- All nationalities: freehold in integrated tourism complexes and designated zones
- GCC citizens: broader rights to buy across Oman
- Companies: freehold in zones, usufruct elsewhere
- Minimum age, documents and excluded areas apply
Who can buy: the short answer
Anyone of any nationality can buy property in Oman, provided the property sits in a place designated for foreign ownership. For non-GCC foreigners that means the integrated tourism complexes, Sultan Haitham City and approved projects, on freehold title; outside those, long-term usufruct. Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council states may buy more widely across the country. Companies, Omani or foreign-owned, may own in the designated zones and hold sites under usufruct elsewhere.
The restriction is on where, not on who. That is what makes the Omani market orderly: the designated zones are known, the title is the same for everyone within them, and the checks are the same on every purchase. This page sets out each category of buyer, the conditions that attach, the areas that are excluded, and the documents you will need.
Foreign nationals
Non-Omani, non-GCC individuals have been able to own freehold in integrated tourism complexes since 2006, and regulations since 2018 have widened this to further designated areas, to future cities such as Sultan Haitham City, to licensed developer projects and, under usufruct, to apartments in approved multi-storey buildings. Title is registered in the buyer’s own name, is inheritable, and can be sold, let or mortgaged subject to the community’s rules.
Conditions as published in the regulations: the buyer must meet a minimum age; the property must be in a designated zone; and certain governorates and sensitive or border areas are excluded from foreign ownership altogether. There is no general limit on the number of properties a foreigner may own in designated zones, though programme-specific rules apply to residency. See freehold areas.
GCC citizens
Citizens of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain may own property in Oman for residential and investment purposes across a much wider area than other foreigners, under the reciprocal arrangements between GCC states, subject to limits on location and use set by Omani regulation. GCC buyers are a significant part of the market in Muscat and Salalah and transact through the same registration process.
Companies
Omani companies, including wholly foreign-owned ones formed under the Foreign Capital Investment Law, and foreign companies may own freehold in the designated zones and hold sites and buildings under usufruct elsewhere, within their licensed activities. The company is registered as owner, and under ROP Decision 87/2026 its legal representative can obtain sponsor-free residency. See business setup in Oman and commercial and investment property.
Buyers at a glance
| Buyer | Where | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-GCC foreign individual | Integrated tourism complexes, Sultan Haitham City, approved projects | Freehold | Minimum age; excluded areas apply |
| Non-GCC foreign individual | Approved multi-storey buildings outside zones | Usufruct | Registered right of use; residency position differs |
| GCC citizen | Wider areas across Oman | Freehold | Under GCC reciprocal arrangements |
| Omani or foreign company | Designated zones | Freehold | Within licensed activity; representative residency available |
| Omani or foreign company | Sites outside zones; free zones | Usufruct or zone lease | For business and development use |
Areas excluded from foreign ownership
Foreign ownership is not permitted in certain governorates and in sensitive, agricultural, border and military areas defined by regulation, and older districts of Muscat such as Qurum, Al Khuwair and Muttrah are outside the designated zones. Freehold and non-freehold buildings can also sit side by side in the same district, which is why we confirm the status of the specific plot and unit at the Ministry and in the sale agreement rather than relying on a project’s marketing.
Documents a buyer needs
- Valid passport; GCC citizens their national ID
- Residence card if resident in Oman or a GCC state
- Proof of address and contact details
- Source-of-funds confirmation for the lawyer’s and bank’s compliance checks
- Power of attorney, notarised and attested, if buying from abroad
- For companies: commercial registration, articles and authorised-signatory evidence
See buying from abroad and legal and transaction support.
What ownership gives you, and what it does not
Freehold title in a designated zone gives you the right to occupy, let, sell, mortgage and bequeath the property, subject to the community’s rules, and it supports the residency routes described in residency by property. It does not give you the right to work for an employer, to own land outside the zones, or to citizenship. Usufruct gives you a long-term right of use and development rather than ownership of the land; see usufruct and long leases.
Joint and family ownership
Title can be held jointly, for example by spouses, subject to the Ministry’s and community’s requirements, and each co-owner’s share is registered. For residency, the owner on title is the principal applicant and family members are added on that status. Non-Muslim owners can register a will covering their Omani assets so succession follows their wishes; see title deed and registration.
Related guides
Freehold Areas in Oman
Integrated tourism complexes and designated zones: the communities where foreign buyers hold full freehold title, and…
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Usufruct & Long Leases
Options outside freehold areas: long-term rights to use and develop property that are registered, financeable and…
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Title Deed & Registration
How ownership is recorded and protected in Oman: the mulkiya, registration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban…
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Residency by Property
When a purchase can support a residence application: the owner’s residence that comes with a qualifying home, the…
ExploreFrequently asked questions
Can foreigners buy property in Oman?
Can Pakistani or Indian nationals buy in Oman?
Can I buy land anywhere?
Is there a minimum age?
Is there a limit on how many properties I can own?
Can a company buy property in Oman?
Do GCC citizens have different rights?
Can I buy in old Muscat or Qurum?
Page reviewed 2 November 2026. Availability, prices, payment terms and residency rules are confirmed in writing before you commit and may change.