Buying Off-Plan Property in Oman from Abroad

Who can buy, and where

Foreigners of any nationality may buy in Oman's integrated tourism complexes, and their title there is permanent and fully transferable. Non-Omanis, whether individuals or companies, may also own outright inside Knowledge Oasis Muscat and in designated special economic and free zones, with no Omani partner required. Outside those complexes and zones, buyers from outside the GCC generally hold property through a long usufruct right, which is renewable and transferable.

How an off-plan purchase works

Off-plan means you buy a home before it is finished, directly from the developer. The developer must be licensed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. Your payments do not go to the developer freely: they are paid into an escrow account opened in the project's name. Currently we list 26 projects, with prices starting from OMR 35,245, and prices are set in Omani rials.

Costs beyond the price

Registering your purchase incurs a one-off registration fee set by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. VAT applies where it is chargeable, so ask the developer to state clearly whether it is included in the quoted price. If you buy a unit in a shared building or complex, you will pay service charges toward running and maintaining the common areas.

Oman levies no annual property tax, and it does not tax the gain when an owner sells. Because prices are in rials, remember that the cost in your own currency can move with exchange rates.

Buying safely from a distance

Every sale must be registered with the Real Estate Register Secretariat of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and only its title deed proves ownership. For a unit sold off-plan, the sale must be recorded in the preliminary real estate register, and dealings in it are not recognised unless recorded there. Before you pay anything, ask for proof of the developer's licence, the escrow account details in the project's name and confirmation that your unit will be recorded in that preliminary register.

Do not rely on a brochure, a message or a receipt as evidence that you own the property. Your agent can help you check each of these points remotely, so you can proceed without travelling until you are ready.

Questions to settle before you reserve

Confirm whether the project lies in a zone where you can own outright, or whether you would hold a usufruct right instead. Ask what the service charges are likely to cover, and which fees and VAT are payable on top of the price. If anything is unclear, ask for it in writing before you commit.

Updated October 2026 · Data: Palmera