# Procedures and Documents for Company Registration in Duqm (SEZAD)

> The SEZAD registration procedure in order — from company establishment and land usufruct to licences, bank account and visas — with the documents needed at each step.

URL: https://omanregister.com/procedures-and-documents-for-company-registration-in-duqm-free-zone-sezad/
Updated: 2026-10-24
Publisher: Oman Register (omanregister.com) — company registration and residency services in Oman. Contact: +968 7733 3556, info@omanregister.com

To register a company in Duqm, you apply through the SEZAD one-stop shop with ID copies of the owners and signatories, the SEZAD company establishment form and, for corporate shareholders, attested constitutional documents and a board resolution. SEZAD issues the commercial registration (typically within one working day once the file is complete), after which you secure premises or land, obtain your activity licence, open a bank account and apply for visas.

This article covers *what to do and what to submit*, in order. For fees, see [company registration costs in Duqm](https://omanregister.com/company-registration-costs-in-duqm-free-zone-sezad/); for the legal framework, see [company registration and activity laws in Duqm](https://omanregister.com/company-registration-and-activity-laws-in-duqm/).

## Before you start: decide three things

1. **Legal form.** Most investors set up a [limited liability company (LLC)](https://omanregister.com/company-types/limited-liability-company-llc/) or, for a single owner, a [sole proprietor company (SPC)](https://omanregister.com/company-types/sole-proprietor-company-spc/). Existing companies can open a [branch of a foreign company](https://omanregister.com/company-types/foreign-company-branch/).
2. **Activity.** Your activity code decides which licence you need (commercial, service, logistics or light/medium/heavy industrial) and whether you need environmental approval.
3. **Premises.** Office space only, a rented warehouse, or a plot of land under usufruct. Land-based projects follow an extra evaluation stage.

## Step-by-step registration procedure

### Step 1: Prepare and submit the company establishment application

Submit the application through the SEZAD one-stop shop (online or in person). Staff check the documents, you complete the company establishment form and submit. If anything is missing you are notified to correct it.

### Step 2: Receive the commercial registration (CR)

Once the file is complete, SEZAD issues the commercial registration certificate. SEZAD states a processing time of one working day for this service. The CR gives your company its legal identity in Oman.

### Step 3: Apply for land usufruct (land-based projects only)

If you need a plot, apply for land usufruct through the SEZAD website or one-stop shop and attach your project information. SEZAD studies the application, you pay the application fee electronically, land is allocated and a site visit follows. SEZAD states up to 12 days when all requirements are met.

### Step 4: Review and sign the usufruct agreement

You receive the plot coordinates and a draft usufruct agreement. SEZAD gives investors three months to inspect the site and review the agreement before confirming acceptance. Agreements run for up to 50 years and can be renewed.

### Step 5: Obtain building and environmental permits (if you build)

Before construction you need plot demarcation, a building permit and an environmental permit. Environmental timelines depend on the project category: SEZAD has stated about 2 days for light industries, 5 working days for medium and around 25 days for heavy and petrochemical industries.

### Step 6: Apply for your activity licence

Commercial and service companies apply for their activity licence once they have a registered address. Industrial companies apply after the facility is ready, because the industrial licence requires a building completion certificate (see the checklist below). SEZAD states five working days for an industrial licence.

### Step 7: Register with the chamber and tax authority

Register the company with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and obtain a tax card/registration with the Oman Tax Authority. Tax registration is needed even if your company benefits from an income tax exemption.

### Step 8: Open a corporate bank account

Banks will ask for the CR, licence, lease or usufruct agreement, constitutional documents, ID of signatories and a description of the business. The authorised signatory is usually required to attend in person for compliance checks.

### Step 9: Apply for work permits and residence visas

With the company active, apply for labour clearances and residence visas for the investor, managers and staff through the zone. Visa holders complete a medical test and biometrics for the resident card. See our [work permit guide](https://omanregister.com/work-permit-oman/).

## Document checklist

### For the company establishment (all applicants)

- Copy of passport or ID of each owner, partner or founder.
- Copy of passport or ID of each authorised signatory.
- Completed SEZAD company establishment form.
- No-objection letter from your current employer, if you hold an Omani residence visa as an employee.

### If a shareholder is a company

- **Omani company:** partners' or board resolution showing its share in the new company and naming its representative.
- **Foreign company:** certified copy of its articles of association, commercial registration/certificate of incorporation, and a signed resolution approving the shareholding in the new company.
- Power of attorney for the person representing the shareholder in Oman.

### For a land usufruct application

- Project description or concept paper: activity, products, technology, investment amount, land size, utilities, workforce and timeline.
- Evidence of financial capacity (bank letter or financial statements), especially for large plots.
- Company CR or establishment documents.

### For an industrial activity licence

According to SEZAD's service page:

- Certified lease or rent agreement (or usufruct agreement).
- Industrial activity licence application form.
- Approvals from other authorities, where required.
- Environmental approval.
- Civil Defence certificate.
- Building completion certificate.

## Attestation and translation rules

Documents issued outside Oman are the most common cause of delays.

| Where the document was issued | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Hague Apostille Convention country | Apostille from the issuing country's competent authority |
| Non-member country | Legalisation by that country's foreign ministry, then the Omani embassy, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Muscat |
| Language other than English or Arabic | Certified translation into English or Arabic |

Tips:

- Use **recently issued** certificates; some offices reject corporate extracts older than three to six months.
- Make sure names and passport numbers match exactly across all documents.
- Keep originals: banks and the zone may ask to see them.

## Typical timeline

| Stage | Indicative time |
|---|---|
| Document attestation abroad | 1–4 weeks, depending on country |
| Commercial registration | About 1 working day once complete |
| Land usufruct application | Up to 12 days, plus up to 3 months to review the agreement |
| Building and environmental permits | Days to several weeks, by project category |
| Industrial licence | About 5 working days once the facility is complete |
| Bank account | Usually 1–4 weeks |
| Visas | Usually 1–3 weeks per batch |

These are SEZAD's stated service times plus typical external steps; complex or heavy-industry projects take longer.

## Common mistakes

1. **Unattested or outdated foreign documents.** Start attestation first; it is the slowest step.
2. **Choosing the wrong activity code**, which leads to the wrong licence category or extra approvals.
3. **Applying for land with a thin project description.** Give numbers: investment, area, utilities and jobs.
4. **Missing the employer NOC** if you already live in Oman.
5. **Planning visas before the licence is active.**

Oman Register can prepare and check your file, handle the one-stop-shop submissions with a power of attorney and coordinate bank and visa steps. For background on the zone itself, see the [Duqm Special Economic Zone page](https://omanregister.com/free-zones/duqm-special-economic-zone/).

## FAQ

**How long does company registration in Duqm take?**

SEZAD states one working day to issue a new company's commercial registration once documents are complete, and five working days for an industrial licence. Projects that need land take longer because of evaluation, the up-to-12-day usufruct application process and building and environmental permits.

**Can I register a Duqm company without visiting Oman?**

Most of the application can be submitted online or through an authorised representative with a power of attorney. Signing the usufruct agreement, opening a bank account and visa medicals usually require someone to be present.

**Do my documents need to be translated into Arabic?**

SEZAD works in English and Arabic, so English documents are generally accepted, but documents in other languages need a certified translation. Confirm with the one-stop shop whether a specific document needs Arabic.

**Do foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation?**

Yes. Oman is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents from other member countries normally need an apostille; documents from non-member countries need legalisation by the foreign ministry and the Omani embassy, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Muscat.

**How long do I have to accept the land usufruct agreement?**

According to SEZAD, after a plot is allocated the investor has three months to inspect the site and review the agreement before confirming acceptance and signing.

**What extra documents does a resident of Oman need?**

If you already hold an Omani residence visa through an employer, SEZAD asks for a no-objection letter from that employer.

## Sources

- [SEZAD — Request to establish a new company](https://duqm.gov.om/en/invest/services/request-to-establish-a-new-company)
- [SEZAD — Apply for land usufruct](https://duqm.gov.om/en/apply-for-land-usufruct)
- [SEZAD — Request for industrial activity licence](https://duqm.gov.om/en/invest/services/request-for-industrial-activity-license)
- [SEZAD — Investor FAQ](https://duqm.gov.om/en/invest/faq)
- [SEZAD — Reduced processing times for investor applications](https://duqm.gov.om/en/sezad/media/news/2020/sezad-reduces-processing-period-of-investors-applications)
- [HCCH — Oman joins the Apostille Convention](https://www.hcch.net/de/news-archive/?tag=Oman)
- [Zawya — OPAZ issues Executive Regulations (Regulation 81/2026)](https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/oman-opaz-issues-executive-regulations-for-special-economic-and-free-zones-law-1020763)