Sohar: The Sultanate of Oman has achieved a qualitative accomplishment that reflects the strength of its position on the global investment map, as the Sohar Free Zone was ranked among the top three Free Zones in the world, according to the October/November 2025 issue of the British Financial Times’ fDi Magazine (Foreign Direct Investment).
According to Oman News Agency, this achievement reflects the remarkable improvement in the zone’s operational performance, service efficiency, and diversity of targeted sectors. It was based on an evaluation by an international judging panel that relied on documented data and precise technical criteria, including infrastructure, attractive legislation, investment incentives, governance, innovation, sustainability, and the economic and social impact of the free zones.
The report also officially included the Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZAD) in the magazine’s database, a recognition of Duqm’s potential as an emerging industrial and logistics hub, and a strategic step to enhance Oman’s presence in global classifications for the coming years.
This ranking reinforces the Sultanate of Oman’s position on the global investment map and affirms its efficiency as a competitive logistics and industrial hub, especially given its vital geographical location close to Asian and African markets and international shipping lanes. It also reflects the confidence of international investors in the stability of Oman’s business environment and its ability to attract quality investments.
The achievement also embodies the success of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) in implementing the axes of Oman Vision 2040, including diversifying sources of income, attracting quality investments, creating sustainable job opportunities, strengthening the public-private partnership, and stimulating innovation and sustainability in economic development.
This accomplishment underscores the Sohar Free Zone’s commitment to implementing concepts of sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation by supporting environmentally friendly projects and facilitating procedures through smart electronic platforms. This enhances the competitiveness of the investment environment and creates an advanced development model that contributes to attracting converting industries and major projects to reinforce added value chains and establish economic links with the transport, energy, and logistics sectors, thus supporting economic growth in neighboring governorates and boosting the gross domestic product.
This ranking represents a qualitative indicator of the actual transformation in the Omani investment environment. It also serves as a platform to enhance global partnerships and attract capital and modern technologies, contributing to the achievement of the goals of Oman Vision 2040 in a sustainable and systematic manner.
OPAZ recommended the formation of a national team to prepare a unified file for working on the 2026 performance indicators, which includes several government entities and representatives from the zones under its supervision, monitoring the impact of the classifications on investment flows, and directing relevant departments to utilize the report’s results in enhancing Oman’s global competitiveness.