MUSCAT : Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion has issued a list of activities that are prohibited for foreign investors based on the Foreign Capital Investment Law issued by the Royal Decree No. 50 / 2019.

On Saturday, HisExcellency Qais bin Mohammad Al Youssef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, issued a Ministerial Decision No. (209/2020) listing the activities allowed for only Omanis to practice.

“The decision aims to ensure that projects and activities related to national identity and Omani heritage are not affected by foreign investments, the statement from the Ministry said.

However, an Omani investor can practice investment all activities and enter into a partnership with a foreign investor, taking into account the enforced agreements in the field of trade and investment.

Following are the activities prohibited by the Ministry for foreign investors:

1. Omani Halwa, making of the Omani Khanjar, retail sale of Omani Khanjar, retail sale of handicrafts, designing and tailoring of Omani Kumma, as well as tailoring and sewing of traditional women’s gowns, Arab and non-Arab men’s and women’s clothes, sportswear and military clothes.
2. Transporting and sale of drinking water
3. Repairing vehicle electricity connections, charging car batteries, repairing and cleaning car radiators, repairing tires and adjusting wheel scales, vehicle washing and lubrication stations, activities for changing vehicle oils, repairing car air conditioners, repairing of vehicle exhaust, cleaning and polishing vehicles.
4. Wholesale of fruits and vegetables
5. Cooking gas and LPG filling stations
6. Retail sale of honey, vehicle fuel stations, diesel fuel stations, retail sale in specialized stores of phones and their accessories.
7. Sale of mobile phones and accessories, retail sale in stores of antiques and paintings, natural flowers and plants, and pottery and handicrafts.
8. Stores for gifts and silverware, telecom cards, animal food, bags, and wedding supplies.
9. Sale of fireworks, retail sale of empty gas cylinders, wedding cards.
10. Transporting pilgrims and Umrah performers, road transport by trucks of cooking gas cylinders, loading and unloading of goods, the activity of customs clearance offices, valuing canceled vehicles, the activity of an insurance agent with commission, real estate brokerage, foreign manpower recruitment offices, employment and public cleaning of offices and buildings.
11. Copying services, printing documents, and offices for tracking transactions, collecting and installing neon panels, managing and operating fuel stations, as well as specialized rehabilitation centers, homes for the elderly, and orphanages.
12. Activities related to libraries and archives, washing all kinds of clothes and textiles, except for what is set up in tourist establishments, ironing clothes, washing and ironing with steam (dry washing), hairdressing and shaving for men, hairdressing and cosmetic treatment for women, and hairdressing for children.