Oman is adding new economic and specialised investment zones, but they are not all at the same stage. A Royal Decree, development agreement or infrastructure announcement does not automatically mean an investor can register a company and start operating today.
This tracker separates legal establishment, development progress and a confirmed public investor route. It should be reviewed again before an investor commits to a location.
1. Status on September 29, 2026
| Location | Status | What is confirmed now | Investor caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscat Airport Free Zone | Accepting investor submissions; infrastructure still developing | OPAZ has a live zone page with request submission, plot allocation and usufruct-agreement steps. OPAZ reported 72% completion of roads/basic infrastructure in its 2026 progress update. | Confirm the exact operational facility, plot, customs interface and service readiness before commitment. |
| Al Dhahirah Economic Zone | Under development | Royal Decree 87/2025 established the zone. Phase I roads and drainage are under construction; OPAZ reported about 14.9% completion in its 2026 update and continued infrastructure progress near the Saudi border. | Do not present it as a fully operational plug-and-play zone. |
| Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone | Under development | Royal Decree 88/2025 established the zone. A development/operations agreement was signed, the Phase I site was handed over, master plan approved and infrastructure tenders progressed. | No general public company-registration route should be assumed without current operator confirmation. |
| Artificial Intelligence Special Zone, Muscat | Legally established / early development; no public investor route confirmed | Royal Decree 50/2026 established the zone. OPAZ states its operator will be appointed in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. | Do not market company setup, plots, fees or operational facilities until an official investor route is published. |
2. How this tracker uses status labels
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Operational | A functioning zone/location with established investor and operating routes. |
| Accepting investor submissions | An official public route exists for applications or project requests, even if infrastructure is still being developed. |
| Under development | Legal/developer framework and infrastructure work are progressing, but full operating readiness should not be assumed. |
| Announced / established | A decree or official decision exists, but investor-facing operating procedures may still be incomplete. |
| No public investor route confirmed | No current official public path was found to support a claim that companies can register or operate there now. |
3. Muscat Airport Free Zone
Muscat Airport Free Zone now has a live OPAZ investment page. The official route shows request submission, plot allocation and signing a usufruct agreement. OPAZ positions the zone around airport access and integrated logistics.
At the same time, OPAZ’s 2026 progress reporting said roads and basic infrastructure were 72% complete, with customs buildings, gates and security works progressing. Those two facts should be shown together: the zone is investor-facing, but individual facility and infrastructure readiness still needs live confirmation.
4. Al Dhahirah Economic Zone
The Al Dhahirah zone is strategically located near the Saudi border and was formally established under Royal Decree 87/2025. OPAZ has reported active Phase I infrastructure construction, including roads and drainage.
OPAZ’s 2026 updates show real development progress, but that is different from saying every project can already receive operational land, utilities and a licence on a standard timeline.
5. Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone
Al Rawdah in Wilayat Mahdha was established under Royal Decree 88/2025. OPAZ and Mahdha Development Company signed an agreement for Phase I development and operation. The site has been handed over, the master plan approved and infrastructure procurement has progressed.
Investors should treat it as a developing project and verify the current operator intake process before building a company-setup plan around it.
6. Artificial Intelligence Special Zone
Royal Decree 50/2026 established a Special Artificial Intelligence Zone in Muscat Governorate. OPAZ describes it as part of Oman’s digital-economy and advanced-technology strategy.
The official 2026 announcement states that the OPAZ Board will appoint the entity that manages, operates and develops the zone in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
That is not enough evidence to publish a company-registration cost, operational office inventory or standard investor timeline. Until an official investor route is confirmed, the correct status is legally established / early development.
7. Do not confuse new industrial cities with special economic zones
OPAZ and Madayn are also developing new industrial cities, including Mahas, Al Mudhaibi and others. These are important investment locations, but they should be covered under the industrial-cities cluster rather than treated as new free zones or Special Economic Zones.
For current Madayn locations, use Industrial Cities in Oman.
8. What investors should verify before relying on an emerging location
- the legal instrument establishing the location;
- the current operator or developer;
- whether a public investor application route is live;
- whether plots or facilities are actually being allocated;
- infrastructure and utility status at the specific project site;
- customs and tax treatment;
- current activity/sector acceptance;
- premises or usufruct terms;
- construction/environmental approval route;
- the realistic commercial-operation timeline.
9. Why announcements are not enough
Economic-zone projects can move through several stages: decree, operator appointment, master plan, infrastructure tender, land allocation, licensing systems, utility connections and commercial operations. A press release may confirm one stage without confirming the next.
This is especially important for projects that need factories, warehouses, customs facilities, high power loads or regulated products. The location can exist legally before the required infrastructure is ready for that investor.
10. Frequently asked questions
Is Muscat Airport Free Zone operational?
It has a live investor-submission route, but OPAZ’s latest specific infrastructure update still described basic infrastructure as developing. Confirm the exact facility and project readiness before commitment.
Can I register a company in Al Dhahirah today?
Do not assume a standard live company-registration route from infrastructure news alone. Confirm the current investor intake and project process directly with OPAZ/operator.
Is Al Rawdah open for investors?
It is formally established and under development with a developer and approved master plan. Verify the current project-intake route before treating it as operational.
Can I set up an AI company in the Artificial Intelligence Special Zone now?
The zone is legally established, but this review did not find enough official public evidence for a standard operational company-registration route. Wait for the official operator and investor process.
Are new Madayn industrial cities free zones?
No. Industrial cities and free/special economic zones are different frameworks and should not be labelled interchangeably.
11. National context
For established free zones, Duqm and other current investment locations, use the Oman Free Zones: Guide for Foreign Investors.
12. Investor implementation note
Oman Verified works with international investors and companies across Oman market entry, zone selection, company formation, free-zone and industrial projects, investment planning and implementation. Emerging-zone decisions are based on the current operator, investor-intake route, infrastructure status and project readiness at the time of commitment.
13. Official sources
- OPAZ: 2026 progress across Al Dhahirah, Al Rawdah and Muscat Airport Free Zone
- OPAZ: Muscat Airport Free Zone investor route
- OPAZ: Al Rawdah Phase I development agreement
- OPAZ: Artificial Intelligence Special Zone announcement
Status reviewed on September 29, 2026. Re-check every emerging location before using this article for a live investment decision.
