Oman will launch ‘Golden Residency’ program to attract investors

Oman’s Golden Residency mirrors similar initiatives across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency Program and the UAE’s 10-year Golden Residency. Shutterstock
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Updated 01 September 2025
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Oman will launch ‘Golden Residency’ program to attract investors

JEDDAH: Oman will launch its “Golden Residency” program for investors on Aug. 31, in a move designed to attract foreign capital, boost economic growth, and position the country as a leading global business hub.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion will unveil the residency program alongside the “Mujeedah Companies” initiative for high-performing firms and a new electronic service to transfer commercial registration ownership via the “Invest Oman” platform, according to the state news agency.

The announcement will be made at an event titled “Sustainable Business Environment,” hosted at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Recreation in Salalah under the patronage of Dhofar Gov. Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al-Said.

Oman’s Golden Residency mirrors similar initiatives across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency Program and the UAE’s 10-year Golden Residency. 

The move aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040 strategy to diversify the economy beyond oil and foster a competitive, investment-friendly environment.

The residency program builds on reforms under Oman’s Foreign Capital Investment Law, which in recent years has allowed 100 percent foreign ownership in over 1,700 business activities, reduced registration fees, offered tax exemptions of up to 30 years, and streamlined more than 800 government services.

The Salalah event will also feature the signing of cooperation agreements with Sultan Qaboos University, the German University of Technology, the Oman Energy Association, and Binaa Professional Services to develop the construction sector, ONA reported.

Mubarak bin Mohammed Al-Douhani, director general of planning at MoCIIP, said these initiatives aim to provide investors with stable, long-term opportunities and position Oman as a global investment destination.

He added that the “Mujeedah Companies” program will help high-performing Omani firms expand locally and internationally through a package of incentives and support.

Al-Douhani, who also heads the ministry’s digital transformation team, highlighted the importance of digitalization in commercial transactions. The electronic authentication service for transferring commercial registration ownership is expected to cut time and costs for investors, while promoting transparency and efficiency.

The ministry is also focused on developing the construction sector to meet modern, sustainable standards and strengthening collaboration with academic institutions and the private sector to nurture talent and foster innovation.


Saudi Arabia, WEF launch initiative to reshape global travel landscape

Updated 11 November 2025
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Saudi Arabia, WEF launch initiative to reshape global travel landscape

  • ‘Beyond Tourism’ is global framework advancing sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience in the sector

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has partnered with the World Economic Forum to launch the “Beyond Tourism” initiative, a global framework designed to drive a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for the travel and tourism sector.

Announcing the initiative on his X account, Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said he was “thrilled to announce the launch,” noting that it is “dedicated to shaping the future of travel and tourism and is built around 10 core principles.”

Al-Khateeb emphasized that Beyond Tourism underscores the sector’s vital role as “a bridge between cultures, a means to empower communities, and a source of opportunities for future generations.”

The initiative comes as the global travel and tourism industry undergoes a major structural shift — moving away from fragmented, business-as-usual models toward integrated, ecosystem-based strategies.

According to the World Economic Forum, the sector is projected to reach 30 billion tourist visits and contribute $16 trillion to global gross domestic product by 2034. Yet, it continues to face complex challenges including rising tension between visitors and residents, environmental pressures, workforce shortages, and exposure to geopolitical and climate disruptions.

“The global travel and tourism sector is entering a period of profound transformation, moving decisively from a fragmented, business-as-usual operating model to a holistic, ecosystem-based paradigm,” the WEF said in a statement.

The forum noted that past reliance on siloed policies — a weakness underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic — has proven insufficient to address today’s global challenges.

Its proposed ecosystem approach focuses on five key enablers: infrastructure, finance, technology and innovation, people and skills, and policy and governance. The model aims to convert systemic challenges into opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Several destinations have already demonstrated the benefits of this approach. Countries such as Portugal, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Singapore, and Indonesia have leveraged it to improve conservation outcomes, diversify economies, and strengthen sustainable tourism development.

By promoting global cooperation among governments, private-sector leaders, and local communities, the Beyond Tourism initiative seeks to unlock the full potential of the industry while safeguarding cultural and natural heritage for generations to come.