Under the patronage of His Excellency Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, the Sohar Investment Forum 2026, organized by the North Al Batinah branch of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was launched today, Wednesday (February 4), in the presence of a number of dignitaries and officials in the public and private sectors, and with the participation of more than 30 countries, at the Radisson Blu Hotel Sohar .

The forum commenced with a speech by Engineer Saeed bin Ali Al-Abri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the North Al Batinah branch of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Forum's Organizing Committee. In his address, he emphasized that North Al Batinah Governorate, and Sohar in particular, represents a leading national model in building an integrated economic system. This system is based on the synergy of the port, the free zone, industrial areas, and advanced infrastructure, making it an attractive platform for major industrial and logistical investments. He noted that this integration has contributed to attracting companies from approximately 50 nationalities currently operating in Sohar, indicating growing international confidence in the investment environment.

He added that Sohar Port boasts an extensive maritime network connecting it to over 500 ports worldwide, along with a modern road network and the anticipated rail link with the United Arab Emirates, further solidifying Sohar's position as a regional logistics hub. He explained that the forum focuses on ready-to-implement opportunities, presenting approximately 50 investment opportunities with a total estimated value of around 300 million Omani rials in promising sectors. He emphasized that the accompanying exhibition plays a pivotal role in this approach by providing a direct platform for communication between investors and government and private entities, showcasing available initiatives, projects, and opportunities, thus contributing to transforming investment interest into practical and implementable partnerships .

The forum featured several keynote addresses, including one by Her Excellency Ibtisam bint Ahmed Al Farouji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion. Her keynote speech addressed the importance of enhancing the competitiveness of the investment environment in the Sultanate of Oman. She reviewed the government's efforts in developing legislation and incentives to attract quality investments, emphasizing the pivotal role of economic and industrial zones in achieving economic diversification goals. She also noted that the next phase focuses on streamlining procedures for investors, accelerating the digital transformation of services, and strengthening public-private partnerships. This will contribute to creating sustainable investment opportunities, increasing the added value of the national economy, and solidifying the Sultanate's position as a regional hub for business and investment .

His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the Sohar Investment Forum 2026 represents an opportunity to enhance the attractiveness of the Sultanate of Oman for investment, and an effective mechanism to link promising opportunities with local and international investors, in light of the rapid growth in industrial and logistical infrastructure witnessed in the North Al Batinah Governorate .

He added that the forum reflects the Chamber’s role in supporting and empowering the private sector, opening direct channels of communication with partners from around the world, and highlighting the competitive advantages of Sohar and its associated free and industrial zones, which contributes to transforming opportunities into existing projects and sustainable partnerships .

He stressed that the Chamber is keen to continue its efforts in creating a stimulating business environment, enhancing partnership between the public and private sectors, and providing spaces for dialogue and showcasing opportunities, believing that quality investment is a fundamental pillar for economic diversification, creating added value and job opportunities, and supporting the long-term competitiveness of the national economy .

Mr. Khalid bin Saeed Al-Shuaibi, Chairman of the National Program for Private Sector Development and Foreign Trade, “Nuzhadher,” delivered a speech highlighting the importance of free trade agreements in expanding the horizons of the Omani economy and enhancing its integration into global markets. He pointed to the role of these agreements in facilitating the movement of goods and services, attracting foreign investment, and opening new markets for national products. He emphasized that maximizing the benefits of these agreements requires enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector and enabling national institutions to access global value chains, thereby supporting economic diversification goals and strengthening the Sultanate of Oman’s position as a reliable trading partner at the regional and international levels .

His Excellency Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Secretary General of the Federation of GCC Chambers, delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of Gulf economic integration and the role of the private sector in deepening trade and investment partnerships among GCC countries. He noted that the current phase requires strengthening institutional cooperation and unifying efforts to create a more open and competitive business environment. He also stressed that regional economic forums represent an effective platform for connecting investors, exchanging expertise, and building strategic alliances that contribute to supporting sustainable growth and expanding intra-regional trade, thereby enhancing the region's position as an influential economic hub on the global investment map .

Alongside Dr. Khaled Mohammed Hanafi, Secretary General of the Federation of Gulf Chambers, who highlighted in his speech the importance of strengthening Arab and Gulf economic integration and opening broader horizons for investment and intra-regional trade, he emphasized that the next phase requires deeper partnerships between private sector institutions to enhance the competitiveness of regional economies. He also stressed the role of investment forums in building bridges of cooperation, exchanging expertise, and exploring shared opportunities, thereby contributing to supporting sustainable development and achieving balanced economic growth that serves the interests of the region's countries .

The forum's activities included the opening of the accompanying exhibition, which included a number of governmental and private institutions concerned with the investment sector in the Sultanate of Oman, with the participation of more than 21 entities, with the aim of introducing investment opportunities, incentives and services provided to local and international investors .

The forum also included two panel discussions; the first was entitled “New Sohar… Gateway to Industrial and Technological Investments”, and the participants in its discussions were His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Kindi, Governor of North Al Batinah, Engineer Raed Al Rubai, CEO of Sohar Free Zone and Deputy CEO of Sohar Port, Harsha Shetty, CEO of Jindal Shadeed Iron and Steel, and Amy Hawn, Director of the Omani Trade Office in the United States of America, in addition to a number of CEOs of private sector companies in the governorate .

The session focused on the transformations underway in Sohar as a leading model for smart industrial cities in the Sultanate of Oman. Speakers discussed the readiness of the industrial and logistical infrastructure, the role of economic zones in accelerating the flow of quality investments, and the importance of integration between the public and private sectors in creating a competitive business environment at the regional level. Discussions also touched upon the future of advanced and technological industries and their associated value chains, opportunities for industrial localization and knowledge transfer, as well as mechanisms to support investors, streamline procedures, develop digital services, and enhance connectivity between the port, the free zone, and industrial areas to improve supply chain efficiency and reduce operating costs. Participants emphasized that the next phase requires a focus on attracting high value-added investments, developing national talent, and consolidating Sohar's position as a regional industrial and technological hub serving both local and international markets .

The second session, titled “Enhancing the Investment Environment: Pillars of Finance, Logistics and Sustainability,” featured discussions with Her Excellency Ibtisam bint Ahmed Al-Farouji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, Ahmed Al-Shandoudi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Digital Solutions at OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries, Abbas Al-Lawati, Deputy General Manager and Head of Investment Banking and International Operations at Sohar International, and Longjin Zhang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chinese company United Solar .

The session addressed a range of topics related to building an integrated investment system that supports long-term growth. Discussions focused on the role of financing in enabling major industrial projects, expanding investment tools and partnerships between banking institutions and the private sector, and the importance of digital solutions in enhancing operational efficiency and improving the business environment. Participants also discussed the development of logistics infrastructure in Sohar and its role in supporting trade and industry, as well as investment opportunities in renewable energy and clean industries, and the impact of sustainability standards on the decisions of global investors. Speakers emphasized that enhancing investment competitiveness requires a balance between smart financing, advanced logistics infrastructure, and adherence to environmental standards, thereby boosting investor confidence and solidifying the Sultanate of Oman's position as a sustainable investment destination in the long term .

The forum also witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding in a number of fields, amounting to 5 agreements worth about 12 million Omani riyals. The first of these is a memorandum of understanding to promote investments and manufacturing industries in the iron and steel sector between the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry - North Al Batinah Branch and Jindal Sohar Iron Company. It aims to promote investments in the iron and steel sector and attract investors to establish manufacturing industries that rely on steel products and by-products, with a value of 4 million Omani riyals.

The second agreement is for the establishment of an industrial project, within the framework of the Plastics Industries Program, between OQ Group and Aurum Polymer Solutions Company, to establish an industrial project in Al-Uwahi Industrial City in the Wilayat of Sohar, with an investment value of 1.2 million Omani rials. OQ Group will supply the project with raw materials in quantities of up to 8,000 tons annually upon full operation.

The third agreement is for the establishment of a food processing plant between Sohar Industrial City and Al Baraka Food and Investment Company, valued at 4 million Omani rials. The fourth agreement is for the establishment of a metal processing plant between Sohar Industrial City and Al Rahma Metal Industries Company, valued at 3 million Omani rials. The fifth agreement is for the establishment of a waste recycling plant between Sohar Industrial City and Clear Earth Recycling Company, valued at 500,000 Omani rials.

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