Governorate Overview
Al Wusta is home to the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), Oman’s most ambitious industrial development project. SEZAD encompasses a deep-water port, dry dock, oil refinery, and industrial zones spanning over 2,000 square kilometres. Despite a small resident population, the governorate attracts the largest share of new industrial investment in the country, with over OMR 8 billion committed across Chinese, Indian, and Kuwaiti-led projects.
Key Investment Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 50,000 |
| Share of national GDP | 6% |
| Key sectors | oil and gas, heavy industry, fisheries, aquaculture |
| Investment zones | Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) |
Infrastructure
The governorate’s infrastructure base includes Duqm Port, Duqm Airport, SEZAD industrial infrastructure, Duqm Refinery. Government investment in transport connectivity and utilities continues to expand, with Vision 2040 infrastructure programmes prioritising underserved regions.
Priority Investment Opportunities
Key opportunities in Al Wusta include Heavy industry, petrochemicals, ship repair, aquaculture, renewable energy mega-projects. The governorate administration actively supports investor facilitation through the One-Stop-Shop service centres established under the Invest Oman initiative.
Regulatory Environment
Investment in Al Wusta benefits from national-level regulatory frameworks including the Foreign Capital Investment Law, Commercial Companies Law, and sector-specific licensing through relevant ministries. Free zone establishments offer additional regulatory flexibility and incentive packages.
Vision 2040 Alignment
The Al Wusta Governorate Development Plan aligns with Vision 2040’s balanced regional development objectives. Priority investment areas have been identified through governorate-level strategic planning processes, with dedicated budgetary allocations for enabling infrastructure and human capital development.