Company registration in Oman for foreigners: 100% ownership, steps and costs (2026)

Setting up a company is one of the most popular ways to do business and live in Oman. Since 2020, Omani law lets foreigners own companies in most activities without an Omani partner and with 100% ownership. This guide explains the steps simply and ends with the points that matter for Iranian investors in particular.

The legal basis: 100% foreign ownership

The Foreign Capital Investment Law (Royal Decree 50/2019) took effect in January 2020 and brought two main changes:

• foreigners can own up to 100% of companies in most commercial, service and industrial activities;
• the old OMR 150,000 minimum capital for foreign companies was removed.

There is, however, a negative list of activities reserved for Omanis. It was created by Ministerial Decision 209/2020 and has been updated several times; Decision 435/2024, for example, added 28 activities. Examples include car repair, translation offices and recruitment offices. So the first step is always to confirm your activity is not on that list.

Which company type?

Most foreign investors choose an SPC or an LLC on the mainland.

How much capital?

With the OMR 150,000 minimum gone, capital is set by activity. In practice, advisers often cite around OMR 20,000 for many LLCs and SPCs, while regulated activities (such as finance or insurance) require more. Check the exact figure when you choose the activity on the government platform; the bank will also assess whether the capital is credible for your business plan.

Registration steps

Everything runs through the government platform Invest Easy (now branded the Oman Business Platform, business.gov.om):

• Choose the activity by ISIC code and check the negative list
• Reserve the company name (usually with several options)
• Obtain sector approvals if another ministry must approve the activity
• Prepare and sign the articles of association
• Open a bank account and deposit capital where required
• Receive the Commercial Registration (CR) from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion
• Join the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Register for tax and with the Ministry of Labour to hire staff, and lease an office

Time and cost

• Time: usually 1 to 3 weeks for standard activities without special approvals, 3 to 6 weeks with ministry approvals. Opening the bank account can take several more weeks.
• Cost: government registration fees are modest compared with capital and office rent. Budget mainly for the office, legal and accounting support and running costs.
• Tax: the standard corporate income tax rate in Oman is 15%, and VAT applies to businesses that meet the registration rules.

Company and residence

Registering a company is not residence in itself, but it opens the door:

• Under Royal Oman Police Decision 87/2026, licensed foreign investors are among those who can hold residence without a sponsor.
• If your provable investment in the company reaches OMR 200,000, it can support the 10-year Golden Residency. A registration certificate showing declared capital is not enough on its own; real payment and ownership must be proven.
• The company can sponsor work permits for foreign staff, subject to Omanisation rules.

If your main goal is simply residence, buying property in an approved area is usually the simpler route (see our "Oman residency for Iranian citizens" guide).

Points for Iranian investors

• Omani law has no published bar on Iranians owning a company.
• The main hurdle is banking. A lawful registration does not oblige a bank to open an account. Banks apply enhanced due diligence to Iranian nationals and, with heavier US sanctions pressure in 2026, have become stricter.
• Prepare ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) and source-of-wealth documents, and show how the money reached its current account.
• Choose an activity with no link to sanctioned sectors or counterparties.
• Move money only through banks and licensed exchange houses.

Common mistakes

• Choosing an activity on the negative list.
• Treating "company registration" as the same thing as a "bank account" or "residence".
• Declaring capital whose source you cannot prove.
• Starting operations before sector approvals are in place.

How R2LUX helps

If you also want to buy property, or secure your family's residence through property, we present suitable projects and connect you with reputable legal advisers. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice; confirm the requirements for your activity on the official platform or with an Omani lawyer before registering.