Dentons US LLP
01/27/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/27/2021 05:43
Oman issues a list of activities prohibited from foreign ownership under the FCIL
January 27, 2021
Further to our February 2020 client alert on Oman's new Foreign Capital Investment Law (FCIL), Ministerial Decision 209/2020 has recently been issued listing 70 activities that must not be undertaken by a company that is subject to the FCIL (New MD). These are generally activities that are less likely to be of interest to international investors. The New MD does not apply to a company which is not subject to the new FCIL, such as wholly Omani, GCC and US-owned companies.
The New MD expands on and gives a legal basis to the informal 'negative list' of 37 restricted activities published by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion early last year.
Below is an unofficial translation of the list of restricted activities.
| No. | Activity |
| 1 |
Manufacture of Omani halwa (Omani dessert) |
| 2 |
Tailoring of Arab men wearing apparel |
| 3 |
Tailoring of non-Arab men wearing apparel |
| 4 |
Tailoring of Arab and non-Arab ladies wearing apparel |
| 5 |
Tailoring of sports clothing |
| 6 |
Tailoring of military uniform |
| 7 |
Manufacture of Omani kimma (Omani cap) |
| 8 |
Manufacture of women's abaya (gown) |
| 9 |
Manufacture of Omani khanjar (traditional dagger) |
| 10 |
Transport and sale of drinking water |
| 11 |
Motor vehicle electrical repair and recharging of batteries |
| 12 |
Repairing and cleaning motor vehicle radiators |
| 13 |
Repairing punctured tyres and metal wheels |
| 14 |
Wheel balance |
| 15 |
Motor vehicle service stations |
| 16 |
Replacement of motor vehicle oils |
| 17 |
Repairing car air-conditioner |
| 18 |
Repairing motor vehicle exhaust pipe |
| 19 |
Car cleaning and polishing |
| 20 |
Wholesale of fruits and vegetables |
| 21 |
Wholesale of cooking gas |
| 22 |
Liquefied petrol gas filling stations |
| 23 |
Retail sale of fresh fruit, vegetables and dates in specialised stores |
| 24 |
Retail sale of honey in specialised stores |
| 25 |
Motor vehicle fuel stations |
| 26 |
Diesel fuel stations |
| 27 |
Retail sale of telephones and their accessories in specialised stores |
| 28 |
Retail sale of mobile telephones and their accessories in specialised stores |
| 29 |
Retail sale of souvenirs, paintings and gifts in specialised stores |
| 30 |
Retail sale of flowers and natural plants in specialised stores |
| 31 |
Retail sale of pottery and handicrafts in specialised stores |
| 32 |
Retail sale of cooking gas in specialised stores |
| 33 |
Retail sale of silverware and gifts in specialised stores |
| 34 |
Retail sale in specialised stores of cards of telecommunications services licensed in the Sultanate |
| 35 |
Retail sale of traditional weapons in specialised stores |
| 36 |
Retail sale of animal feed in specialised stores |
| 37 |
Retail sale of bags in specialised stores |
| 38 | Retail sale of ceremony requirements in specialised stores |
| 39 | Retail sale of fireworks in specialised stores |
| 40 | Retail sale of Omani khanjar (traditional dagger) in specialised stores |
| 41 | Retail sale of empty gas cylinders in specialised stores |
| 42 | Retail sale of wedding cards in specialised stores |
| 43 | Retail sale of handcraft products in specialised stores |
| 44 | Retail sale of beekeeping supplies in specialised stores |
| 45 |
Pilgrim and umra performers' transport |
| 46 | Road transport by trucks of cooking gas cylinders |
| 47 |
Loading and unloading of goods |
| 48 | Customs clearance offices |
| 49 | Valuation of cancelled vehicles |
| 50 | Insurance commission agent |
| 51 | Real estate brokerage (auctioneer offices) |
| 52 | Manpower recruitment offices |
| 53 | Employment offices |
| 54 | General cleaning of buildings |
| 55 | Photocopying and typing services |
| 56 | Transactions clearance offices |
| 57 | Making and installation of neon signboards |
| 58 | Managing and operating fuel stations |
| 59 | Driving schools |
| 60 | Specialised rehabilitation centres |
| 61 | Elderly people care centres |
| 62 | Orphanages |
| 63 | Rehabilitation centres |
| 64 | Other library and archives activities |
| 65 | Washing all kinds of clothes and textiles, except what is carried out in tourist establishments |
| 66 | Ironing of clothes, except what is carried out in tourist establishments |
| 67 | Laundry and steam ironing (dry cleaning), except what is carried out in tourist establishments |
| 68 | Hair cutting, styling and shaving for men, except what is carried out in tourist establishments |
| 69 | Hairdressing and cosmetic treatment for women, except what is carried out in tourist establishments |
| 70 | Hair cutting and styling for children, except what is carried out in tourist establishments |
Please see our previous update on Oman Foreign Capital Investment Law here.