Muscat – AmCham Oman, in partnership with Salalah Free Zone (ASYAD Group), has -highlighted Oman’s growing role as an international trade and investment hub during a webinar focused on the strategic opportunities offered by Salalah Free Zone.

The webinar, titled Navigating Uncertainty: Strategic Opportunities in Salalah Free Zone, brought together local and international business leaders to discuss the infrastructure and investment advantages supporting economic activity in Dhofar.

Khalid Jaboub, Senior Specialist of Business Development at Salalah Free Zone, outlined the free zone’s 21.6mn sqm ecosystem and its connectivity to the Europe-Asia trade corridor.

He said Salalah’s location outside the Strait of Hormuz provides direct access to the open sea, enabling greater trade predictability and business continuity as companies adapt to changing maritime trade routes.

Jaboub also noted Oman’s recent ranking as second globally for quality of life.

The webinar highlighted the incentives available to investors, including a 30-year corporate tax exemption, 100% foreign ownership, zero customs duties and a 20% Omanisation requirement.

Jaboub also presented investment opportunities across six sectors – pharmaceuticals, green hydrogen, mining, petrochemicals, food processing and logistics.

He said the Ladayn Polymer Park offers manufacturing tenants a 3% to 5.5% raw material rebate from OQ, in addition to land grace periods of up to two years.

He also highlighted Oman’s position as a top-six global destination for low-cost green hydrogen production, with three multi-billion-dollar green ammonia consortiums already secured at Salalah Free Zone.

Rebecca Olson, CEO of AmCham Oman, said the organisation aims to provide businesses with practical insights and information to support expansion decisions through partnerships such as the one with Salalah Free Zone. Jaboub said the free zone offers integrated services, including a 4.5km liquid transportation corridor, access to local mineral resources and a one-stop shop that enables commercial registrations to be completed within a day.

The webinar concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which participants were informed that establishing an SME or large enterprise in Oman can be completed within two to four weeks.