Muscat – In an effort to encourage foreign investment and achieve economic diversification objectives of the sultanate, Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) has launched the Quick-Maser service for investors residency requests in the special economic zones and free zones.

The new service will be available through the One-Stop Shop system with an easy procedure to process requests promptly upon registering in OPAZ’s commercial registration system, OPAZ said in a press statement.

The Quick-Maser service would help investors to obtain the investment license on the same day through direct coordination between OPAZ and the Royal Oman Police (ROP).

Over the past period and in cooperation with the relevant authorities, OPAZ has issued long-term residency visas for a period from five to ten years. These visas are granted for foreign investors interested in residing in the special economic zones and free zones – particularly those with value-added investments, who contribute significantly in supporting the efforts made towards the employment of job seekers.

Dr Said bin Khalifa al Turashi, in-charge of managing operations of commercial registration and business services department at OPAZ, explained that the new service enables investors to apply for a residence visa for different periods of time immediately upon registration in the authority’s commercial registry and obtain the investment license through the One-Stop Shop.

He said, “OPAZ has worked earlier, in cooperation with ROP, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and the Ministry of Labor, to provide the best services in the areas of long-term residency that allow investors, who meet the conditions, to obtain residence visas that enable them to work and live in the areas affiliated with OPAZ.”

OPAZ has worked to strengthen its role in the business services aspect by providing fast and efficient services through the One-Stop Shop, whose electronic services cover all special economic zones and free zones. The authority has also completed a number of studies directed towards the development of the investment business environment which include review and re-engineer procedures, and review fees for services provided in affiliated areas. This is part of the government’s efforts to diversify the economic stimulus and to provide attractive advantages and incentives to investors.