Ashraf AboArafe

Coinciding with Oman’s National Day celebrations, Cairo hosted the fourth edition of The Investor Conference under the theme “Oman–Egypt… Land of Opportunities”, with high-level participation from officials, investors, and business leaders from both countries.
The event reflected the depth of historic ties and the shared will to expand economic cooperation and build sustainable strategic partnerships.

Oman… A Rising Economy Guided by Stability

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Rahbi, Oman’s Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League, affirmed that Oman, under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, is moving confidently toward a more diversified and sustainable economy.

He highlighted that non-oil revenues have grown to 65% of GDP, while public debt has declined to nearly 35% — indicators that reflect strong economic performance and high levels of international confidence.

Ambassador Al-Rahbi underscored Oman’s strategic location along major global maritime routes, positioning it as fertile ground for investment in tourism, logistics, renewable energy, food security, mining, and technology-driven industries.
He noted that Oman welcomes investors as development partners, supported by modern legislation permitting full foreign ownership, flexible tax incentives, and long-term residency under the “Investor Residency Program.”

A Competitive Business Climate and Investor-Friendly Reforms

Ambassador Al-Rahbi reviewed a series of reforms undertaken by Oman, including:

• The Investor Residency Program, granting long-term residency to foreign investors.
• Strategic national projects in oil refineries, fisheries processing, renewable energy, and technological innovation.
• A unified corporate tax rate of 12% for Omani and foreign companies, with fully free repatriation of profits.

He emphasized that these reforms position Oman as one of the region’s most attractive and stable investment destinations.

Egypt: Bold Reforms and a Forward-Looking Vision 2030

Hossam Heiba, Chairman of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), affirmed Egypt’s steadfast commitment to improving the business climate, developing world-class infrastructure, and offering competitive incentives.

Heiba noted that:

• The volume of trade between Egypt and Oman reached $858 million in 2024.
• Omani investments in Egypt amount to $52 million, across 112 companies.
• Egypt targets becoming one of the top 50 countries globally in investment competitiveness within the next two years.

He invited Omani investors to explore opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, ICT, agriculture, renewable energy, and financial services.

Success Stories That Inspire Deeper Partnerships

The conference highlighted successful cooperation models, including:

• Two major real estate projects for Talaat Moustafa Group in West Muscat, with investments totaling 1.5 billion Omani rials.
• Wadi Zaha Project by Al-Ahly–Sabour, with investments of 90 million Omani rials.
• Additional Egyptian companies participating in infrastructure and public utility projects across Oman.

Speakers emphasized that these achievements reflect a fertile foundation for replicating success stories and expanding joint ventures.

Ahmed Sabour: Egypt Welcomes Omani Investments with Open Arms

In his address, Eng. Ahmed Sabour, Secretary-General of The Investor Conferences, praised the strength and historic depth of Oman–Egypt relations, noting that recent years have witnessed unprecedented levels of cooperation and alignment between the two leaderships.

He stressed that Egypt offers “every form of support and facilitation” to Omani investors, pointing to the ongoing restructuring of the Egyptian side in the Oman–Egypt Joint Business Council to help unlock new horizons for cooperation.

‘Invest in Oman’… A Rising Star in the Regional Investment Landscape

Nasser Bu Khalifa Al-Kindi, CEO of Invest in Oman, presented the latest investment indicators, noting that Oman recorded over $78 billion in foreign inflows during Q2 2025, driven by economic stability and growing global confidence.

He explained that Oman Vision 2040 is expanding opportunities in:

• Green hydrogen
• Digital economy
• Advanced tourism
• Large-scale urban development projects shaping Oman’s modern cities

Al-Kindi emphasized that Oman is increasingly recognized as a regional investment hub combining stability, diversity, and a forward-looking national vision.

A Message of Partnership, Vision, and Shared Destiny

The conference concluded with a unified message:
Oman–Egypt partnership is not merely economic — it is rooted in history, strengthened by shared values, and guided by a common vision toward a more prosperous and stable future.

Speakers expressed confidence that the deep bonds between the two nations will continue to pave the way for stronger investments, broader cooperation, and new opportunities benefiting both peoples.