Company registration in Oman is done online through the Oman Business Platform run by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, under the Commercial Companies Law issued by Royal Decree 18/2019. Said Ibrahim Ambusaidi Advocates and Legal Consultations (SIA), based in Al Khoudh, Muscat, drafts incorporation documents and handles registration for Omani and foreign investors across Oman.

Which laws govern company formation in Oman?

Two instruments matter most. The Commercial Companies Law, issued by Royal Decree 18/2019, sets out the available company forms, their governance and the rights of shareholders. The Foreign Capital Investment Law, issued by Royal Decree 50/2019, governs foreign investors and opened most commercial activities to full foreign ownership.

Before filing anything, we review the intended activity and the right legal form with the client, then draft the constitutive contract and articles of association so they comply with the law and protect the partners.

What are the steps to register a company on the Oman Business Platform?

The core process runs online through the Oman Business Platform (business.gov.om) and can also be completed through Sanad service centres. In its usual form:

Choose the commercial activity and legal form, and check whether the activity needs prior approvals from a sector regulator.
Select and reserve the trade name. Name reservation is built into the registration application itself.
Prepare the constitutive contract and articles of association, and set the capital and the partners’ shares.
Submit the commercial registration application on the platform and have the partners authorise it, which requires an eID enabled for electronic signature, or completion through a service centre.
Pay the prescribed fees electronically and join the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Obtain any activity-specific licences, register with the Tax Authority and open the company’s files with the relevant bodies.

Many activities can start trading as soon as the commercial registration is issued. Others need sector approvals before operations begin.

Which legal form should you choose?

Legal form	Owners	Best suited for
Limited Liability Company (LLC)	Two or more partners	General trading and services, with each partner’s liability limited to their share
Sole Proprietor Company (SPC)	One owner	A single investor who wants a separate legal entity with limited liability
Branch of a foreign company	Extension of the parent	An existing foreign company operating in Oman in its own name without a separate entity

The choice of form is not a formality. It determines liability for debts, profit distribution, exit rules for partners and ongoing governance obligations.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Oman?

Yes, in most activities. The Foreign Capital Investment Law issued by Royal Decree 50/2019 allows foreign investors to own a company in full, without an Omani partner, across the general run of commercial activities. A limited list of activities remains closed to foreign investment. That list is issued by ministerial decision and is updated from time to time, so we check the intended activity against it before incorporation, along with any capital or approval conditions that apply.

How much does company registration cost in Oman?

There is no single figure that fits every case. Government fees vary with the activity, the grade of the commercial registration and the licences the activity requires, and they are paid electronically when the application is submitted. Chamber of Commerce membership and sector approvals add their own fees where they apply. We set out the full expected cost items with the client before starting, so nothing arrives as a surprise later.

Key facts

The Commercial Companies Law in force in Oman was issued by Royal Decree 18/2019.
The Foreign Capital Investment Law, Royal Decree 50/2019, permits up to 100% foreign ownership in most activities.
Commercial registration in Oman is completed online through the Oman Business Platform (business.gov.om) or through Sanad service centres.
Trade name reservation is part of the registration application, not a separate procedure.
Said Ibrahim Ambusaidi Advocates and Legal Consultations in Al Khoudh, Muscat offers a free first consultation by phone or WhatsApp.

When to involve a lawyer

A simple single-owner business can often be registered without help. Bring in a lawyer when there is more than one partner, a foreign investor, or an activity that needs special licences. A reviewed shareholders’ agreement now is far cheaper than a dispute over shares, management or exit later. At SIA we draft constitutive contracts and partner agreements, and we handle the company’s legal obligations after incorporation.

Your first consultation is free. Call or WhatsApp us on +968 9706 3030, Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 Oman time. We work in Arabic and English.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice.