Oman
Neutral, stable Gulf base with free zones, logistics and a residency-by-property route.

Oman offers something its neighbours cannot: diplomatic neutrality, and a location outside the Strait of Hormuz. Duqm and Salalah free zones give tax holidays of up to thirty years, 100% foreign ownership and direct Indian Ocean shipping access, which is why manufacturers and logistics groups keep looking here.
Oman also runs a straightforward residency-by-property programme starting at OMR 250,000, offering Gulf residency without the cost profile of Dubai.
Where Oman fits
- Logistics and manufacturing
- Free zone operations
- Residency
Banking landscape
Bank Muscat, Sohar International, National Bank of Oman and HSBC Oman serve corporate clients. Onboarding requires commercial registration, a resident manager and Ministry of Commerce documentation. Free zone entities generally bank in Muscat.
Tax & reporting
15% corporate income tax, reduced to 3% for qualifying small enterprises. Free zone entities in Duqm, Salalah, Sohar and Al Mazunah enjoy corporate tax exemptions of 10 to 30 years. No personal income tax. VAT is 5%. Withholding tax of 10% applies to certain payments to non-residents.
Substance & register visibility
Free zone benefits require genuine operations within the zone, minimum investment and Omanisation of part of the workforce. Ownership is registered with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion on a non-public basis. Economic substance principles apply to relevant activities.
When to pick this jurisdiction
Pick Oman for logistics, manufacturing and shipping that benefits from a location outside Hormuz, or for Gulf residency at a lower property threshold than the UAE.
Written up as a comparative shortlist.
Every Oman recommendation is delivered as a comparative memorandum — substance defensibility, banking access, treaty coverage, register visibility, cost to maintain and reputational risk — so the client can see the trade-offs before committing.
Considering Oman? Get a written comparison first.
Answer six questions and a director will come back with a shortlist, indicative costs and banking route.
Questions we hear on every Oman intake.
- What does Oman residency by property cost?
- From OMR 250,000 (about USD 650,000) for a five-year renewable residency, with a ten-year option at OMR 500,000.
- Which free zone should I use?
- Duqm for heavy industry and logistics, Salalah for shipping and re-export, Sohar for petrochemicals and metals, Al Mazunah for Yemen-facing trade.
- Is there personal income tax in Oman?
- Not currently. A limited personal income tax on high earners has been discussed for several years but is not in force at present.
What we typically deliver in Oman
Corporate Structuring
Multi-jurisdictional holding groups, IP-routing structures, JV vehicles and re-domiciliations.
MobilityResidency by Investment
Golden visas and residency across 13 jurisdictions — Portugal, UAE, Malta, Greece and more.
StructuresReal Estate Structuring
Hold prime real estate through compliant SPVs in tax-efficient jurisdictions.
BankingInternational Banking
Warm introductions to 25+ active private and corporate banks — UK, EU, GCC, APAC, Caribbean, US.
More Middle East jurisdictions & related insights
United Arab Emirates
Substance-rich onshore for family offices and operating groups.
Saudi Arabia
The Gulf's largest market, with regional-HQ incentives and a 30-year tax holiday.
Qatar
QFC entities with 100% foreign ownership, 10% tax and full profit repatriation.
Every engagement begins with a twenty-minute director-led call. Fixed fees, in writing, before any work begins.