London, UK – The British Omani Society (BOS), in collaboration with the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), successfully hosted a high-level panel discussion led by H E Sheikh Dr Ali Masoud al Sunaidy, Chairman of OPAZ, under the theme ‘Empowering Oman’s Tomorrow: Strategic Insights from OPAZ.’ The event brought together senior representatives from OPAZ with UK company leaders and investors.

Richard Stanford, Chair of the British Omani Society welcomed guests to the event and introduced the Society’s work. He then introduced H E Sunaidy who discussed key developments for Oman’s evolving economic landscape and the pivotal role OPAZ plays in accelerating national growth and diversification.

H E Sunaidy was joined by a distinguished delegation from OPAZ, including Dr Said al Quraini, Director General for Investment Development Sector; Mazin al Hadhramy, Head of Chairman Office; Mohammed al Shizawi, CEO of Sohar Free Zone; Ahmed Akaak, CEO of Special Economic Zone at Duqm; Dr Ali Tabouk, CEO of Salalah Free Zone, and Amna al Sharji, Acting Manager of Investment Promotion Department.

H E Sunaidy said, “Through its 15 special economic zones, free zones, and its industrial cities, OPAZ is already home to over 40.18bn Pound sterling of investments. We are now focused on high-potential sectors such as renewable energy, green hydrogen, logistics, downstream plastics, and pharmaceuticals. What sets Oman apart is the unified regulatory framework across all our zones, making it easier for investors to establish, operate, and expand. By working closely with global partners, including those from the UK, we aim to attract long-term, quality investments that generate jobs, create value chains, and position Oman as a regional hub for sustainable industries.”

The discussion provided a comprehensive overview of OPAZ’s integrated strategy to attract strategic investments and enable sectoral development across Oman’s special economic and free zones. H E Sunaidy examined how OPAZ aligns its vision with Oman Vision 2040, distinguishing the sultanate’s approach to economic zones from others in the region.

He also shared updates on current and planned infrastructure, including new zones under OPAZ’s mandate and the regulatory frameworks introduced to enhance global competitiveness, such as recent Royal Decrees.

Richard Stanford said, “The British Omani Society is deeply committed to strengthening the long- standing commercial partnership between the UK and Oman, building on the already very strong multi-generational, historical links. Events like this highlight the considerable potential for collaboration in emerging sectors, from green energy and logistics, to advanced manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. We look forward to supporting continued engagement between British businesses and Omani counterparts as Oman advances its ambitious economic vision.”

The conversation delved into emerging investment opportunities across key sectors. These included green finance initiatives supporting ESG-aligned projects; development-ready business parks tailored for innovation, SMEs, and tech clusters; high-value plastic downstream industries with circular economy potential; logistics, renewable energy, and storage projects leveraging Oman’s geostrategic location and natural resources; and the growing frontier of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment for regional production and R&D. Sector-specific insights also touched on upstream support for plastics, the role of the Ladayn project, green steel, fisheries ports, and medical supply chains.