Saturday 13 / June / 2026
Muscat: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) is intensifying efforts to position the Sultanate of Oman as a leading destination for high-value industrial investment by developing priority sectors across its economic zones, free zones and industrial cities.
Amna bint Nasser Al Sharji, Director of Investment Promotion at OPAZ, said the strategy aims to create specialised economic and industrial identities for each zone based on its competitive strengths and available resources.
The approach is designed to attract domestic and foreign investment, increase the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP and generate sustainable employment opportunities for Omani talent.
Al Sharji said the Salalah Free Zone and Raysut Industrial City are focusing on attracting investments in medical, pharmaceutical and food-security-related industries. Their proximity to the Port of Salalah offers efficient access to raw materials and export markets across the region and beyond.
In the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, OPAZ is advancing future-oriented industries aligned with the global transition to a green economy, including green hydrogen, green ammonia and renewable energy projects, alongside heavy industries such as iron and petrochemicals.
Efforts are also underway to strengthen industrial supply chains and reinforce Duqm’s role as a regional hub for sustainable manufacturing.
The authority is additionally developing fisheries and food-processing industries in Duqm by leveraging the area’s marine resources and logistics infrastructure. Plans include the establishment of an integrated cold-chain economic cluster to enhance storage and distribution capabilities for temperature-sensitive products, boosting value creation in the fisheries and food sectors.
Meanwhile, the Sohar Free Zone is prioritizing the polysilicon industry and renewable energy-related manufacturing, with a focus on building integrated value chains from raw materials to advanced industrial production.
Sohar Industrial City is concentrating on plastics manufacturing and downstream aluminium industries, supported by advanced infrastructure and established industrial ecosystems.
Al Sharji noted that Khazaen Economic City is witnessing the development of pharmaceutical manufacturing projects and a growing food-industries cluster. These efforts are backed by significant investments in infrastructure and logistics, including the Central Salalah Market for fruits and vegetables, aimed at strengthening food security and expanding opportunities in food-related manufacturing.
She stressed that industrial development remains a key pillar of Oman’s investment strategy, supported by modern infrastructure, integrated logistics services and competitive incentives. The strategic location of the zones near ports, airports and major regional and international markets further enhances their appeal to investors.
According to Al Sharji, sectors such as pharmaceuticals, green hydrogen, renewable energy, green minerals, food processing, fisheries and petrochemicals are gaining increasing global importance due to their contribution to sustainable development, food and health security, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Their expansion is expected to attract long-term investments, increase exports and strengthen the industrial sector’s contribution to the national economy.
She added that infrastructure and service development across Oman’s special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities is being implemented according to a comprehensive vision tailored to each zone’s sectoral priorities, ensuring a competitive business environment that supports industrial integration, technology transfer, local supply chain development and long-term industrial growth.
