Salalah: With growing interest in developing Dhofar Governorate, the region is witnessing rapid economic activity and playing a pivotal role in enhancing commercial and industrial activity and attracting quality investments.
Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Badrani, Director-General of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion in Dhofar Governorate, confirmed positive growth indicators in the volume of commercial, industrial, and investment transactions completed during the first half of this year. This reflects the accelerating pace of development in the governorate and the expanding base of economic activities in line with national policies aimed at supporting balanced development across the various governorates.
He added in a statement to the Oman News Agency that the directorate registered 1,204 new commercial records during the second quarter of this year, bringing the total number of commercial records registered in the governorate to 63,193 by the end of the first half of 2025.
He stated that the construction and building contracting activity (particularly residential and non-residential building construction) achieved the highest percentage among the most licensed commercial activities, with the number of licenses for this activity reaching 757 during the second quarter of 2025, compared to 137 licenses during the same period in 2024, an increase of 452.5 percent.
He explained about the accelerating growth in the contracting market in Dhofar Governorate, driven by rising demand for construction and urban development projects and the presence of attractive natural resources and infrastructure that support continued growth in this vital sector. These resources include integrated industrial zones, a prime geographic location, and the availability of logistical services that facilitate the implementation of construction and investment projects.
He stated that Dhofar Governorate witnessed a significant increase in the number of foreign investors. The number rose during the first half of this year to 697 new foreign investors, compared to 266 foreign investors during the same period in 2024. This brings the cumulative number of foreign investment records in the governorate to 8,813 records by the end of the first half of this year.
He attributed this growth to growing confidence in the investment climate in Dhofar Governorate and the ease of access to electronic services via the "Oman Business" platform, in addition to the legislative packages and enablers provided by the Ministry to attract foreign capital.
These include the "Golden Residency" programme, which grants foreign investors qualitative facilities, including long-term family residencies and multiple benefits aimed at providing a comprehensive and stable investment experience in the Sultanate of Oman.
He explained that the number of industrial licenses registered by the end of the second quarter of 2025 reached 1,156, bringing the cumulative total to 23,361 industrial licenses since the start of registration.
Sixty-three new investment licenses were also registered during the same period, representing 1.54 percent of the total registered investments. This reflects the governorate's continued attraction of value-added industrial and investment projects, particularly in the fields of manufacturing industries and related logistics services.
Regarding general commercial activity, he noted that new commercial licenses in the governorate reached 10,357 during the first half of this year, bringing the cumulative number to 135,118. Automatic licenses also witnessed a remarkable growth, with 9,215 new automatic licenses issued during the same period, bringing the cumulative total to 147,851 automatic licenses. This reflects the Ministry's success in simplifying procedures through the "Oman Business" platform and enabling investors to obtain licenses quickly and transparently without the need for direct review.
He stressed that these positive indicators demonstrate that Dhofar Governorate is making steady progress towards enhancing the business environment and attracting quality investments, thanks to the government's ongoing efforts to improve procedures, develop digital services, and activate partnerships with the private sector, which contributes to achieving sustainable development, providing job opportunities, and stimulating the local economy.
He pointed out that the Ministry, through its directorates in the governorates, works to monitor performance indicators on a regular basis to ensure sustainable growth and achieve integration between various economic sectors, thus enhancing the Sultanate of Oman's position as a regional hub attracting trade and investment.
