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Work to establish the International Financial Centre of Oman has gathered pace with completion of the legal framework, rulebook and registry system now in focus, according to the Times of Oman. A package of laws covering business registration and licensing, financial services regulation and an independent dispute resolution framework is due to be issued shortly. These measures will provide the basis for the centre’s authorities to introduce an initial set of regulations governing operations within and through the facility. His Excellency Mahmood Al Aweini, Chair of the IFC Oman Authority Board, said, “IFC Oman is accelerating towards opening its doors, with its legal, regulatory and digital infrastructure moving into place. The Centre will offer global businesses and investors a stable and competitive place to do business, harnessing Oman’s enduring connections with countries around the world and its strategic location at the crossroads of continents, to unlock new opportunities for growth and create lasting value for Oman.”
A digital registry system is expected to move into testing shortly and will allow interested businesses to submit applications online once operational, the Times of Oman reported. The centre will begin registering companies later this year in preparation for the launch of full licensing operations in 2027. This timeline follows the centre’s establishment under Royal Decree No. 8/2026 earlier in the year, which created a legally independent entity with its own regulatory and dispute resolution bodies.
The centre operates under a common-law framework and is headquartered in Madinat Al Irfan with potential for expansion to other sites, a KPMG summary published in April 2026 noted. Its board, chaired by HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, includes senior figures from the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Oman and the Oman Investment Authority. The board oversees development of the legislative, regulatory and operational structures required for launch.
IFC Oman aims to link international capital and expertise to opportunities across Oman and the wider region while supporting the goals of Oman Vision 2040 through increased private investment, economic diversification and employment creation, according to the authority. Eligible activities span regulated financial services such as banking, insurance, asset management, investment funds and capital markets operations. Businesses meeting the criteria can access tax incentives for up to 50 years from the law’s entry into force, the KPMG assessment found.
The centre has expanded its international engagement with prospective businesses, investors and professional services firms and gained membership in the World Alliance of International Financial Centres at the group’s annual meeting in Busan during September, the Times of Oman stated. Additional meetings with interested parties are scheduled in London later this month. These efforts build on the January 2026 Council of Ministers decision to create the centre as part of broader measures to strengthen the financial sector’s contribution to gross domestic product.
