Planning to set up or expand a business in the Sultanate? Dr. Abdullah Al Rashdi Office, Advocates and Legal Consultants, is a law firm in Oman based in Al Khuwair, Muscat, acting for foreign and local investors and companies across the country. As a corporate lawyer in Muscat with over 20 years of experience, we help you enter the market on a sound legal footing and protect your investment once you are trading.
When do foreign investors need a business lawyer in Oman?
- You are assessing the Omani market and want to know whether your activity is open to foreign investors and which licences it needs.
- You need to choose a company form and understand the liability, management and governance consequences of each.
- You are entering a joint venture or partnership with an Omani party and need the relationship properly documented.
- You want to appoint a commercial agent or distributor in Oman, or you are being appointed as one.
- You are changing shareholders, transferring shares, altering capital or restructuring your Omani company.
- A dispute has arisen with a partner, customer, supplier or agent and you need representation before the Omani courts or in arbitration.
How we help investors and companies
We provide legal services to investors and companies in all fields, helping them preserve their rights and register and establish companies in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law and the laws regulating investment, together with ongoing legal consultancy services. In practice this covers:
- Foreign investment in Oman legal advice: explaining how Oman's Foreign Capital Investment Law applies to your activity, including any restrictions, approvals, guarantees and incentives relevant to you.
- Choosing a company form: comparing the structures available under the Commercial Companies Law of Oman against your ownership, liability and funding plans.
- Company formation and registration: drafting constitutive documents and following up registration in the Commercial Register with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. See our dedicated page on company formation services in Oman.
- Commercial agencies and distribution: drafting, reviewing and registering agency agreements in light of the Commercial Agencies Law, and advising on renewal or termination.
- Commercial contracts: shareholder and joint venture agreements, supply, services, construction and commercial lease contracts, and non-disclosure agreements.
- Corporate governance: shareholder and board resolutions, powers of attorney and signing authorities, and compliance reviews.
- Changes to your company: admission and exit of partners, share transfers, capital changes, mergers and liquidation.
- Disputes: negotiation and settlement, representation before the Primary Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and commercial arbitration.
How we work with you
- Get in touch: send us a WhatsApp message or call, whether you are abroad or already in Muscat, and outline your plans or the issue.
- Consultation: we review your activity, partners, objectives and any existing documents.
- Legal opinion and roadmap: we set out your options, the risks of each, the authorities involved and the documents required.
- Execution: we draft the documents and follow the procedures with the relevant authorities, or act for you in negotiations or proceedings.
- Ongoing support: we remain available as your business grows and as the law changes.
Documents to prepare
- Passport copies of the investors and proposed managers.
- For a corporate investor: certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents and a board resolution, legalised and attested as required.
- A short description of the proposed activity, location and expected scale.
- Any existing agreements, term sheets or correspondence with partners, agents or clients.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign investor own a company in Oman?
The Foreign Capital Investment Law allows foreign investors to establish projects in Oman across a wide range of activities, while certain activities remain restricted or require specific approvals. We check whether your activity qualifies, and on what terms, before you commit any funds.
Which company form should I choose?
The Commercial Companies Law provides for several forms, including general and limited partnerships, the limited liability company, the one-person company and joint stock companies. The right choice depends on the number of owners, the liability you are prepared to accept, your capital and your activity.
What does the Commercial Companies Law in Oman regulate?
It governs how companies are formed, managed, changed and dissolved, including the rights and duties of partners and shareholders, the responsibilities of managers and directors, and corporate governance.
Can you act for us if we are not yet in Oman?
Much of the preparatory work, such as consultations, document review and drafting, can be handled remotely. Some steps may require original signatures, attested documents or a power of attorney, and we will tell you exactly which at the outset.
How are disputes between partners resolved?
We start with the constitutive documents and any shareholder agreement, then seek a negotiated settlement or mediation. If that fails, the dispute goes to the courts, or to arbitration where the parties have agreed to it.
Whether you are exploring foreign investment in Oman or need a business lawyer for an existing company, contact us on WhatsApp or call +968 9200 0841. You are also welcome at our office in Al Khuwair, Muscat: Bait Al Hamd, 3rd Floor, near Takaful Oman Insurance and Bank Muscat, opposite the Ministries.
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