Muscat – As of the end of June 2023, the total investment in Oman’s special economic zones and industrial cities has exceeded RO16.6bn, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) announced on Saturday.

The investment is distributed across OPAZ-managed zones, where companies and industries within these economic, free, and industrial zones have achieved remarkable success, according to a report released by OPAZ on the occasion of Oman’s 53rd National Day.

Out of the total investment, existing industrial cities received RO7.3bn, while the Salalah Free Zone recorded total investment of RO4.5bn by June 2023. The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) received over RO3.8bn, and Sohar Freezone received RO570mn. Additionally, Al Mazunah Free Zone attracted over RO139mn in investments, and the total cumulative investment committed to Khazaen Economic City until the last quarter amounted to RO323mn.

During the first half of this year, SEZAD received RO185mn in new investments. Within this period, 16 investment agreements were signed, and SEZAD processed 111 investment applications, along with 80 applications for commercial activities being registered and 420 public service licenses being issued. SEZAD also approved 22 building permits and 34 environmental permits and licenses.

Investments in Sohar Freezone reached RO94mn for the six-month period ending June 2023, bringing the total cumulative investment to RO570mn. During this period, Sohar Freezone signed four investment agreements, received 179 investment applications, and processed 31 commercial activity applications. Additionally, Sohar Freezone issued 284 licenses for public services and approved nine building permits, along with 90 environmental permits.

On the other hand, Salalah Free Zone attracted investments worth RO727mn during the January–June period of 2023. During this period, Salalah Free Zone received 127 investment applications and 18 commercial activity applications. The zone signed six agreements, issued 173 public service licenses, approved three building permits, and granted 41 environmental permits and licenses. Additionally, Salalah Free Zone also issued 1,512 business and investor licenses.

The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), which manages industrial cities in Oman, recorded RO87.6mn worth of new investments in various industrial cities during the first half of this year. Since the beginning of the year, Madayn has received 122 new investment applications, registered 80 applications in various commercial activities, and issued 843 licenses to practice activities.

Madayn manages and operates industrial cities covering a total area of 122 sqkm, distributed across several governorates, such as Sur, Sohar, Raysut, Nizwa, Buraimi, Rusayl, Samail, Ibri, Mudhaibi, Mahas, Al Wadi Al Kabir and Knowledge Oasis Muscat.

Regarding the Economic Zone at Al Dhahirah (EZAD), OPAZ has recently announced a tender for Omani and Saudi companies to bid through the electronic tender system (ESNAD) for consulting services related to the design and supervision of infrastructure facilities. These infrastructure facilities will be implemented in preparation for the commencement of construction work for the establishment of EZAD.