Overview
The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing and promoting Oman’s special economic zones and free zones. OPAZ was established to provide a unified governance framework for these investment zones, which serve as engines of industrial development, foreign direct investment attraction, and export-oriented manufacturing. The authority manages the regulatory environment, infrastructure development, and investor services within its designated zones. OPAZ oversees several key zones including the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, the Sohar Free Zone, the Salalah Free Zone, and Al Mazunah Free Zone, each offering distinct advantages including tax incentives and streamlined customs procedures.
Key Facts
- Established to unify governance of Oman’s SEZs and free zones
- Oversees the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, Oman’s largest development zone
- Manages Sohar Free Zone, Salalah Free Zone, and Al Mazunah Free Zone
- Offers investors tax holidays, customs exemptions, and 100 percent foreign ownership
- Provides one-stop-shop services for business registration and licensing
- Coordinates infrastructure development including utilities, roads, and telecommunications
- Attracts investment from China, India, South Korea, and other partner countries
Significance for Vision 2040
OPAZ plays a pivotal role in Vision 2040’s economic diversification strategy by creating competitive environments that attract manufacturing, logistics, and technology investments. The special economic zones serve as testing grounds for business-friendly regulatory approaches that may later be applied nationwide. Duqm’s emergence as a major industrial and port hub, supported by OPAZ’s regulatory framework, represents one of Vision 2040’s most ambitious development projects. The free zones’ ability to attract foreign direct investment contributes to technology transfer, skills development, and integration into global value chains. OPAZ’s coordination of multi-zone strategy ensures that each zone develops complementary rather than competing capabilities, maximizing the collective contribution to Oman’s industrial diversification and export growth targets.