TL; Dr:
Opaaz (Public authority for special economic territories and free areas)Oman Has officially joinedWorld free field organization ,World FZO ,- Membership provides access to Oman for the best practices, enhanced marketing channels and colleagues network spread over 1,600 regions in 140+ countries.
- Oman currently oversees 23 operational free and Economic Zone, which has attracted around 21 billion (~ US $ 54.5 billion) to investment by the end of Vision 2040 by the end of 2024.
On July 30, 2025, Oman’s Opaz formally joined the World Free Zone Organization (World FZO), which is a global union of more than 1,600 special economic sectors, ports and industrial hubs in more than 140 countries. The move is designed to promote Oman’s global profile, operating expertise and investment appeal to suit its Vision 2040 Economic Diversification Agenda.
What is the meaning of membership for Oman
- Access to global best practices
The World FZO enables OPAJ to extend the knowledge, adopt innovative management approaches, and adopt benchmark performance with major international peers to adopt.
- Fast investment promotion
Cooperation helps to refine promotional strategies and marketing devices to attract high-value, durable foreign direct investment.
Free area of Oman by numbers
- The 23 zones are currently managed by OPAZ, including major hubs such as Sohar Free Zone, Salalah Free Zone, Dukum Special Economic Zone and Al-Monna Free Zone.
- By the end of 20124, these regions attracted a total cumulative investment of RO 21 billion (of US $ 54.5 billion), according to Arab news.
- In H1 2023, investment was already at US $ 43.16 billion, operated by Sohar, Salalah and DukMM projects, indicating accelerating the trust of the investor.
Align with Vision 2040
Opaz’s world FZO membership aligns with Vision 2040 of Oman, which prefer economic diversification in logistics, manufacturing, maritime, mining, innovation and tourism sectors. Free zones play an important role in this model, offering investors such as tax exemption, complete ownership rights, and streamlined customs, making them important to attract technical, industrial and export-oriented businesses.
Strategic advantage at a glance
- Global exposure and networking: Strengthen institutional links with regions around the world.
- operational excellence: Bechmarking, certification programs and access to the performance metrics.
- Investor targeting: Better branding and high-value attractions, strategic projects were associated with Oman’s diversification roadmap.
Eccession for Oman’s World Free Zone Organization is an important step in strengthening its position as a competitive global investment destination. The development with 23 strategic sectors was prime and a cumulative investment of about 55 billion US dollars, this membership increases the ability of OPAs to attract, manage and maintain high-affected foreign direct investments. As Oman continues to implement Vision 2040, the world FZO membership will deepen institutional abilities, unlock international best practices, and elevate its economic areas on the world platform, which strengthens the role of Sultanate in permanent, diverse development.
What is World Free Zone Organization?
The World Free Zone Organization (World FZO) is a global, non-profit association with headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which is established in 2014. It acts as the world’s leading body that represents free areas, special economic territories and similar regulatory structures worldwide. Is it important here:Core mission The world FZO aims to increase global competition and stability of free areas:
- To share knowledge and promote the best practices.
- Facility of cooperation between member areas.
- Providing equipment, certificates and training for better governance, compliance and operation.
- Supporting the creation of investment -friendly regulatory environment.
global reach
- Over 140 countries represents more than 1,600 free areas.
- Governments are attached to development agencies, private sector players and educational institutions.
- Provides a neutral, reliable platform to discuss challenges and opportunities facing modern economic areas.
Major services
- Safe outline: a global set of standards for transparency and compliance in free areas.
- The free zone of the future program: focuses on digital changes, stability and innovation.
- Annual Conference and Forum: Global ideas bring leaders, investors and policy makers together.
The world FZO serves as a bridge between global investors, policy makers and economic fields, which helps to align them with international best practices. For countries such as Oman, it acts as a springboard to integrate global trade ecosystems and attract more diverse, durable foreign investment.
