
Real estate conference opens with RO 2.3 bn deals
Muscat, May 19
Under the auspices of HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham al Said, Honorary President of the 'Programme of Promising Omani Startups', the 20th edition of the Oman Real Estate Conference and Exhibition officially kicked off on Monday. The event is taking place until May 24 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in cooperation with the Oman Real Estate Association and Connect Company.
The national platform brings together local and international investors, real estate developers, and experts to showcase major projects, highlight promising investment opportunities, and build effective partnerships between the public and private sectors in line with Oman's efforts to enhance the business environment and support sustainable urban growth while the accompanying exhibition offers potential buyers the chance to explore a diverse range of residential units and real estate projects presented by leading developers.
On the opening day, two major projects were unveiled, marking significant additions to Oman's urban development landscape. The first project is the launch of Al Thuraya City in the Wilayat of Baushar as a smart city, and the first phase includes more than 2,600 housing units distributed across eight integrated neighbourhoods, accommodating more than 8,000 people. At an altitude of 2,400 metres above sea level, the Al Jabal Al Aali Project was launched as a unique global mountain destination.
It spans an area of 11.8 square kilometres and includes three main villages accommodating more than 10,000 people.
As part of the conference's opening, nine partnership and development agreements worth over RO2.3 billion were signed. These include major development projects in Sultan Haitham City and Al Thuraya City, expanding Oman's urban growth map and opening new horizons for real estate investment.
KEY AGREEMENTS
Two major real estate and tourism development agreements were signed with Talaat Moustafa Group worth over RO1.7 billion to develop districts (7), (8), (9), (11), (12A), and (12B) in Sultan Haitham City on more than 2.6 million square metres. The project includes various residential units such as villas, apartments, and mixed-use buildings, alongside integrated services including mosques, parks, green spaces and a social and sports club.
A tourism project in Al Seeb covering over 2.2 million square metres, featuring a hotel, residential areas with waterfront views, artificial lakes and a marina, adding significant value to Oman's tourism sector.
A development agreement worth over RO 150 million with Idraak Real Estate Development Company to develop districts (6C) and (6D) in Sultan Haitham City, in addition to awarding a site preparation tender for Package (1A) worth over RO 6 million.
A new hotel project in collaboration with the global LUX Collection brand, valued at RO 45 million, to develop the first 4-star hotel complex in Sultan Haitham City's January Residences.
An usufruct agreement worth RO 2 million was signed with Al Siyabi Group to establish a precast concrete factory in Halban, Barka. This project is expected to reduce construction time by 40 per cent compared to traditional methods and support local employment.
An agreement worth over RO 240 million was signed to develop District (6) in Al Thuraya City, covering 285,000 square metres and including 1,000 residential units. Two tenders worth RO 13 million were also awarded for site preparation and engineering consultancy services. Additionally, an international competition was announced for the design of the city's third phase, aimed at making it a hub for adventure and mountain sports.
An agreement worth RO 200 million was signed to develop the Health District in the western village, covering 630,000 square metres and offering 500 residential and hotel units, reinforcing Al Jabal Al Aali position as a destination for health and eco-tourism.
On the sidelines of the conference, 23 agreements were signed with service providers to implement infrastructure for eight projects under the 'Sorouh' initiative, covering water, electricity, and telecom networks. Eight new investment opportunities were announced in Al Batinah South, Al Sharqiyah South, Dhofar, Muscat and Al Dakhiliya
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Observer
2 hours ago
- Observer
Personal Income Tax Law to Take Effect in 2028
Muscat: The Personal Income Tax Law issued by Royal Decree No 56/2025 consists of 76 articles distributed across 16 chapters. The law will impose a 5% tax on the taxable income of natural persons whose gross annual income exceeds RO 42,000, derived from specific income types as defined by the law. The law will come into effect at the beginning of 2028. The Tax Authority said that the Personal Income Tax Law complements the tax system in line with Oman's economic and social conditions and aligns with the role assigned to the Tax Authority. It also contributes to the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 by diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on oil revenues, with targets of 15% of GDP by 2030 and 18% by 2040. Additionally, the tax aims to promote wealth redistribution among societal segments, enhancing social justice, while supporting the state budget and specifically financing part of the social protection system. The Authority also affirms that the implementation of the personal income tax follows an in-depth study assessing its economic and social impact, based on income data from various government entities. The study established a carefully considered exemption threshold, revealing that approximately 99% of Oman's population will not be subject to this tax. Notably, the exemption threshold is set high at RO 42,000, and the tax rate is low at 5%. The law also includes deductions and exemptions accounting for social considerations in the Sultanate of Oman, such as education, healthcare, inheritance, zakat, donations, primary housing, and other factors. Karima Mubarak Al Saadi, Director of the Personal Income Tax Project, confirmed that all necessary preparations and requirements for implementing the tax have been completed. The executive regulations of the law will be issued within one year of its publication in the Official Gazette. She told Oman News Agency (ONA) that an electronic system has been developed by the Tax Authority to promote voluntary compliance and has been linked with the departments concerned to ensure accurate income calculation and verification of tax declarations. The Tax Authority has also strengthened its workforce through specialized training programs in line with the tax implementation requirements. Additionally, guidance manuals for natural and legal persons will be published according to a predetermined schedule.


Observer
16 hours ago
- Observer
Editorial - Income tax to diversify economy, shore up social protection
Oman is on the cusp of a significant shift in its tax landscape with the introduction of a personal income tax (PIT). This move, a first for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, aims to diversify the country's revenue streams and reduce its reliance on oil revenues. The introduction of personal income tax in Oman is a strategic move to diversify revenue streams and address economic challenges. While it may present some challenges, it also reflects Oman's commitment to aligning its tax regime with global standards and fostering economic growth. The Personal Income Tax Law, as per Royal Decree No 56/2025, consisting of 76 articles distributed across 16 chapters, stipulates a 5 per cent tax on the taxable income of natural persons whose gross annual income exceeds RO 42,000, derived from specific income types as defined by the law. The law also includes deductions and exemptions accounting for social considerations in the Sultanate of Oman, such as education, healthcare, inheritance, zakat, donations, primary housing and other factors. The Tax Authority said that the Personal Income Tax Law complements the tax system in line with Oman's economic and social conditions and aligns with the role assigned to the Tax Authority. It also contributes to the objectives of 'Oman Vision 2040' by diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on oil revenues, with targets of 15 per cent of GDP by 2030 and 18 per cent by 2040. Additionally, the tax aims to promote wealth redistribution among societal segments, enhancing social justice, while supporting the state budget and specifically financing part of the social protection system. The implementation follows an in-depth study assessing its economic and social impact, with approximately 99 per cent of Oman's population expected to be exempt. The executive regulations of the law will be issued within a year of its publication in the Official Gazette. An electronic system has been developed to promote voluntary compliance, linked with relevant departments for accurate income calculation and verification. The initial plans for an income tax were announced in 2020. The draft proposals suggested a tax rate ranging from 5 per cent to 9 per cent for Omani citizens and expatriates. However, the implementation date has been repeatedly postponed. With all necessary preparations and requirements for implementing the tax completed, the executive regulations of the law will be issued within one year of its publication in the Official Gazette. An electronic system has been developed by the Tax Authority to promote voluntary compliance and has been linked with the departments concerned to ensure accurate income calculation and verification of tax declarations. The Tax Authority has also strengthened its workforce through specialised training programmes in line with the tax implementation requirements. Additionally, guidance manuals for natural and legal persons will be published according to a predetermined schedule. Oman's move to introduce a personal income tax sets it apart from other GCC countries, which currently do not have a personal income tax. While Oman is introducing a personal income tax, it already has a corporate tax framework in place. The standard income tax rate for businesses is 15 per cent. However, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) meeting specific criteria can benefit from a reduced tax rate of 3 per cent. Special provisions apply to the petroleum sector, with a tax rate of 55 per cent.


Observer
17 hours ago
- Observer
Income tax to diversify economy, shore up social protection
Oman is on the cusp of a significant shift in its tax landscape with the introduction of a personal income tax (PIT). This move, a first for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, aims to diversify the country's revenue streams and reduce its reliance on oil revenues. The introduction of personal income tax in Oman is a strategic move to diversify revenue streams and address economic challenges. While it may present some challenges, it also reflects Oman's commitment to aligning its tax regime with global standards and fostering economic growth. The Personal Income Tax Law, as per Royal Decree No 56/2025, consisting of 76 articles distributed across 16 chapters, stipulates a 5 per cent tax on the taxable income of natural persons whose gross annual income exceeds RO 42,000, derived from specific income types as defined by the law. The law also includes deductions and exemptions accounting for social considerations in the Sultanate of Oman, such as education, healthcare, inheritance, zakat, donations, primary housing and other factors. The Tax Authority said that the Personal Income Tax Law complements the tax system in line with Oman's economic and social conditions and aligns with the role assigned to the Tax Authority. It also contributes to the objectives of 'Oman Vision 2040' by diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on oil revenues, with targets of 15 per cent of GDP by 2030 and 18 per cent by 2040. Additionally, the tax aims to promote wealth redistribution among societal segments, enhancing social justice, while supporting the state budget and specifically financing part of the social protection system. The implementation follows an in-depth study assessing its economic and social impact, with approximately 99 per cent of Oman's population expected to be exempt. The executive regulations of the law will be issued within a year of its publication in the Official Gazette. An electronic system has been developed to promote voluntary compliance, linked with relevant departments for accurate income calculation and verification. The initial plans for an income tax were announced in 2020. The draft proposals suggested a tax rate ranging from 5 per cent to 9 per cent for Omani citizens and expatriates. However, the implementation date has been repeatedly postponed. With all necessary preparations and requirements for implementing the tax completed, the executive regulations of the law will be issued within one year of its publication in the Official Gazette. An electronic system has been developed by the Tax Authority to promote voluntary compliance and has been linked with the departments concerned to ensure accurate income calculation and verification of tax declarations. The Tax Authority has also strengthened its workforce through specialised training programmes in line with the tax implementation requirements. Additionally, guidance manuals for natural and legal persons will be published according to a predetermined schedule. Oman's move to introduce a personal income tax sets it apart from other GCC countries, which currently do not have a personal income tax. While Oman is introducing a personal income tax, it already has a corporate tax framework in place. The standard income tax rate for businesses is 15 per cent. However, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) meeting specific criteria can benefit from a reduced tax rate of 3 per cent. Special provisions apply to the petroleum sector, with a tax rate of 55 per cent.