National Projects Worth RO450 Million Completed: What This Means for Job Creation and Investment Opportunities in Oman
The Oman Investment Authority (OIA) has successfully completed 14 high-quality national projects across various governorates in Oman, with a total investment exceeding RO450 million. These projects have created around 1,350 new jobs in critical sectors such as food security, manufacturing industries, and water.
In the water sector, Nama Water Services Company executed four key projects aimed at enhancing water transmission lines in Al Dakhiliyah, North and South Al Batinah, and North and South Al Sharqiyah governorates. These projects aim to increase water supply efficiency to densely populated and rapidly industrializing areas, addressing rising demand up to 2040. The projects involved developing a transmission network linking stations, strategic reservoirs, and pumping stations. The total investment exceeded RO408 million, generating local value above RO112 million through contracts with local companies and suppliers, of which more than RO44 million was allocated to small and medium enterprises. Additionally, the initiative created 698 direct job opportunities for Omanis.
The Liwa Plastics Industries Complex, in partnership with the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), attracted nine private sector projects valued at RO39 million. Supplied with polymer materials by the OQ Group from Liwa Plastics Industries Complex, these projects are set to commence operations by the end of this year. This initiative will add over 500 direct and indirect jobs and promote self-sufficiency in industrial products by producing a wide range of advanced polymer applications like engineering polymers, packaging materials, medical supplies, automotive parts, and engineering industry products.
This effort supports Oman’s economic diversification strategy, aims to attract foreign direct investment, and encourages investment in industries that cater to local market needs. It aligns with the Oman Investment Authority’s mission to enhance local value, empower the private sector, localize industries, and foster the development of small and medium enterprises.
In the food security domain, the Oman Agriculture Development Company established the Dates Industrial Complex in Nizwa with an investment of RO17 million. This integrated post-harvest center handles transportation, sterilization, storage, sorting, packing, and processing, adhering to the highest standards of quality and food safety. Spanning 35,000 square meters, the complex has an annual production capacity of up to 30,000 tons.
Designed with environmentally sustainable features such as solar energy utilization and water recycling, the complex includes processing halls and production facilities covering over 18,000 square meters, along with an integrated weighing and shipping station. It serves as a specialized hub for receiving dates, vegetables, and fruits directly from farmers. The project also supports marketing through three brands: “Tamra” for luxury products, “Nizwa” for the local market, and “Zad Al Dar” for wholesale distribution, enabling Omani products to reach consumers via cafes, shopping centers, and direct sales outlets. The complex has created 150 jobs, split between direct and indirect employment.
All these initiatives are part of the “National Development Portfolio,” managed by the Oman Investment Authority, which oversees investments in Oman through more than 160 holding and subsidiary companies operating in various vital economic sectors. The portfolio focuses on eight key priorities: achieving financial sustainability, stimulating sectoral growth, increasing contribution to GDP, attracting investments, executing exit programs for private sector integration, supporting local content, promoting inter-company collaboration, and upholding corporate governance and transparency in accordance with global best practices.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The Oman Investment Authority’s completion of 14 strategic projects, injecting over RO450 million and generating 1,350 jobs, underscores Oman’s commitment to economic diversification and self-sufficiency in vital sectors like water, manufacturing, and food security. For businesses, this signals a growing emphasis on local value creation and SME empowerment, presenting opportunities to tap into expanding industrial ecosystems and supply chains. Smart investors should focus on sectors aligned with OIA priorities—especially those enhancing local content and sustainability—while entrepreneurs can leverage government-backed infrastructure and innovation in water and agri-industries to drive future growth.
