under the old FCIL. It also eliminated its prior 70-percent limit on foreign ownership of an Omani company, except for 70 commercial activities that are prohibited to foreign investors. MOCIIP’s online business registration site “Invest Easy” ( business.gov.om ) integrates several government agencies into one portal and serves as a single window for businesses in Oman.

Competition and Antitrust Laws

Oman does not screen investments for competition considerations, and Oman does not have an active competition commission.  The Competition and Anti-Monopoly Law aims to combat monopolistic practices by prohibiting anti-competitive agreements and price manipulation.  It includes a reporting requirement for any activity, such as mergers and acquisitions, which results in a dominant market position for one firm.  The Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Centre, supervised by MOCIIP, enforces the law. Further, Ministerial Decision 18/2021 introduced the executive regulations for the Competition Law.

Expropriation and Compensation

Oman’s interest in increased foreign investment and technology transfer makes expropriation or nationalization unlikely.  If a property should be nationalized, Article 11 of the Basic Law of the State stipulates that the Government of Oman must provide prompt and fair compensation. There are no recent examples of expropriation or nationalization.

Dispute Settlement

ICSID Convention and New York Convention

Oman is a party to the International Convention for the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States (ICSID) and the United Nations New York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.

Two Oman-related cases are pending in the ICSID; neither involves U.S. investors. In 2018, Oman sued U.S. mining company owner Adel Hamadi Al Tamini in the Federal District Court of Massachusetts for a $5.6 million arbitration award issued against him by the ICSID.  In 2011, Al Tamini filed a claim against the Government of Oman alleging that it improperly ended limestone mining leases that violated his rights under the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA).  The Tamini case was the first ICSID case filed against Oman and the first case filed under the bilateral FTA.  An ICSID tribunal dismissed the claim and rendered an award for Oman, which the government is now seeking to enforce.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement

Oman has a modern arbitration law that is largely based on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law model. Pursuant to Oman’s arbitration law, an arbitration agreement must be in writing, and it can be in one or more instruments.  The parties are free to choose any law relating to the arbitration agreement and, in the absence of an explicit law, the courts are given the power to make the determination.  Additionally, dispute resolution mechanisms that are part of the FTA can assist Omani and U.S. companies in resolving disputes outside of the Omani legal system.

International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts

Corporate entities in Oman are increasingly turning to arbitration to resolve their disputes, since arbitration is generally cheaper, quicker, and easier than settling commercial disputes in the normal court system, where judges often lack expertise on technical commercial issues. An arbitral award is usually rendered in Oman within 12 months after the aggrieved party states in writing that a dispute has arisen.  In contrast, court processes can often be much lengthier, particularly where technically complex issues are involved.  Cases normally go through three tiers of justice (Primary, Appeal, and Supreme), lengthening the process.

The Omani Arbitration Law (Royal Decree 47/97, as amended) defines the term “arbitration” as a dispute resolution mechanism agreed to by parties of their own volition.  Usually, the parties will state in their initial contract that any dispute will be resolved by arbitration pursuant to, for instance, the Omani Arbitration Law. The Law mandates that an arbitration agreement be in writing.  It is also permissible for parties to agree in writing, once a dispute has arisen, to resolve it by arbitration.  In such cases, however, the agreement must specify the underlying issues that the parties have agreed to resolve by arbitration.

The Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre (OAC) is an independent and financially autonomous arbitration body that operates under the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Per OAC rules, the parties can represent themselves in arbitration by their authorized representatives, choose subject-matter experts, and submit claims and counter claims within a pre-agreed timeframe.

The Omani government recognizes binding international arbitration of investment disputes with foreign investors, though the government has increasingly challenged rulings in favor of foreign companies in payment collection cases.  The government has been slow in the payment of some arbitration awards to foreign companies.  Oman’s legal framework provides for the enforcement of international arbitration awards and most foreign companies elect for dispute resolution by arbitration.  Arbitration is generally cheaper, quicker, and easier than settling commercial disputes in the normal court system, where judges often lack expertise on technical commercial issues.

Bankruptcy Regulations

The provisions of Oman’s Bankruptcy Law involve the concepts of restructuring and preventive compositions. Other provisions of the law prescribing expert input and instituting strict timelines in bankruptcy proceedings benefit businesses and investors in avoiding liquidation. The Bankruptcy Law applies to foreign agencies and branches of foreign companies established in Oman, but excludes entities licensed by the Central Bank of Oman and insurance companies.

According to the World Bank, it takes on average three years to complete foreclosure proceedings in Oman, and the cost of resolving bankruptcy as a percentage of the estate (seven percent) is lower in Oman than elsewhere the region.  In 2020, the World Bank ranked Oman 97th in the world for resolving insolvency, the same as the previous year. Oman ranks higher than many other countries in the region for resolving insolvency.

Investment Incentives

Oman offers several incentives to attract foreign investors such as competitive lease rates for certain types of companies established in recognized industrial estates, free zones, and specific locations, but only on a case-by-case basis.  Oman has no personal income tax or capital gains tax. However, some of Oman’s investment incentives, such as for reductions in utility rates, have diminished in recent years.  Most industrial and commercial consumers now pay cost-reflective tariffs for utilities. Oman in recent years has also eliminated many tax exemptions for foreign investors. Oman taxes corporate earnings at 15 percent. Oman allows expatriate residents with work visas to own residential units and offers long-term residency visas to attract investors. Five- and 10-year renewable residence visas are also available to foreign investors in tourism, real estate, education, health, information technology, and other key sectors. In February 2023, Oman’s Council of Ministers reduced commercial registration fees for foreign investors and exempted companies from an insurance bond while submitting bids for government tenders. The bonds had typically represented one to three percent of the tender contract price.

Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation

The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) oversees the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, Almazuna Free Zone, Salalah Free Zone, Sohar Free Zone, and any other special zone or free zone in Oman to complement its port development projects in Duqm, Salalah, and Sohar. These areas include strategically located ports outside the Strait of Hormuz and are well connected with modern infrastructure and facilities.  An incentive package for investors includes a tax holiday, duty-free treatment of all imports and exports, and tax-free repatriation of profits.  Additional benefits include streamlined business registration, processing of labor and immigration permits, assistance with utility connections, and lower “Omanization” employment quota requirements.  Foreign-owned firms have the same investment opportunities as Omani entities.

Performance and Data Localization Requirements

Oman’s labor market policy of “Omanization” includes minimum employment quotas for Omani nationals.  These quota targets vary depending on the sector; they can be as low as 10 percent in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) and as high as 90 percent in the banking sector.  Most government ministries have achieved Omanization rates at or near 100 percent.

Omanization targets are prevalent throughout the private sector, but the government enforces them inconsistently.  In practice, each company in Oman submits an Omanization plan to the Ministry of Labor (MoL), which has the authority to adjust required Omanization percentages.  In response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the MoL adopted stronger measures to force companies to increase their employment of Omanis and to retain their Omani employees.

Employers seeking to hire expatriate workers must seek a visa allotment from the MoL and Royal Oman Police (ROP).  The MoL and ROP scrutinize visa allocations, often using opaque criteria.  Foreign investors complain of the difficulty in hiring expatriates to the point that it deters companies from investing or expanding in Oman.  The ROP allows expatriate workers to switch employers upon completion or termination of their employment contracts without the need to obtain a “no-objection” certificate from their current employers. In July 2022, the MoL banned expatriates from working in more than 200 job categories.

Oman has no requirements for companies to turn over source code or to provide access to surveillance.  However, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) requires service providers to house servers in Oman if they are to provide services in Oman.  The TRA is the lead agency on establishing data quotas in Oman.

Real Property

Oman does not recognize or enforce securitized interests in property, either moveable or real. Mortgages and liens exist in the country.  Foreign nationals can own real estate in Oman, in so-called “integrated tourism complexes” — zoned areas that permit foreign nationals to own property on a freehold basis.  The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MHUP) allows foreign nationals to purchase units in multi-storied commercial and residential buildings under the usufruct system, with limitations. Individuals record their interest in property with the Land Registry at the MHUP.  The legal system, in general, facilitates the acquisition and disposition of property rights.

Certain lands are reserved for tribal use and ownership, but no clear definitions or regulations governing these lands prevail.  In certain areas, Omani tribes legally own the land, as opposed to the government owning the land, and they therefore control access and any commercial activities on it.

According to the World Bank, it takes 18 days on average to register property in Oman, and the cost of the registration process as a percentage of the property value (six percent) is on par with elsewhere the region.

Intellectual Property Rights

Oman has a relatively robust legal and regulatory framework for intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. Oman is not included in the United States Trade Representative Special 301 Report or the Notorious Markets List.

U.S. stakeholders have reported difficulty encouraging appropriate agencies, including the Consumer Protection Authority (CPA), the Public Prosecution, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP), and the Royal Oman Police, to take IPR enforcement action.  Confusion sometimes exists over which government entities are responsible for investigating different types of IPR violations. However, MOCIIP is in the process of increasing its staff capacity and resources to address IP concerns more effectively.

CPA officials have told U.S. officials that they do not accept responsibility for complaints arising from brand owners; rather, they only act on consumer complaints.  Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs officials have also confirmed that the Law of Copyrights and Neighboring Rights (Royal Decree No. 65/2008) stipulates that the MOCIIP shall be responsible for IPR enforcement at the retail level, including for inspections and seizures.

Under its obligations as a signatory to the 2009 U.S.-Oman FTA (FTA), Oman offers IPR protection for copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, geographical indications, and patents.  FTA-related revisions to IPR protection in Oman are strengthened by Oman’s passage of World Trade Organization-consistent intellectual property laws on copyrights, trademarks, industrial secrets, geographical indications, and integrated circuits.  The FTA’s chapter on IPR can be found at: https://om.usembassy.gov/business/u-s-oman-free-trade-agreement/texts-free-trade-agreement/.

Oman is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and is registered as a signatory to the Madrid, Paris, and Bern conventions on trademarks and intellectual property protection.  Oman has signed the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.  Oman is a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.

Trademark laws in Oman are compliant with the WTO Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights treaty.  MOCIIP registers trademarks and notes them in the Official Gazette.  Local law firms can assist companies with the registration of trademarks.  Oman’s copyright protection law extends protection to foreign copyrighted literary, technical, or scientific works; works of the graphic and plastic arts; and sound and video recordings.  To receive protection for a foreign-copyrighted work, the rights holder must register the work with the Omani government by depositing a copy of it with the government and paying a fee. Trademarks are valid for 10 years while patents are generally protected for 20 years.  Literary works, software, andaudiovisual content receive protection for 50 years.

For additional information about treaty obligations and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at:

https://www.wipo.int/directory/en/details.jsp?country_code=OM .

Resources for Rights Holders:

Ministry of Commerce and Industry – National Intellectual Property Office

Eng. Khalid Al Hinai
Director of the National Intellectual Property Office
Tel: +968 2482 8126
Email: khdhinai@moci.gov.om 

Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Dr. Al Fadhal bin Abbas al-Hinai, CEO
Tel: +968-2479- 9146
E-mail: salehm@chamberoman.om 
Web: www.chamberoman.om

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Regional IP Attaché Aisha Y. Salem-Howey
Intellectual Property Attaché for the Middle East & North Africa
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Embassy Abu DhabiE-mail: Aisha.Salem-Howey@trade.gov 
Web: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ip-policy/intellectual-property-rights-ipr-attach-program/intellectual 

U.S. Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration
International Trade Specialist
Liz Skokan
Tel: +1-202-482-0879
E-Mail: elizabeth.skokan@trade.gov
Web: http://www.trade.gov

Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment

Oman has no restrictions on the flow of capital and the repatriation of profits.  Foreigners may invest in the Muscat Stock Exchange so long as they do so through an authorized broker.  Access to Oman’s limited commercial credit and project financing resources is open to Omani firms with foreign participation. According to the 2021 annual report on exchange arrangements and exchange restrictions of the International Monetary Fund, Article VIII practices are reflected in Oman’s exchange system.

The Commercial Companies Law requires the listing of joint stock companies with capital in excess of $5.2 million.  The law also requires companies to exist for two years before their owners can float them for public trading.  Publicly traded firms in Oman are still relatively rare; most businesses are private family enterprises.

Money and Banking System

The banking system is sound and well capitalized with low levels of non-performing loans and generally high profits.  Oman’s banking sector consists of 16 licensed local and foreign commercial banks, two specialized banks and eight Islamic commercial banks. Bank Muscat, the largest domestic bank operating in Oman, has $32.7 billion in assets. The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) is responsible for maintaining the internal and external value of the national currency.  It is also the single integrated regulator of Oman’s financial services industry.  The CBO issues regulations and guidance to all banks operating within Oman’s borders.  Foreign businesspeople must have a residence visa or an Omani commercial registration to open a local bank account.  Oman imposes no restrictions for foreign banks to establish operations in the country so long as they comply with CBO instructions.

Foreign Exchange and Remittances

Foreign Exchange

Oman does not have restrictions on private capital movements into or out of the country.  The Omani rial (RO) is pegged at a rate of RO 0.3849 to $1, and obtaining exchange is not difficult.  In general, all other currencies are first converted to dollars, then to the desired currency; national currency rates fluctuate, therefore, as the dollar fluctuates.  The government has consistently stated publicly that it is committed to maintaining the current peg.  The government has stated publicly that it will not join a proposed Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) common currency.  Oman imposes no delay in remitting investment returns, nor does it limit the inflow or outflow of funds for remittances of profits, debt service, capital, capital gains, returns on intellectual property, or imported inputs.

Remittance Policies

Oman does not restrict the remittance abroad of equity or debt capital, interest, dividends, branch profits, royalties, management and service fees, and personal savings, but it does apply withholding tax to many of these transfers at a rate of 10 percent.  Because Oman’s currency is pegged to the dollar, the Omani government is unable to engage in currency manipulation tactics. Investors can remit through legal parallel markets utilizing convertible, negotiable instruments. Oman imposes no surrender requirements for profits earned overseas.

The GCC, of which Oman is a member, is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its regional body. The level of compliance of Oman’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime with the FATF recommendations is comparatively high for the region, and the legal framework is sound. Statistics regarding suspicious transaction reports, investigations, and convictions are not widely available.

Sovereign Wealth Funds

The Oman Investment Authority (OIA) is Oman’s principal sovereign wealth fund. OIA is a full member of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds and follows the Santiago Principles.  Omani law does not require sovereign wealth funds to publish an annual report or submit their books for an independent audit.

The OIA focuses on two main investment categories: tradable public markets assets that include global equity, fixed income bonds and short-term assets; and non-tradable private markets assets, which include private investments in real estate, logistics, services, commercial, and industrial projects.

Privatization Program

The Omani government plans to privatize or partially privatize 35 state-owned enterprises by 2027.  Although the plan for privatization is not publicly available, the Omani government has already reorganized some of its holdings for public offerings.  In March 2020, for example, State Grid Corporation of China acquired a 49-percent stake in the Oman Electricity Transmission Company from Nama Holding, a government-owned holding company for five electricity transmission and distribution companies. The government’s divestment of a portion of its ownership in telecommunications firm Omantel is also an example of a partial privatization.  In this case, the government in 2014 offered 19 percent of Omantel’s ownership as stock on the Muscat Stock Exchange, but only to Omani investors. The government today owns a 51-percent share of Omantel, according to the company’s website. In February 2023, Omani government-owned oil and gas services firm Abraj Energy Services opened its initial public offering, putting up 49 percent of its issued capital for sale. In March, the Omani government sold its 59.8-percent stake in Oman Cement Company to the China-based Huaxin Cement Company.
The government allows foreign investors to participate fully in some privatization programs, including in drafting public-private partnership frameworks. The Ministry of Finance  has the mandate to procure projects and services via the public-private partnership route, a model that the Omani government is actively promoting.

Additional Resources

Department of State

• Country Reports on Human Rights Practices ( https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/)
• Trafficking in Persons Report ( https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/)
• Guidance on Implementing the “UN Guiding Principles” for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities ( https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/due-diligence-guidance/)
• U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ( https://www.state.gov/u-s-national-contact-point-for-the-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises/)
• Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory ( https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/)

Department of the Treasury

• OFAC Recent Actions ( https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions )

Department of Labor

• Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings  )
• List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods )
• Sweat & Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World ( https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab )
• Comply Chain ( https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/ )

Climate Issues

Sultan Haitham signed a royal decree in October 2022 approving the country’s pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and established the Oman Centre for Sustainability to supervise and follow up on the country’s carbon neutrality plans and programs. The country’s biggest hydrocarbon producer, state-controlled Petroleum Development Oman, has also pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Oman joined the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994 and maintains and regularly updates a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Oman’s decarbonization efforts include building utility-scale solar and wind renewable power projects to produce at least 20 percent of Oman’s electricity from renewable sources by 2027. The country is also developing a green hydrogen industry and since 2021 has signed several green hydrogen and ammonia production and offtake agreements with foreign investors.

Oman’s public procurement policies do not factor in environmental considerations. Investment projects with the potential to cause pollution must conduct an environmental impact assessment and obtain a permit from the Environment Authority. Oman has several laws regulating pollution, including Ministerial Decree 41/2017 for air quality and Royal Decree 34/74 on marine pollution.

Resources to Report Corruption

Contact at the government agency or agencies that are responsible for combating corruption:

State Audit Institution
https://www.sai.gov.om/en/contactus.aspx 
Phone number: +968 8000 0008

Oman has no “watchdog” organizations that monitor corruption.