To buy a business in Oman, confirm foreign ownership of the activity, verify the commercial registration through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Invest Easy portal, reconcile the financials to bank and tax records, and confirm sector approvals. The Foreign Capital Investment Law allows up to full foreign ownership in most activities. VAT is five percent and corporate income tax is fifteen percent.
Can a foreigner buy a business in Oman?
In most sectors, yes. The Foreign Capital Investment Law allows up to one hundred percent foreign ownership across most activities, removing the earlier general requirement for an Omani partner. A reserved list of activities remains restricted. Confirm the specific activity with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion before you commit.
Which authority issues the licence?
| Function | Authority | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial registration | Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, via Invest Easy | Online registration and licensing portal |
| Financial services | Central Bank of Oman or Financial Services Authority | Where the business is regulated |
| Free zones and special zones | The relevant zone authority | For example Sohar, Salalah, Duqm |
The tax position
Oman applies value added tax at five percent and corporate income tax at fifteen percent for most businesses. There is no general personal income tax. Confirm the target is properly registered and current on both taxes, and model the corporate tax into the returns. The Omani rial is pegged to the US dollar, which removes currency risk for dollar-based investors.
The due diligence that matters in Oman
Verify the commercial registration through Invest Easy, confirm the activities and ownership, reconcile audited financials to bank statements and tax filings, and confirm any regulatory licence with the Central Bank of Oman or the Financial Services Authority where relevant. Check the lease and employee liabilities under Omani labour law and the Omanisation requirements, and confirm sector approvals survive the change of ownership.
How GCI helps you check the business before you buy
You have found an Oman business worth a closer look. Before you spend on lawyers and accountants, Gulf Commercial Insights screens that specific deal for you. The conviction engine reads the whole opportunity, argues the case for buying against its strongest counter-arguments, and flags every figure that is assumed rather than proven. You get back a private, source-graded verdict on the deal, with each claim tagged VERIFIED, ESTIMATED or REPORTED.
For a buyer, that answers the three questions that matter:
- Should you walk away, renegotiate the price, or move to full due diligence?
- What are the specific risks that could sink this deal, ranked, with the evidence behind each?
- What should you put to the seller in writing before you sign?
So your time and your advisory spend go only to the deals worth it, and you go into the negotiation knowing what you are buying. We are a technology and research firm, not a DFSA-regulated financial services firm.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner own a business in Oman?
In most sectors, yes. The Foreign Capital Investment Law allows up to full foreign ownership across most activities, removing the earlier general requirement for an Omani partner. A reserved list remains restricted, so confirm the activity with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
What is Invest Easy?
Invest Easy is Oman's online commercial registration and licensing portal, operated by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. It is where businesses are registered and where their registration and status can be confirmed.
What taxes apply in Oman?
VAT is five percent and corporate income tax is fifteen percent for most businesses, with no general personal income tax. Confirm the target is registered and current on both.
What is Omanisation?
Omanisation requires businesses to employ a minimum proportion of Omani nationals in certain roles and sectors. Confirm the target's current compliance, because it affects permits and hiring.
Checking an Oman business you want to buy?
Start with a free Deal Health Score on the specific deal, then get the full Conviction Report with a clear verdict and evidence-tiered findings, priced to your mandate. See the public record of past verdicts first.