The Sohar Investment Forum 2026 has concluded with several initiatives and recommendations, emphasizing the importance of strengthening strategic partnerships, continuing the development of the business environment, and integrating efforts between the public and private sectors.
The forum was organized by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, North Al Batinah Branch, featuring local and international participation from government representatives, domestic and foreign investors, financial institutions, business leaders, academics, and development partners.
The total number of participants in the Sohar Investment Forum 2026 reached 929, including 339 participants from outside the Sultanate of Oman representing 32 countries.
During the Sohar Investment Forum 2026, around 50 framed investment opportunities were presented with a total value of nearly $780 million (RO 300 million), in addition to the signing of five agreements and memorandums of understanding valued at $31.2 million (RO 12 million).
Key outputs also included 134 bilateral meetings covering eight sectors, including food products, iron industries, mining, plastics, recycling, support industries for heavy industry, medical industries, and aluminum industries.
Major recommendations at Sohar Investment Forum 2026
The primary recommendations issued by the two-day Sohar Investment Forum 2026 included the improvement of the investor experience and the reduction of time required to launch investments.
The forum proposed the launch of a prioritized ‘Green Investment Track’ to accelerate projects compatible with the five-year plans and Oman Vision 2040, alongside the adoption of a logistics competitiveness program in Sohar to bolster regional and global supply chains.
Image credits: Sohar Investment Forum | Cropped by GBN
Additional proposals included the establishment of the Sohar Green Industries Complex to position Sohar as a regional model for sustainable industrial development, the adoption of a project preparation and economic feasibility support program to convert interest into signed deals and completed financing, and the enhancement of local content and supply chain development to maximize national value.
These recommendations aim to consolidate the status of the Wilayat of Sohar as a regional hub for investment, industry, and logistics, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Image credits: Sohar Investment Forum | Cropped by GBN
The recommendations also stressed the necessity of developing workforce readiness and ‘skills-to-jobs’ partnerships to ensure sustainable employment and productivity through long-term qualification and training programs.
Furthermore, the Sohar Investment Forum 2026 called for continued international promotion of Sohar and the North Al Batinah Governorate as attractive investment destinations, leveraging their infrastructure and competitive advantages. It was also recommended to form a task force to follow up on the implementation of these recommendations to ensure the forum’s maximum impact and the sustainability of its outcomes, while continuing to organize the forum in its international format periodically.
