Commercial Law
Said Ibrahim Ambusaidi Advocates (SIA) in Muscat advises companies and business owners across Oman on commercial law: company formation and registration, drafting and reviewing commercial contracts, debt recovery, and litigating business disputes. The firm works under the Commercial Companies Law, Royal Decree 18/2019, and the Commercial Law, Royal Decree 55/90, and handles matters in Arabic and English.
What we handle
- Company formation and registration through the Oman Business Platform
- Drafting and reviewing commercial contracts in Arabic and English
- Commercial disputes and recovery of unpaid debts
- Negotiable instruments: cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes
- Franchise and commercial agency agreements
- Shareholder and partner disputes
How do we set up your company in Oman?
We start by choosing the right legal form for your business, from a limited liability company to a one-person company and the other forms recognised by the Commercial Companies Law, Royal Decree 18/2019. We then draft the constitutive contract and articles so that shareholder rights and management powers are clear from day one.
We handle registration through the Oman Business Platform of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and follow up the commercial registration and the licences your activity requires. We also review shareholder agreements before signature. The most expensive disputes usually start with clauses that were not drafted carefully at incorporation.
How do we recover your commercial debts?
We first review the debt file: the contract, invoices, delivery notes, and any cheques or promissory notes, then serve the debtor a formal demand. Many debts are settled at this stage without litigation, because a demand from a law firm changes the debtor's calculations.
If payment does not follow, we file before the forum competent for commercial disputes and claim the principal and its accessories. Where the debt rests on a negotiable instrument such as a cheque, the Commercial Law, Royal Decree 55/90, gives it particular evidentiary weight, and a dishonoured cheque can also carry separate criminal liability under the Penal Law, Royal Decree 7/2018, which we pursue where appropriate.
Our work does not end at judgment. We start execution against the debtor's assets under the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law, Royal Decree 29/2002, and follow the file before the execution judge until actual collection.
What happens when shareholders fall out?
A shareholder dispute threatens the company itself before it threatens anyone's shares. We start with the constitutive documents, any shareholder agreements, and the rights the Commercial Companies Law, Royal Decree 18/2019, gives a partner: access to company books, challenging management decisions, and claiming a share of profits.
We push first for a negotiated outcome that keeps the business running, from redistributing powers to a buyout at a fair valuation. Where that is not possible, we represent you in litigation or arbitration, depending on what the shareholders' agreement provides, until the dispute is decided.
Frequently asked questions
How long does company registration take in Oman?
Registration itself through the Oman Business Platform is an electronic process and can be completed within days once the documents are complete. The real timeline depends on your activity: some activities need additional approvals or licences from the competent authorities. SIA prepares the full document set before applying and follows the application until the commercial registration is issued.
What can I do about a bounced cheque in Oman?
Keep the original cheque and the bank's dishonour notice. They are the basis of everything that follows. You can claim the amount civilly, since a cheque is a negotiable instrument under the Commercial Law, Royal Decree 55/90, and issuing a cheque without funds can also be a crime under the Penal Law, Royal Decree 7/2018. We assess both routes and pursue the one that recovers your money fastest.
Do you review commercial contracts before signing?
Yes, and it is the single service we recommend most. We review supply, contracting, commercial lease, agency, and franchise agreements in Arabic and English, flag the clauses that create heavy obligations or strip you of key protections, and propose alternative wording before you sign. The cost of a contract review does not compare with the cost of a dispute born from a vague clause.
Which court hears commercial disputes in Oman?
Oman established the Court of Investment and Commerce by Royal Decree 35/2025 to decide investment and commercial disputes, alongside the competent circuits of the other courts depending on the type and value of the case. Procedure is governed by the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law, Royal Decree 29/2002. We identify the right forum for your dispute before filing and represent you through judgment and execution.
How much does a commercial lawyer cost in Muscat?
Fees vary with the nature of the work: incorporating a company, reviewing a contract, a debt recovery claim, or a shareholder dispute. SIA starts with a free first consultation by phone or WhatsApp on +968 9706 3030 to understand your need, then gives you a clear written fee proposal before work begins. The office operates Sunday to Thursday and serves clients across Oman.
Your first consultation is free
Describe your matter on WhatsApp or by phone, and we will explain your legal position before any commitment.