Muscat: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) signed investment agreements to establish a group of new projects in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), Salalah Free Zone, and Khazaen Economic City.
According to Oman News Agency, the investment agreements stipulate the establishment of projects across several key economic sectors, including electric vehicle batteries, specialised steel, cement and pipe manufacturing plants, as well as glue production, tile cutting and processing, in addition to a pharmaceutical warehouse.
The agreements reflect OPAZ's efforts to attract new investments and localise a range of high value projects that contribute to economic diversification and enhance the added value of Oman's industries, in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040. Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of OPAZ, affirmed that the signing of these agreements, with a total investment value exceeding RO 200 million, represents an important step toward enhancing economic diversification across the governorates and reinforcing Oman's position as a regional hub for high-quality investments.
Al Yousef explained that these projects, spanning vital sectors across various economic, free, and industrial zones, reflect the confidence of both local and international investors in the competitive investment environment offered by these zones. He added that the Authority continues to develop an integrated system of incentives, flexible regulations, and modern infrastructure in a way that enhances the added value of national industries, supports the localization of advanced technologies, and creates sustainable business opportunities, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The Chairman of OPAZ further noted that these agreements are an extension of ongoing efforts to attract high-quality investments and strengthen strategic partnerships, emphasizing that the coming phase will witness an acceleration in the implementation of industrial projects with high economic impact. Dr. Said Khalifa Al Quraini, Director General of Investment Development at the Authority, stated that the economic and free zones have become among the key economic enablers, driven by flexible regulations, attractive investment incentives, and the ease of establishing businesses, along with continuous support provided by the Authority and the zones to investors at all stages of the investment journey-from project establishment through to post-commercial launch ('aftercare' services).
He emphasized that partnership with investors is one of the core priorities of the Authority. He further noted that recent years have seen noteworthy efforts to attract new investments, which has been positively reflected in investment statistics and data, showing that the total investment volume in the zones rose to RO 22.4 billion by the end of last year, recording a growth of 6.8% compared to 2024.