Market Overview
Oman imports approximately 65% of its food requirements, creating a strategic imperative for food security investment. The National Food Security Strategy targets reducing import dependence to 50% by 2030 through expanded domestic production, strategic reserves, and food processing capacity.
Key focus areas include greenhouse agriculture, aquaculture, dairy production, poultry farming, and date palm value addition.
Investment Case
Food security investment benefits from guaranteed government offtake for strategic reserves, concessional land allocation for agricultural projects, and protected domestic market access through import substitution policies.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Food import dependency | 65% |
| Reduction target | 50% by 2030 |
| Agricultural land area | 72,000 hectares |
| Greenhouse expansion | 1,200 hectares planned |
| Aquaculture target | 200,000 tonnes by 2030 |
| Food processing growth | 14% annually |
Risk Factors
Water scarcity is the primary constraint, requiring desalinated or treated wastewater for agriculture. Climate extremes affect outdoor cultivation. Post-harvest losses remain high due to cold chain gaps. Market size limits economies of scale.
Entry Strategy
Agricultural free zones in Al Batinah and Dhofar provide concessional terms. Aquaculture zones in Al Wusta and Dhofar offer pre-permitted coastal sites. Food processing near Sohar port enables import-export flexibility. Technology partnerships for water-efficient agriculture are actively sought.
Vision 2040 Alignment
Food security is designated as a national priority under Vision 2040, with cross-ministry coordination, dedicated budgetary allocations, and international partnership frameworks supporting investment in the sector.