Buying Property in Oman: A Guide for Foreign Buyers

How foreigners can own property in Oman: where title is freehold, how usufruct works, what fees and charges apply, and how off-plan buyers are protected.

Where foreign buyers can own property

Foreigners of any nationality may buy in Oman's integrated tourism complexes, and there the title is permanent and fully transferable. Non-Omanis, whether individuals or companies, can also own outright inside Knowledge Oasis Muscat and in designated special economic and free zones. No Omani partner is required in these places.

Outside those complexes and zones, buyers from beyond the GCC generally hold property through a long usufruct right. That right is renewable and transferable. GCC nationals may own property across Oman, apart from designated reserved areas.

Taxes and costs to expect

Oman levies no annual property tax, and it does not tax the gain when an owner sells. Registering a purchase carries a one-off registration fee set by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and VAT applies where it is chargeable.

If you buy a unit in a shared building or complex, expect to pay service charges toward running and maintaining the common areas. Prices are set in Omani rials, so it is worth considering how your own currency compares when you budget.

Making sure your ownership is secure

Every sale must be registered with the Real Estate Register Secretariat of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. Only its title deed proves ownership, so a contract alone is not enough.

Buying off-plan

Developers selling off-plan must be licensed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. Buyers' payments go into an escrow account opened in the project's name.

Off-plan units must be recorded in a preliminary real estate register, and dealings in them are not recognised unless they are recorded there. Before you reserve a unit, ask us to confirm that the developer is licensed and the unit is on that register.

How we help you choose from abroad

Many of our clients see their first homes remotely, so we arrange private viewings and build shortlists around your brief. Right now there are 26 projects in Oman on our page, with prices starting from OMR 35,245. Call or email us and we will reply with options that match what you are looking for.

Updated October 2026 · Data: Palmera