Company Registration in Oman

Oman, also known as the Sultanate of Oman, is a strategically located growing business centre. It is one of the growing GCC nations that is also an established home to foreign ex-pats with a lot of business opportunities. 

We give you an overview as to why you chose this country as an investment location. In this guide, we will get to know the process of company registration in Oman.

The Omani Government has been continuously progressing toward the nation’s development and has initiated multiple steps to comfort the foreign ex-pats and grab more foreign investors. If you plan to diversify your business internationally, then this is a location that you can count on. 

The nation is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. With a population of more than 6.5 million, the country has marked a transformational shift when it comes to leveraging the nation’s economy. 

Although the nation holds a strong oil economy, with tireless efforts, the region has strengthened its non-oil segment, contributing significantly to leveraging its revenue and growth.

Benefits of Setting up a Company in Oman
 

The growing destination of Oman provides multiple benefits to global business investors that provoke them to proceed with the business incorporation process. Some of the benefits that you can avail yourself by setting up a company in Oman are:

A Booming Economy

The region is a perfect choice for business owners and investors from multiple industries. Some of the critical sectors in Oman are:

• Logistics
• Education
• Hospitality
• Oil and Gas
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Food Processing
• Tourism and Travel

Holds a Strategic Position

The grounds of Oman holds a coastline of over 1700 km, which benefits the region to stand as one of the booming marine trade routes in the world. It stands as an international gateway to the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Also, the region holds accessibility to the neighbouring countries covering Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, etc. This turns out to be profitable for the business investors at a later part to expand their business in the neighbouring locations.

 

Availability of a Wide Talent Pool

Holding a high population of about 6.5 million (as of Jan 2020), the region has got a massive portion of the community as a working employee. This eases business entities from hiring talented professionals who can contribute their best to leverage the maximum benefit of the company. The nation has also got a strong point when it comes to the Research and Development (R&D) domain.

Robust Infrastructure

Oman ranks as one of the fastest-developing countries when it comes to infrastructure development. This initiative by the Omani government allows business entities to carry out operations at ease. The nation holds a firm ground when it comes to the different mediums, including road, sea, and airports.

Business-Friendly Nation

With the massive implementation of the strategic business process, the region has stood as a business-friendly region. It has a strong business network with neighbouring countries. Additionally, the state also holds more than 35 Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs), which signifies that business owners and investors can carry out business transactions with more than thirty-five nations without paying the import-export charges.

Tax Exemption

Company registration in Oman requires many business incorporation proceedings involving multiple levels of documentation clearance. This can turn out to be a robust process if you're not aware of the legal proceedings. 

By outsourcing the incorporation services, you can set yourself free of unwanted tension and can focus more on building business strategies. Parallelly, the available time and resources get utilized most profitably.

Prerequisites for Company Registration in Oman

The following requirements should be met:

• Registered office address
• Minimum of two shareholders
• Minimum capital of OMR20,000*
• Minimum one director (can be of any nationality)

*Kindly connect with us for confirmation.

Process of doing a Company Registration in Oman?

There are certain steps that need to be followed to do company registration in Oman; you also need to follow the post-incorporation process once you are done setting up a company in Oman. Below are the steps to be followed:

Select a Business Structure

The first and foremost step in incorporating a business entity in Oman is to select a relevant business entity structure. The different entities are listed below:

• Branch office
• Sole proprietorship
• Commercial agency
• Joint-stock company
• Representative office
• Limited liability company

Decide on a Trade Name

A trade name must be unique and related to the business. Decide on a name and submit the application to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The company name needs to be chosen wisely, as it will stand as a brand for your business. However, certain restrictions need to be followed while selecting a name for your business.

• The selected name can’t be a copy of the existing competitors
• A name that might sound offensive in a multiple-way including religious, political, military, meaning, or content
• An honorary sign or unique character in any of the regional, Arab, or international organizations
• A name that carries the word “Oman” or “Omani.”
• A name that denotes an incorrect geographical division of the Sultanate of Oman.

Submit Documents of Incorporation

This is the initial stage where all the necessary documents need to be submitted to initiate the incorporation process. The essential documents required are:

• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Affiliation Certificate
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• Shareholders’ Visas and Passports
• Filed Company Registration Form
• Identity Card of Shareholders
• Certificate of Initial Deposit
• Tax Registration Certificate

• Capital Account Opening

Once the documents have been submitted, a capital account needs to be opened to deposit the initial incorporation fee.

• Register with the Chamber of Commerce

Register with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) for compliance with the commercial rules and regulations required of a corporation in Oman.

• Register the Business

This step involves the submission of the essentials:

• Municipality Approval
• Share Capital Certificate
• Legalised Opening Forms

• Gather the Required Approvals

Apart from the registration with the OCCI, necessary approvals need to be gathered from the relevant government authorities. Now, the approval process depends on the nature, size, and business activities that are carried out in the organization. 

However, the list includes:

• The Import-Export Authority of Oman, if involved in the import-export of goods
• Industrial, environmental, and other relevant permits
• Registration with the Ministry of Manpower
• Registration with the Royal Oman Police
• Registration with the Municipality
• The tax registration department

• Get the Company Seal

Last but not least, you need to hold the company seal, which is important for the business entity while drafting the business documents.

Post-Incorporation Process

Business setup in Oman has some post-incorporation processes;
 

• Apply for Visa

The next step after the incorporation process is to apply for visa services in Oman for all your employees. You can have a word with visa consultants to avail of the visa services at a faster pace.

• Employee Registration

The employees must be acknowledged as a part of the business entity, and for that, registration of the employees under the company name is mandatory.

• Conversion of Bank Account

The business capital account needs to be converted to the current account so as to ease the business transactions successfully.

Tax Exemptions in Oman 

The following company registration in Oman don't have to pay income tax in Oman;

• Profit earned by the disposal of securities listed in the Muscat stock market.
• Foreign companies doing activities related to the exploration of oil and gas.
• Foreign companies working on government projects.
• Dividends received from an Omani company.
• Omani marine companies.
• Investment funds.
• Foreign airlines.

Other than income tax, Oman also has the following taxes:

• Personal tax
• Withholding tax
• Indirect tax

Our Services for doing a Company Registration in Oman

Commitbiz comes with a business setup solution package that includes the following:

• Company Incorporation and Registration
• Public Relations Officer (PRO) Services
• Accounting and Bookkeeping
• Intellectual Property Services
• Local Sponsorship
• VAT Registration
• Tax Consulting
• Auditing

Commitbiz is among the most trusted consultants for company registration in Oman. We've already served 150+ nationalities. Our experts are well-versed in the market. This will help you to get this done in a hassle-free way. 

To proceed towards starting a business in Oman today, do contact us. We’d be happy to assist.