Foreign Investment Lawyer in Oman
Activity & Ownership Review · Incorporation Documents & Licences · Investor Agreements · Disputes
Before signing a partnership agreement or completing the incorporation of your project in the Sultanate of Oman, you need to know what your activity allows, how ownership of the company is structured, and what obligations you will carry after registration. A foreign investment lawyer in Oman helps you review these matters and identify the legal work required based on your project documents.
At Dr. Sarhan & Dr. Said Al-Risi Law Firm & Legal Consultancy, we review incorporation documents, licences and investment-related contracts, and examine the legal issues that may arise between partners or with the competent authorities, within the scope of the engagement and the case presented.
Law Firm & Legal Consultancy
Civil law firm | Registration No. 374 | Head office: Muscat
Foreign Investment Lawyer Services in Oman
We start by identifying the stage your project has reached: a new incorporation, a new partner joining, a share purchase, an expansion of activity or a dispute. That stage determines the scope of the review, the documents and the legal procedures required.
Activity review and foreign ownership limits
We review the intended economic activity and its code, and check the restrictions and approvals attached to it before structuring ownership or entering into a partnership agreement. Not all activities are open to foreign investors on the same terms, and the regulating decisions must be checked, including the decision amending the list of activities prohibited to foreign investment.
Company incorporation, registration and licensing
We review the legal form, the memorandum of association, the partners' details, and management and signing powers. We then identify the legal issues relating to the commercial registration, the investment licence and other approvals, depending on the activity. For details of company forms and the incorporation path, see our company formation service.
Drafting investment and partnership agreements
We review agreements governing capital, the parties' contributions, profit and loss sharing, management powers, share transfers and the mechanism for dealing with breach of contract. The aim is for the terms to reflect what the parties agreed clearly and enforceably under the law.
Reviewing post-incorporation obligations
When the activity changes, a partner joins or the project expands, we review the effect on the company's contracts, details and licences. We highlight the regulatory requirements relevant to the nature of the project, including obligations addressed by the amendment to the Executive Regulations of the Investment Law No. 411/2025, without assuming that every project is subject to the same details.
Disputes between investors and partners
If a disagreement arises over management, funding or performance of the agreement, we start with the existing documents, correspondence and agreements to pinpoint the dispute. The route of settlement, arbitration or litigation is then considered, depending on jurisdiction and the parties' agreement.
When Do You Need a Foreign Investment Lawyer?
A legal review is useful before entering into a contractual commitment or submitting key incorporation documents, and also when a problem arises in an existing project. Situations that call for an appointment include:
- You plan to set up a foreign project and want to confirm the activity is permitted and the ownership conditions.
- You are entering a partnership, buying shares in an existing company, or negotiating an investment agreement.
- You have received comments on your licence file and need to determine their legal effect.
- You want to change management powers, the profit distribution mechanism or a partner's exit.
- A dispute has arisen over investors' obligations or the performance of an existing agreement.
You do not need to settle every question before getting in touch; outlining the type of project and the stage it has reached is enough to arrange the right appointment.
From Company Registration to the Investment Licence: What Is the Path?
The detailed sequence of procedures varies with the activity and the legal form. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion sets out the registration journey, while the government investment licence service explains that companies subject to the Foreign Capital Investment Law apply for the licence after obtaining the commercial registration.
Activity check
Identifying the code, restrictions and approvals relating to foreign investment.
Choosing the legal form
Reviewing the company type, share ownership and management powers.
Commercial registration
Preparing the incorporation documents and submitting the registration application to the competent authority.
Investment licence application
Completing the project details and attachments according to the government service requirements.
Pre-operation requirements
Checking any sector approvals or licences the activity requires.
Our role on this path is to review the legal position and documents and follow up on the procedures within the scope of the authorisation, without promising a specific timeframe or a guaranteed approval.
Can a Foreigner Fully Own Their Project in Oman?
Full foreign ownership is possible in activities permitted under the applicable rules, but this does not mean every activity is open or that the project is exempt from licences. It depends on the specific activity and its conditions, and on the provisions of the Foreign Capital Investment Law and the decisions regulating restricted or prohibited activities.
Before agreeing on partnership percentages or buying existing shares, we review the regulatory status of the activity and the appropriate legal form. For more on company types and partners’ powers, you can refer to the guide to the Omani Commercial Companies Law.
- The activity and its code
- The ownership structure and share distribution
- The required approvals and licences
What Documents Do We Need to Review Your File?
What is needed depends on whether you are starting a new project, reviewing an agreement or dealing with an existing dispute. To set the nature of the appointment, basic information about the activity and the project stage is enough; the appropriate documents are then requested as needed.
For an incorporation or licensing file
The Obtain an Investment Licence service lists among its documents: a copy of the passport, a feasibility study, evidence of experience, a bank statement covering at least three months, and the lease agreement. The requirements applicable at the time of submission are reviewed according to the project.
For a partnership or dispute review
We may need to see the memorandum of association, partner or financing agreements, the commercial registration if any, and the related correspondence or minutes. Do not send personal or confidential documents via WhatsApp before the appropriate way of receiving them is agreed.
Before Signing an Investment Agreement: What Do We Review?
A project may be capable of registration while the relationship between the partners remains unclear. When reviewing an investment agreement, we therefore focus on practical issues that could turn into a later dispute:
- Capacity and authority: who signs, and do they have the power to bind the party they represent?
- Contributions: what does each partner provide, and when does their obligation fall due?
- Management and decisions: who holds management powers, and which decisions require the partners' approval?
- Exit and share transfers: how are the conditions for withdrawal, sale or admitting a new investor set?
- Breach and dispute resolution: what is the effect of non-performance, and how is the path for claiming rights determined?
Drafting these terms is subject to the Commercial Companies Law and other applicable provisions depending on the type of agreement and company; generic templates alone are not enough to settle the parties’ rights.
Do Investment Requirements Differ in Free Zones?
Investment rules may differ depending on whether the project is in the local market or in a special economic zone or free zone. The rules of the chosen zone, the type of activity and the required licences should be reviewed rather than assuming the provisions and incentives are the same everywhere.
Legislation for special and free zones is published by the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones. In September 2026, the authority also announced the issuance of Executive Regulation No. 81/2026 of the Special Economic Zones and Free Zones Law; its application to a specific project is reviewed when needed.
If an Investment Dispute Arises, How Do We Decide on the Procedure?
We start by reviewing the agreement, the facts and the correspondence, and identifying the obligated party, the breach and the documents supporting the claim. We then assess whether a written settlement, arbitration or court action is viable, depending on the agreement and jurisdiction.
Some disputes may fall within the jurisdiction of the Investment and Commerce Court under Royal Decree No. 35/2025, but the court or arbitral tribunal is not determined by the name of the dispute alone; it depends on the nature of the claim and the applicable provisions.
How to Get Started
To arrange an appointment with a foreign investment lawyer in Oman, mention three things when you get in touch: the type of activity, the project stage, and the legal matter you want to discuss. Initial contact through the main number is limited to arranging the appointment; the documents needed for the review are then requested through the appropriate channel.
Call: +968 78437373
Dr. Sarhan & Dr. Said Al-Risi Law Firm & Legal Consultancy | Registration No.: 374 | Head office: Al Udhaybah North, Bawshar, Muscat Governorate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Foreign Investment Lawyers in Oman
Is an Omani partner required to set up a foreign company?
Not for all activities. Omani rules allow full foreign ownership for some activities, while other activities are prohibited to foreign investment or subject to special conditions. The activity, its code and the company’s legal form should therefore be checked before agreeing on share ownership or starting incorporation.
Is the investment licence the same as the commercial registration?
No. The commercial registration records the establishment, while the investment licence is a separate service for companies subject to the Foreign Capital Investment Law. The government portal explains that the licence application comes after obtaining the commercial registration. The project may also need other sector approvals, depending on the activity.
Can an investment lawyer follow up on the licence application?
The government portal states that the licence application can be submitted by the investor, the authorised signatory or an authorised representative, and that law firms are among the service channels. The extent of the lawyer’s follow-up depends on the powers and authorisation required and the procedure covered by the engagement. Documents can also be reviewed before submission.
Is there a fixed timeframe for completing a foreign project's procedures?
No single timeframe fits every project. The steps vary with the company type, the activity, the completeness of attachments and the approvals required. A distinction should also be made between registering the company, issuing the investment licence and any additional sector permit. The status of each transaction and the competent authority’s information are reviewed to identify the next step, without promising a timeframe.
What does the lawyer do if investors fall out?
The lawyer reviews the memorandum of association, the partnership agreement, the correspondence and the documents related to the dispute to identify the obligations and rights at issue. The available solution is then considered — negotiation, a documented settlement, arbitration or court action — according to the agreement, the applicable law and the scope of the power of attorney.
Official Sources
- Foreign Capital Investment Law — Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs
- Decision amending the list of activities prohibited to foreign investment
- Amendment to the Executive Regulations of the Investment Law No. 411/2025
- Commercial Companies Law
- Royal Decree No. 35/2025 — Investment and Commerce Court Law
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion — investment journey
- Government portal — Obtain an Investment Licence
- Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones — laws and regulations
Disclaimer
The information on this page is for general awareness and does not constitute legal advice for an individual case. Viewing this page or getting in touch to request an appointment does not in itself create a lawyer–client relationship. The legal position is determined after reviewing the facts and documents and completing the engagement procedures.