Oman

Oman

Bans foreign investment in 28 new activities

29 Aug 2024

On 28 August 2024, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman issued Ministerial Decision No 435/2024 to amend certain provisions of Ministerial Decision No 209/2020, which lists the activities prohibited for foreign investment, restricting these to Omani investors only. The decision added 28 activities to the list reserved for Omani investors only, prohibiting foreign investors from engaging in these, taking the total number of such activities to 123.

The newly prohibited activities include production of handicrafts by distilling flowers and herbs, production of frankincense water and oil, leather handicrafts, palm leaf handicrafts, wood handicrafts, traditional handmade cosmetics and perfumes, pottery and ceramics, stone and gypsum handicrafts, silver handicrafts, copper and metal handicrafts, aluminum handicrafts, traditional fishing tools, bone-derived handicrafts, and production and preparation of incense.