Oman INVESTMENT HANDBOOK
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OMAN INVESTMENT HANDBOOK September 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 4 Free zones 20 About the Sultanate of Oman 6 Banking and capital markets 22 Why invest in Oman? 8 Export Credit Guarantee Agency 22 Key industries 10 Employment law 22 Oil and gas 10 Public Authority for Investment Promotion Travel and tourism 10 and Export Development (Ithraa) 23 Logistics 10 Online portals 26 Marble and stone 10 Invest Easy 26 Manufacturing 12 e-Work permits 26 Food processing 12 Bayan 26 Creative industries 12 e-Visa 26 Education and training 12 Real estate 27 Petrochemicals 12 Residential real estate 27 Healthcare 12 Integrated tourism complexes (ITCs) 27 Agriculture and fisheries 13 Buying property in Oman 28 Metals and minerals 13 Financing 28 Information and communications technology (ICT) 13 Property leases 29 Doing business in Oman 14 Al Mouj Muscat 30 Corporate structures 14 Key contacts 35 Legal structures 14 Locally incorporated companies 14 Partnerships 15 Sole proprietorships (SPs) 15 Joint ventures 15 Branches of foreign companies 15 Taxation 16 Tax exemptions 16 Personal taxes 16 Withholding taxes 17 Anticipated amendments to Oman’s tax law 17 Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) 17 Indirect taxes 18 Muscat Gate Muscat Gate INTRODUCTION Oman has a distinct history with a Oman’s economy was traditionally foreign direct investment. This handbook should be used as long tradition of entrepreneurship based on fisheries and agriculture Accordingly, the government an introductory research tool and and international trade. It has before the discovery of its oil and offers a number of incentives not in place of detailed professional age-old maritime traditions dating gas reserves. While the country’s oil and Free Zones that contribute advice specific to your business back to sea going commerce which revenues have contributed towards to an accommodating investment requirements. For that you can flourished between the 7th and 15th its rapid economic growth, the environment. contact Ithraa and KPMG who can century CE when Oman dominated government has actively pursued provide a complete range of quality sea routes extending as far as a development plan focused on This investment handbook is investment, business, tax, and Africa to the south, China to the diversification, industrialisation, brought to you by Al Mouj Muscat legal advice to meet your specific east and Europe to the west. Since and privatisation of the economy and has been developed by Ithraa requirements. 1970, the country has been ruled with the aim of reducing the oil (Oman’s inward investment and by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin industry's contribution to GDP. export development agency) and Said. During his visionary reign, the KPMG in Oman. It provides a very country has undergone rapid and Oman has untapped potential in high level summary of Oman’s far reaching economic and social many industries such as tourism, economic and legal frameworks development while maintaining fisheries, logistics, mining, services and highlights important factors its cultural heritage and natural and manufacturing and the Omani which should be considered before environment. government actively encourages investing in Oman. 4 5 ABOUT THE SULTANATE OF OMAN The Sultanate of Oman is the third largest country on the The climate in Oman is generally Government Arabian Peninsula, with a total hot and dry, especially during the MONARCHY, LED BY summer months between May and HIS MAJESTY SULTAN area of 309,500 square kilometers QABOOS BIN SAID (approximately 120,000 square August when temperatures can miles) and a coastline which exceed 40 degrees centigrade. From Currency September to April, it is pleasant INT'L DIALING CODE: stretches for over 3,000 kilometers + 968 overlooking the Arabian Gulf, the with temperatures ranging from 20 OMANI RIYAL (OMR) OPEGGED T USD AT 0.385 OMR TIME ZONE Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea. to 35 degrees. Rainfall is generally low and irregular with the exception GMT +4 Oman is strategically located at of the Dhofar Region in the South, WEEKEND POPULATION the junction of three of the world's which receives monsoon showers FRIDAY, SATURDAY from June to September. 4,236,057 largest continents - Africa, Europe ( MID 2014) – WORLD BANK and Asia. Poised at the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, the source Arabic is the official language of Muscat of two-third of the world's oil Oman. English is widely spoken exports, Oman sits on East-West and used in the business sectors. Languages trade routes, ensuring easy access Islam is the official religion of ARABIC (Official), Oman. Omanis are tolerant towards ENGLISH, to markets in the Middle East, HINDI, URDU India, South¬ East Asia, Africa believers of other faiths who are and Europe. It offers significantly allowed to practice their religion. shorter supply chains and shorter The head of state is His Majesty CLIMATE ‘on water inventories’ than other HOT & HUMID LAND AREA GCC ports and offers easy access to Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Oman's SUMMERS, 309,500 km2 four of the world’s prime markets bicameral legislature, referred to as PLEASANT WINTERS Majlis Oman (the Council of Oman), – India, the European Union, Africa National Day and China. compromises the Majlis al Dawla (the Council of State) and the Majlis 18 November The Sultanate borders Saudi Arabia al Shura (the Consultative Council). Renaissance Day and the United Arab Emirates Majilis Al Shura members are 23 July to the west and the Republic of elected by direct ballot with a term Yemen in the south, with the Straits of four years. of Hormuz to the north and the Arabian Sea to the east. The Sultanate of Oman has successfully pursued a policy Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate, to integrate with the global is in the northern part of the community. It is a member of the KEY ECONOMIC country. The country is divided into United Nations, the Arab League INDICATORS and the Gulf Cooperation Council. nine administrative regions Muscat, Stock Market - Muscat Securities Market Oman has consistently ranked first Batinah South and North, Dakliyah, GDP – US$ 70.25 Billion (Dec 2015) Dhahirah, Sharqiyah South and in peace and stability in the Middle East and ranks high in economic GDP per capita - US$ 16,584 (2014) North, Wusta, Dhofar, Musandam Exports – US$ 2,478 Million (Dec 2015) and Buraimi. It has 61 provinces freedom among all the Arab countries. Imports - US$ 2,594 Million (Dec 2015) known as wilayats. Inflation Rate - 1.3 % (July 2016) 6 7 WHY INVEST IN OMAN? Many international analysts see Oman as an ideal long-term investment opportunity. Our top 10 reasons to invest in Oman: _ Strategic location Foreign ownership At the centre of the east-west nexus joining 100% foreign ownership in free zones and 70% in markets in Europe, Asia and North America in most sectors. addition to close proximity to Africa. Political and economic stability Taxation Monarchy led by his Majesty Sultan Qaboos who 0% personal income tax rate, low income tax rates commands popular support. Sound economic for companies and double taxation relief treaties management – strict control over public debt, available with many countries. inflation and rate of exchange Diversification Capital and profit repatriation Government focus on diversification, No restriction on capital or profit repatriation, industrialisation and privatisation to reduce currency exchanges or dividend transfers. reliance on hydrocarbon revenues. Transparent legal system Custom exemptions Investor-friendly legislative environment. Exemptions on import of plant, machinery and raw materials for 5 years from commencement of production. Trade agreements Infrastructure Signatory to WTO, GCC common market, GAFTA, FTAs with USA, Singapore, Iceland, Norway, Modern infrastructure with good roads, airports, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. sea ports and communications. 8 9 KEY INDUSTRIES Oman’s key sectors are helping shape the Sultanate and drive the economy. Ithraa - Oman’s government body for promoting inward investment - has created a series of films highlighting opportunities in each of these sectors which can be viewed at www.ithraa.om. OIL AND GAS TRAVEL AND TOURISM Oman is an important producer of oil Oman’s tourism sector is growing and gas. Commercial quantities of oil quickly, reflecting the country’s appeal were first found in Yibal in April 1962 to regional and international tourists. and oil was first exported from Oman in Famed for its culture and hospitality, July 1967. Oil is now produced from over Oman offers diverse experiences for 130 different fields and close to 6000 visitors and residents alike. From its wells. Oman uses enhanced oil recovery maritime heritage to its miles of golden techniques to boost production. The beaches and from its green inland oil and gas industry continues to play wadis to its deserts and mountains, a major role in the country’s economy. Oman is truly unique. The World Travel The sector remains the largest in Oman and Tourism Council (WTTC) suggests and it is still growing. In recent years, travel and tourism will contribute Oman has developed a successful RO1.34 billion to Oman’s GDP by 2026. program to boost oil output to meet The World Economic Forum’s 2015 increasing domestic demand, and which Travel and Tourism Competitiveness has attracted foreign investment and Index ranked Oman sixth in the Middle partnerships. East and North Africa. The completion of the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre, the new Muscat International Airport and the introduction of Salam MARBLE AND STONE Air, Oman’s new budget airline, will give the tourism sector further impetus. The size of the global construction industry is expected to rise by more than 70 percent to US$15 trillion - 13.5 LOGISTICS percent of global GDP - by 2025. By 2030, it is estimated that more than 55 The Sultanate’s strategic location, percent of Asia’s population will live in its access to markets, trained talent cities.