Investment opportunities in Oman’s SEZs showcased

BUSINESS REPORTER
CAIRO, SEP 1
The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) participated in the Oman-Egypt Investment Forum for Real Estate and Tourism Development, held in Cairo earlier this week. Taking part were officials, business leaders, investors and real estate developers from the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab Republic of Egypt. The forum aimed to strengthen investment cooperation between the two countries and explore opportunities for new partnerships in the real estate development, tourism and industrial sectors.
The OPAZ delegation was headed by Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, and joined by Abdullah bin Nasser Al Rahbi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Arab Republic of Egypt and its Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States. The delegation also included a number of chief executive officers and officials from the special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities overseen by OPAZ, reflecting the diversity of investment opportunities available across these zones in various economic sectors.
OPAZ’s participation comes as part of its ongoing efforts to promote investment opportunities available in the special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities, attract high-quality investments, strengthen direct engagement with Egyptian investors and real estate developers, and explore opportunities for investment partnerships between the two sides.
During the forum, OPAZ showcased investment opportunities available across a number of special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities, with particular focus on the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD). The presentation highlighted opportunities associated with Duqm’s coastal tourism master plan, which offers promising prospects for developers and investors in real estate development, tourism and hospitality projects, integrated tourism complexes, as well as related services and facilities.
OPAZ also highlighted Duqm’s competitive advantages as one of Oman’s leading investment destinations, including its vast land area, strategic location and advanced infrastructure, in addition to the range of incentives and facilitation measures available to investors.
In this regard, the Law of Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, promulgated by Royal Decree 38/2025, provides a supportive legislative framework for real estate development projects within special economic zones. The Law permits real estate developers to sell units within real estate development projects to non-Omanis on a freehold ownership basis. It also provides for granting non-Omani property owners and their first-degree relatives residency in the Sultanate of Oman, further enhancing the attractiveness of special economic zones to developers and investors in the real estate sector.
Dr Said bin Khalifa Al Quraini, Director General of Investment Development and Official Spokesperson of OPAZ, stated that the Authority’s participation in the forum forms part of its efforts to attract Egyptian real estate developers to capitalise on investment opportunities available in the zones overseen by OPAZ, particularly the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. He noted that the extensive expertise of Egyptian companies in real estate and tourism development creates significant opportunities for establishing high-quality investment partnerships.
Speaking to the media, he said: “Through this participation, we seek to provide Egyptian investors and developers with a closer understanding of the opportunities offered by the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, particularly within its coastal tourism master plan, and to benefit from the accumulated expertise of Egyptian companies in real estate and tourism development. This will contribute to the establishment of high-quality projects and sustainable investment partnerships that serve the mutual interests of our two brotherly countries.”
As part of the visit, the Omani delegation also toured the Suez Canal Economic Zone to learn about its experience in developing and managing economic zones and attracting investments, as well as to explore its key existing projects, investment opportunities, and the services and facilitation measures provided to investors.
On the second day of the visit programme, the OPAZ delegation participated in the Oman-Egypt Industrial Forum, with the participation of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, a number of companies operating and investing in the industrial sector, as well as Egyptian investors and business leaders. The forum aimed to strengthen industrial cooperation and explore opportunities for joint partnerships and investments between Omani and Egyptian companies. It also introduced participants to specialised industrial clusters within the economic zones, free zones and industrial cities in the Sultanate of Oman, while exploring opportunities to expand projects and build greater industrial integration between corresponding zones in the two countries.