Based on the Land Law promulgated by Royal Decree 5/80,
Royal Decree 5/81 Governing the Usufruct of the Lands of the Sultanate of Oman,
the Real Estate Register System promulgated by Royal Decree 2/98,
the Executive Regulation of the Real Estate Register issued by Ministerial Decision 29/99,
and the approval of the Council of Ministers,
and in pursuance of public interest,
it is hereby decided
Article I
Small and medium enterprises shall be granted usufruct right to lands owned by the state in accordance with the provisions and controls provided in the Law Governing the Usufruct of the Lands of the Sultanate of Oman and its executive regulation.
Article II
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning shall allocate no less than 10% (ten percent) of the lands in commercial, industrial, agricultural, and tourism masterplans that are ready for distribution and by the system of usufruct.
Article III
The following is required for granting small and medium enterprises usufruct right to lands owned by the state:
1. That the enterprise is wholly owned by an Omani national.
2. That the main headquarters of the enterprise is in the Sultanate of Oman.
3. That the owner of the enterprise manages it on a full-time basis.
4. That the owner of the enterprise is registered with the Ministry of Labour as an employer.
5. That the enterprise is registered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, and holds the Riyada card.
Article IV
The small and medium enterprise shall have the usufruct right to one land only. Preference between the enterprises shall be in accordance with the nature and importance of the project and its economic feasibility, followed by the enterprise achieving the highest Omanisation rate, and followed by the enterprise with the earlier application.
Article V
The aforementioned Ministerial Decision 12/2016 is hereby repealed, as well as all that is contrary to this decision or in conflict with its provisions.
Article VI
This decision shall be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the day following the date of its publication.
Issued on: 6 Shawwal 1444
Corresponding to: 27 April 2023
Dr Khalfan bin Said bin Mubarak Al-Shuaili
Minister of Housing and Urban Planning
Published in Official Gazette 1491 issued on 30 April 2023.