Oman’s first specialised economic zone dedicated to artificial intelligence is expected to attract RO 106 million ($275M) across three phases, according to Oman Observer. The 104,000-square-metre zone will be located near Muscat International Airport.
Afouq Investment and Development United, the zone’s developer and operator, expects construction on Phase 1 to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, Chairperson Dr Siham bint Ahmed al Harthi said.
The zone is planned to include business incubators and accelerators, prototyping and robotics labs, industrial automation hubs, a research and applications centre, a data centre, cloud infrastructure, and training and event facilities. Discussions are also underway with international universities to establish a specialised AI university.
Afouq is in talks with technology companies including Microsoft and IBM, as well as local and international investment funds, the company said. The project will operate under Oman’s special economic zones framework, which offers incentives including tax exemptions and 100% foreign ownership.
Royal Decree No 50/2026 formalised the zone’s establishment. The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones will oversee its development and operations with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
Source: Oman Observer
