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His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said chaired a board meeting of the International Financial Centre of Oman on Thursday to review the entity’s progress toward launch. The gathering focused on advancements in the centre’s legal framework, regulatory rules and online application platform. The centre is on track to start accepting company registrations before the end of 2026, with full operations slated for the following year.
A comprehensive package of laws is set to be issued in the coming weeks, addressing business registration, licensing procedures, financial services oversight and an independent dispute resolution mechanism. These statutes will empower the relevant authorities to implement an initial collection of regulations applicable to activities conducted in and via the centre. Preparation of this legislation represents a pivotal step in establishing the operational foundation for IFC Oman.
Development of the digital registry system has reached the point where testing is expected to commence shortly. Businesses will be able to use the platform to file applications for presence in the financial centre electronically once it is active. This technological infrastructure is intended to facilitate efficient and transparent registration processes.
Mahmood al Aweini, Chairman of the IFC Oman Authority Board, highlighted the momentum behind the project. “IFC Oman is accelerating towards opening its doors, with its legal, regulatory and digital infrastructure moving into place,” al Aweini said. He noted that the centre would offer global businesses and investors a stable and competitive place to do business, drawing on Oman’s strategic geographic position and longstanding international ties.
The International Financial Centre of Oman was created by Royal Decree in January 2026 to support economic diversification under Oman Vision 2040, according to a KPMG assessment published in April. The entity is designed to function with full administrative, financial and legislative independence, providing incentives such as long-term tax exemptions to attract foreign capital and institutions. It secured membership in the World Alliance of International Financial Centres during the group’s annual meeting in Busan in September.
International outreach forms a key element of the centre’s strategy, with additional meetings scheduled for prospective partners in London later in October. These discussions seek to draw interest from financial services providers, investors and advisory firms. Registration activities will begin prior to the rollout of comprehensive licensing in 2027, according to the centre’s timetable.
