Official data revealed that Oman’s special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities surged 6.8 percent in 2025, recording up to 1.4 billion Omani rials ($3.64 billion).
The Oman News Agency stated that the figure increased the total committed investment under the guidance of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, referred to as OPAZ, by 22.4 billion rials.
This growth highlights the key position of the zones in the Oman strategy of Vision 2040, diversification of the economy, economic growth, employment, and development of the private sector.
The authority reported that 325 investment agreements were signed in different industries throughout the year, with more land set aside to industrial projects in various locations.
The ONA report added, “Development is ongoing in the Al-Dhahira Special Economic Zone, the Al-Rawdah Economic Zone, and the Muscat International Airport Free Zone, alongside four new industrial cities in Al-Mudhaibi, Al Suwaiq, Thumrait, and Madha to accommodate diverse industrial activities, enhance local manufacturing, and create additional job opportunities for Omani youth.”
Qais bin Mohammed Al-Yousuf, chairman of OPAZ, said that the authority is determined to create a competitive and attractive investment environment that will promote economic diversification and financial sustainability.
He informed that the plan of the authority is to establish special economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities as the preferred investment destinations by business-friendly regulation, targeted incentives, and maximization of value added by projects.
Al Yousuf further stated that these zones have already become integrated economic platforms enabling the facilitation of the diversification, increasing the attractiveness of investments, and optimizing the benefits of the free trade agreements and overall and comprehensive economic relationships.
OPAZ extended its international connectivity in 2025, as it became a member of the World Free Zones Organization, an action to match local zones with international standards and to draw in cross-border investment.
The authority is also coming up with specialized clusters such as an integrated cold chain hub in Duqm, an aluminum cluster in Sohar Industrial City, a mining cluster in Shaleem, and a proposed silica and mining complex in the Duqm Special Economic Zone.
Deputy chairman of OPAZ Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Theeb claimed that the year 2025 was characterized by many accomplishments in the main areas of focus of the authority, namely planning and development; regulation and supervision; facilitation and aftercare services; marketing and investment attraction; operations and business acceleration; and institutional excellence.
He indicated that the authority expanded its outreach into foreign investment, making contact with more than 500 firms in areas including pharmaceuticals, food, and sustainable construction, and services, logistics, storage, and renewable energy technologies.
He stated that a new digital project-tracking system recorded 294 investments in sectors such as renewables, petrochemicals, fisheries, and minerals by the end of the year.
The zones provided 4,467 jobs to Omanis in 2025, surpassing the 2,500 goal and increasing the overall national employment in the network to 30,780 among nearly 85,000 employees. Omanization reached 36 percent, with 4,774 small and medium enterprises operating throughout the zones.
