Sohar Investment Forum Launches with Global Participation

Five Agreements Worth RO 12m Signed at Sohar Investment Forum

Sohar: The Sohar Investment Forum 2026 officially commenced today. The forum is organized by the North Al Batinah Governorate Branch of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).

The event is held under the auspices of Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), and is attended by senior officials from the public and private sectors, as well as participants from more than 30 countries.

The forum opened with a keynote address by Eng. Said Ali Al Abri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the OCCI Branch in North Al Batinah and Chairman of the Forum’s Organizing Committee. He stated that North Al Batinah Governorate, and Sohar in particular, represents an advanced national model for an integrated economic ecosystem, based on the synergy between the port, freezone, industrial zones, and advanced infrastructure.

He noted that this integration has positioned Sohar as an attractive destination for major industrial and logistics investments, adding that the ecosystem has successfully attracted companies from nearly 50 nationalities, reflecting growing international confidence in the investment environment.

Eng. Al Abri highlighted that Sohar Port enjoys maritime connectivity with more than 500 ports worldwide, supported by a modern road network and the upcoming railway link with the United Arab Emirates, which is expected to further strengthen Sohar’s role as a regional logistics hub.

He explained that the forum focuses on investment-ready opportunities, presenting around 50 projects with an estimated total value of approximately RO 300 million across several promising sectors. He also underlined the importance of the accompanying exhibition, which serves as a direct platform for engagement between investors and public and private sector entities, facilitating the transformation of investment interest into practical partnerships.

The forum featured several keynote speeches, including a main address by Ibtisam Ahmed Al Farooji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion. She stressed the importance of enhancing the competitiveness of Oman’s investment environment and highlighted ongoing government efforts to develop legislation and incentive frameworks that attract high-quality investments.

She emphasized the pivotal role of economic and industrial zones in achieving economic diversification, noting that the upcoming phase will focus on facilitating investor procedures, accelerating digital transformation, and strengthening public–private partnerships to create sustainable investment opportunities and increase value added to the national economy.

Khalid Said Al Shuaibi, Head of the National Programme for the Development of the Private Sector and Foreign Trade “Nazdaher”, highlighted the role of free trade agreements in expanding the Omani economy’s integration into global markets. He underscored their importance in facilitating trade flows, attracting foreign investment, and opening new markets for national products, while emphasizing the need to enhance private sector competitiveness and integration into global value chains.

Saleh Hamad Al Sharqi, Secretary-General of the Federation of GCC Chambers, stressed the importance of Gulf economic integration and the private sector’s role in strengthening trade and investment partnerships among GCC states. He noted that regional economic forums provide effective platforms for connecting investors, exchanging expertise, and building strategic alliances.

Meanwhile, Dr. Khaled Mohamed Hanafy, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, highlighted the need to strengthen Arab and Gulf economic integration and expand intra-regional trade. He emphasized the importance of deeper private sector partnerships to enhance competitiveness and support balanced and sustainable economic growth.

The forum included the inauguration of an accompanying exhibition, featuring more than 21 government and private sector entities showcasing investment opportunities, incentives, and services offered to local and international investors.

The event also witnessed the signing of five agreements and memoranda of understanding, with a total investment value of approximately RO 12 million. These included:

• An MoU between OCCI – North Al Batinah Branch and Jindal Steel Oman to enhance downstream industries in the iron and steel sector, valued at RO 4 million.

• An agreement between OQ Group and Aurum Polymer Solutions to establish an industrial facility under the Ladayn Plastics Industries Program in Al Ohi Industrial City, with an investment of RO 1.115 million.

• An agreement between Sohar Industrial City and Al Baraka Food & Investment Company to establish a food manufacturing plant valued at RO 4 million.

• An agreement between Sohar Industrial City and Al Rahma Metal Industries Company to establish a metal processing plant valued at RO 3 million.

• An agreement between Sohar Industrial City and Clear Earth Recycling to establish a waste recycling plant valued at RO 500,000.

The forum also featured two panel discussions. The first, titled “The New Sohar – Gateway to Industrial and Technology Investments,” addressed Sohar’s transformation into a smart industrial city, investment readiness, infrastructure integration, and the future of advanced industries and technology-based value chains.

The second session, “Enhancing the Investment Environment: Finance, Logistics and Sustainability Pillars,” focused on financing mechanisms, logistics infrastructure, digital solutions, renewable energy opportunities, and sustainability standards, emphasizing their role in strengthening investor confidence and positioning Oman as a sustainable investment destination.