General Procedures and Conditions for Establishing Commercial Companies

1. Commercial Registration

• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issues Commercial Registration.

• Fill up the application form for registering in the Commercial Registry.

• Fill up the Specimen Signature form (in duplicate).

• Obtain the approval of the Committee, (which decides the trade names of the companies), on the name of the establishment in order to avoid duplication of the name.

• Attach a copy of the personal identity card.

• Pay the required registration fee.

2. Industrial Registration

a) Procedures for obtaining an industrial registration:

MOCI has identified two types of investments for the industrial investor, namely: the Form (a) and Form (b). Form (a) contains industrial projects while Form (b) includes other projects.

Form (a) contains 24 industrial projects that can be directly licensed by the Industrial Registry or the regional offices. The project owner shall complete the following formalities:

• Fill the relevant form.

• Attach a copy of the Commercial Registration (CR), if any, or a copy of the passport or ID card.

• Produce the initial approval on the industrial licence valid for three months amendable.

• Produce the approval of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment (MRME) (for project on which environmental conditions shall apply).

• Produce environmental evaluation for projects on which environmental conditions apply.

• Obtain industrial license certificate and then the applications shall be referred to the MRME, for necessary action.

Form (b):

• Fill the form

• Attach copy of CR (if any) or passport/ ID card and catalogues of the plant and machinery to be used in the project.

• Obtain necessary recommendation.

• Produce MRME approval.

• Produce industrial licence certificate for 6 months extendable.

b) Procedures for obtaining the Industrial Registration:

• Fill in the relevant forms (a) and (b).

• Attach a copy of valid CR.

• Payment of registration fee.

c) Procedures for changing location:

• A letter in this regard stating the new location.

• Produce approval from MRME.

d) Procedures for requesting factory expansion:

• Produce industrial expansion licence application of form (a) or (b).

• Attach a letter explaining the expanded capacity.

e) Procedures for changing the name:

• Submit a letter in this regard.

• Produce approval of the Commercial Registry for the new name.

f) Procedures for updating data (new partner(s), exit of partner(s), sale of factory):

• Submit a letter requesting updating of data.

• Fill in the relevant forms, based on which an internal memo will be forwarded to the Documentation and Attestation Department to complete the formalities.

• Inform the Industrial Registry after documentation.

g) Procedures for renewing the Industrial Registration:

• Fill the renewal form.

• Produce a copy of the valid CR.

• Payment of renewal fee.

h) Procedures for extending the Industrial Licence:

• Submit extension application stating the reasons for the delay in project execution.

3. Procedures for setting up joint-stock companies:

a) General Legal Requirements:

• The capital of the public joint-stock company should not be less than RO 500,000 (five hundred thousand) Omani Rials and the capital in the case of limited joint-stock company, whose shares will not be floated for public subscription, should not be less than RO 150,000 (One hundred and fifty thousand) Omani Rials.

• The number of partners should not be less than 3 persons and rate of their shares in the capital of the public joint stock company should not be less than 20% of the capital.

• The shares offered for public subscription should not be less than 40% of the capital.

b) Documents to be submitted:

• A letter to the Director General of Commerce for permission to set up a joint stock company. 

• This letter should include brief details of the type of the company, its equity capital, activities and names of the founders and signed by three founders.

• Original and two copies of the Memorandum of Incorporation and the Articles of Association of the company signed by all founders.

• A form showing non-presence of same name and the approval of the committee on it.

• Photocopies of the passport of the natural founders.

• Resolution of the partners’ assembly in case of general partnership and limited partnership companies and the Board Resolution in case of Joint Stock companies, while mentioning the number of shares subscribed to the name of the authorised signatory on the memorandum and articles of association, if one of the founders was a juristic person. Also copies of the computer printout and valid CR certificate of these companies.

• Copies of the approvals of other ministries, if the nature of the company’s activity necessitates approvals from other Ministries of Information, Education, Health, Board of Muscat Securities market, etc.

• Memorandum of Incorporation of Articles or Association, copy of the CR, signing authorisation attested by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oman’s embassy or embassy of any Arab country which is an Arab league member, situated in the country of the foreign founder’s head office, if he was a juristic person.

• Bank certificate stating deposit of the value of their shares by the founders.