Yes, but not everywhere, and not always in the same way. Oman opens property to foreign buyers through a small number of legal routes. Knowing which one applies to a unit decides what you own, what you can do with it, and whether it supports residency.
The short answer
- Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs) are the main route. These are licensed master-planned developments such as Al Mouj, Muscat Bay, AIDA, Jebel Sifah and Hawana Salalah. Inside them, non-Omanis can buy homes outright, and developers market them as freehold.
- Units in multi-storey buildings outside ITCs can be bought by foreigners under a usufruct right in designated areas, subject to minimum conditions (see below).
- Some government-planned districts, such as parts of Sultan Haitham City, run their own framework for foreign buyers. Check the rules project by project.
- Everywhere else, land and houses are generally reserved for Omani nationals and GCC citizens.
Integrated Tourism Complexes
An ITC is a development licensed for tourism and residential use where foreign ownership is permitted. For most overseas investors this is the practical answer to “where can I buy?”. The title is registered with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and the unit can be sold, let or inherited.
Two points are worth knowing before you reserve:
- Land plots in ITCs carry a build obligation. Al Tamimi & Company notes that buyers of plots have four years to complete construction, with possible extensions from the Ministry. If you are buying land, the build programme is part of the deal.
- Residency depends on value. Since the 10-year Golden Residency launched in 2025, a purchase of OMR 200,000 or more in an ITC can support an application. Cheaper units still give you ownership, but not that residency route. See our Golden Residency guide.
Multi-storey buildings outside ITCs
Under Ministerial Resolution 357/2020, foreigners can acquire usufruct rights over residential units in qualifying buildings outside ITCs. As summarised by Al Tamimi & Company:
| Condition | Rule |
|---|---|
| Building height | At least four floors |
| Minimum unit value | OMR 45,000 |
| Registration fee | 3% of unit value |
| Term | 50 years, renewable (up to 99 years), with inheritance rights |
| Resale or letting | Permitted after four years of ownership |
Usufruct is not the same as freehold. You hold a long, transferable right to use and benefit from the unit, rather than the underlying land. For many investors the difference matters less than it sounds, but it affects exit options and should be reflected in price.
Areas that are off limits
Royal Decree 29/2018 prohibits non-Omani ownership in certain areas, including mountain regions, islands, and land near royal palaces, military sites and archaeological sites. Reputable developers will not offer these to you, but it is one reason to check the title of any resale property.
Sultan Haitham City and similar schemes
Sultan Haitham City is not an ITC. A September 2026 press report describes a framework in which buyers in qualifying projects can apply for a renewable two-year residency once 30% of the price is paid, extended to first-degree relatives above OMR 50,000. Treat this as a lead to check, not a rule to rely on: confirm eligibility for the specific project in writing.
What we check for clients
- The legal basis of ownership for the exact unit: ITC freehold, usufruct, or a project-specific scheme.
- Whether the purchase value meets the residency threshold you are aiming for.
- The fees that apply to a foreign buyer. The Ministry cut sale registration fees for Omanis from 2% to 1% in January 2025; foreign buyers in ITCs are generally quoted around 3%. Confirm the current rate before completion.
- Restrictions on resale timing and any developer consent requirements.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Ownership rules change; take independent legal advice on the specific unit before you pay a reservation deposit.