Oman buyer's guide · Updated October 2026
Buying a home in Oman as a foreigner
Where you are allowed to own, the steps from reservation to title deed, what it costs and which papers you need. Plain answers from Al Mithaq Real Estate, Kuwait.
In 30 seconds
Yes, freehold, inside government-approved Integrated Tourism Complexes.
A title deed in your own name from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.
Mainly the registration fee, usually about 3% for foreign buyers.
No. You can buy from abroad with a power of attorney.
From Kuwait or another GCC country? GCC citizens have wider ownership rights in Oman than other nationalities, with some limits, such as farmland and certain areas. The steps below are the same, and our advisor tells you which homes apply to you.
A new green city rising in Muscat
Shaded streets, a long green valley park, markets and homes with the Hajar mountains behind. Design picture.
A new city in Muscat
The new homes, in pictures
Design pictures from the developer of a new green city in Muscat: homes on a lake, shaded walks, parks and villas with their own pools. Ask us which areas are open to buyers from outside Oman.
Step by step
From your first question to your title deed
Choose a home in an approved area
Foreign ownership is allowed only in projects approved for it, mainly Integrated Tourism Complexes. Before you pay anything, ask for written confirmation that the exact unit can be sold to your nationality.
Check the project and the developer
Ask for the developer's licence and the project approval. For a home still being built, ask for the escrow account details, the handover date, what happens if it is late, and the yearly service charge.
Reserve the unit
You sign a reservation form and pay a deposit. Read the refund and cancellation terms before you pay.
Sign the sale and purchase agreement
The agreement sets the price, the payment schedule, the handover date and the finishing. Have it checked by a lawyer you choose, in a language you read well.
Pay on schedule
For a home still being built, pay only into the escrow account named in your agreement, and keep every receipt.
Register and receive your title deed
The sale is registered with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. You pay the registration fee and receive the title deed in your name. For a home still being built, the contract is registered first and the final deed follows after completion.
Take the keys
Inspect the home with the developer, list anything to fix and sign the handover. Then connect water and electricity and start the yearly service charge.
Oman in pictures
Why people fall for Oman
Sea, mountains, golden desert and green monsoon valleys, most of them within a few hours of Muscat by car.
Swipe for more →
What it costs
The costs besides the price of the home
Before you reserve any home, ask us for a full cost sheet in writing.
Muscat: the sea on one side, the mountains on the other
Muttrah Corniche, MuscatDocuments
The papers you need
- A valid passport
- The signed sale and purchase agreement
- Receipts for every payment
- A power of attorney, if someone signs or registers for you
The developer or seller brings the property papers, such as the current title deed and the site plan.
Buying from abroad
You do not have to fly for every step
You can see homes by video call, reserve and sign many papers from home, and give a person you trust a power of attorney to sign and register for you in Oman. We tell you which form of power of attorney is accepted and how to prepare it.
Questions
Questions buyers ask us
Can a foreigner buy property anywhere in Oman?
No. For buyers who are not Omani or GCC citizens, freehold ownership is limited to Integrated Tourism Complexes approved by the government. Outside them, some approved buildings offer long-term usage rights (usufruct) instead of ownership, with conditions.
Can I sell the home or leave it to my family?
Yes. A freehold title deed lets you sell the home, pass it on by inheritance and use it as security for a loan, under Omani law.
Is my money protected if I buy a home that is still being built?
Oman's escrow law (Royal Decree 30/2018 and Ministerial Decision 72/2019) requires buyers' payments to go into a separate escrow account for each project. The developer can draw from it only for construction, with approval.
Do I need to be in Oman to buy?
No. You can buy a home in an approved complex while you are abroad, and a person you trust can sign and register for you with a power of attorney.
How long does the registration take?
Once every paper is complete, the Ministry's title deed service is quick, usually a few working days. Most of the time goes into preparing the papers, so start early.
What does Al Mithaq do for me?
We answer your questions, check the papers with you, give you a written cost sheet and stay with you from the first call to the keys. Asking us is free.
Free advice
Ask an advisor
Tell us what you want to know. An Al Mithaq advisor calls you back by phone or WhatsApp, usually the same working day.