MUSCAT : Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has clarified that recent amendments to the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law relate only to residency rights and do not expand property ownership rights for foreign nationals in the Sultanate.

The clarification follows public discussion after the announcement of amendments to residency regulations, with some reports suggesting that foreign nationals may now be allowed to own property more broadly across Oman.

In a statement, the ministry said the amended regulations govern the granting of residency permits to foreign owners of built or under-construction real estate units in Oman, but do not alter existing laws governing property ownership.

The ministry stressed that ownership rights for non-Omanis remain restricted to locations already specified under current legislation and regulations.

Under existing rules, non-Omanis are permitted to own property only in designated areas, including integrated tourism complexes (ITCs), future cities such as Sultan Haitham City, Al Thuraya City and Al Jabal Al Aali, as well as integrated residential neighbourhoods such as Surouh.

For citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, property ownership remains governed by separate GCC agreements and Omani regulations that grant ownership rights in approved areas under existing procedures.

The ministry emphasized that foreign ownership has not been opened to all areas of the country and remains limited to the locations specified under current laws.

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