Countries · OM
Oman: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 26 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Oman.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Oman in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Oman may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
26 entries on the official lists name Oman — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 22 | 22 | — | — |
| EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF) | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Latest changes
Related
Logistics profile
Oman: logistics and trade
Transit country / transshipment hub (Salalah, Duqm) on the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea
Oman (OM) sits at the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and acts as a transit country and transshipment hub on the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea — the ports of Salalah and Duqm lie outside the Strait of Hormuz. As a member of the GCC Customs Union, a common external tariff of mostly 5 percent applies to the CIF value; customs clearance runs electronically through the Bayan single window of ROP Customs, and import VAT is 5 percent. The key gateways are the ports of Salalah (a global transshipment hub), Sohar and Duqm (SEZAD) plus the airports of Muscat (MCT) and Salalah (SLL). By road, the Batinah corridor Muscat–Sohar–UAE and Route 31 to Salalah connect the country to the GCC network; a rail network is still at the planning stage. Main exports are crude oil, gas and petrochemicals; imports centre on machinery, vehicles and food, with China, India and the UAE as leading trade partners. Under the GCC-EFTA agreement, Swiss-origin goods qualify for preferential treatment.
- Capital
- Muscat
- Population
- 5,359,557
- Area
- 309,500 km²
- Currency
- Omani Rial (OMR)
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Middle East / GCC
- Economic area
- GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)
- Religions
- Islam
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Road
- Current situation
- Hormuz crisis: Salalah, Sohar and Duqm, as major ports outside Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, are central rerouting hubs. Congestion is now severe: container dwell time in Sohar has risen from under 10 to over 30 days, and in Salalah it has roughly tripled (the bottleneck is on land, not at sea). Salalah is considered, alongside Jeddah, the best-accessible Middle East port for Cape rerouting. Since 6.7.2026, several ship attacks along the Omani coast. (Status 2026-07-28)
- Seasonal conditions
- Extreme summer heat; Khareef monsoon in Dhofar/Salalah from June to September; occasional tropical cyclones from the Arabian Sea (e.g. Shaheen 2021).
Main seaports
- Port Of Sohar
Sohar (OM SOH), Oman: deep-sea industrial port outside the Strait of Hormuz, with 2.4M TEU container capacity, bulk, petrochemicals and metals.
- Duqm
Duqm (OM DQM): Oman's large deep-water port on the Arabian Sea with a special economic zone, dry docks and OQ8 refinery. Containers, bulk; fast-growing volumes.
- Mina Raysut
Salalah (OM SLL): 2.33M TEU in H1 2026 (+15%), 4.3M TEU in 2025. Arabian Sea outside Hormuz, 6M TEU capacity, Gemini Cooperation, APM Terminals.
- Khawr Khasab
Khasab (OM KHS): port on Oman's Musandam tip for cruise, ferries and dhow trade with Iran. Containers via Sohar, Khor Fakkan or Jebel Ali.
- Mina Al Fahl
Mina Al Fahl (OM MFH): Oman's main crude-export terminal off Muscat, run by PDO via single buoy moorings. Containers route via Sohar or Salalah.
- Qalhat Lng Terminal
Qalhat (OM QAL) near Sur is Oman LNG's export terminal for LNG and condensate, with no container traffic. General cargo routes via Sohar or Salalah.
Main cargo airports
- Muscat International AirportMCT
Muscat International (MCT/OOMS): about 200,000 tonnes of air cargo a year, Transom Cargo terminal, Oman Air Cargo network growth in 2026, pharma and seafood cool chain.
- Salalah AirportSLL
Salalah (SLL): automated 100,000 t/yr cargo centre with a Maersk sea-air corridor, beside the Salalah port and ASYAD free zone. Real cargo capability in Dhofar.
Road corridors
- Batinah Corridor Muscat-Sohar-UAE
- Muscat-Salalah (Route 31)
- GCC road network to Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Rail corridors
- Oman Rail / GCC rail network in planning (not yet operational)
Main trade lanes
- Oman-China
- Oman-India
- Oman-UAE
- Oman-Japan/Korea
- Salalah transshipment Asia-Europe
Customs and import
Customs authority Royal Oman Police - Directorate General of Customs (ROP Customs)Official website ↗
- Import customs system
- Electronic customs clearance via the Bayan Single Window of the ROP Customs authority. GCC customs union with a common external tariff, usually 5 percent of the CIF value.
- Export customs system
- Export declarations are also filed via Bayan. Exports are generally exempt from VAT (zero rate). The free zones of Sohar, Salalah, Duqm and Al Mazunah are exempt from customs duties and taxes.
- Import VAT
- 5 percent VAT (standard rate since 16 April 2021, Oman Tax Authority). Some goods zero-rated or exempt. Assessed on CIF value plus customs duty.
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- GCC customs union (duty-free within the GCC). GCC-EFTA Free Trade Agreement in force: Swiss goods of origin are eligible for preferential treatment with a proof of origin. Additionally, the US-Oman FTA and the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA).
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Prohibited: weapons, explosives, drugs, alcohol and tobacco (only with a license or through diplomatic channels), pornography, goods of Israeli origin. Subject to license: medicines, plants/animals, radio equipment and drones.
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Certificate of origin
- Bill of lading / air waybill
- Import license (for goods subject to licensing)
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bayan export declaration
- Bill of lading / air waybill
- Preference certificate (EUR.1 / origin declaration)
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- Medium
- Customs delays
- Low to medium
- Port congestion
- High
- Dangerous goods relevance
- High
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- Medium
- E-commerce relevance
- Medium to high
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Foodstuffs
- Electronics
- Chemicals
Top export goods
- Crude oil
- Natural gas
- Petrochemicals
- Metals
- Fish
Typical cargo
- Crude oil and natural gas
- Petrochemicals
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Foodstuffs
- Container transshipment
Upcoming public holidays
- National Day (Day 1)Fri, 20 Nov 2026 · businesses closed
- National Day (Day 2)Sat, 21 Nov 2026 · businesses closed
- Sultan's Accession DayMon, 11 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
- National Day (Day 1)Sat, 20 Nov 2027 · businesses closed
- National Day (Day 2)Sun, 21 Nov 2027 · businesses closed
Latest logistics news
- Hormuz: Low Vessel Traffic and Significant Intelligence Gaps22 Oct 2026
UKMTO reports 254 Hormuz transits in seven days. The figures are partially unverified, and many attacked vessels do not report incidents directly.
- Hormuz: Report Describes New Attack Tactics Against Vessels21 Oct 2026
Reuters reports on altered Iranian attack tactics in the Hormuz region. For affected shipments, security situation and travel confirmation remain critical factors.
- Tanker Rates Decline but Remain at Elevated Levels21 Oct 2026
According to Reuters, the tanker rate from the Gulf of Oman to China has declined. A planned USA-Japan route simultaneously demonstrates how expensive oil transportation can remain.
- Cargo Vessel 'Cape Dao' Catches Fire Following Attack in Strait of Hormuz29 Sept 2026
An attack on the 'Cape Dao' highlights the high risk in the Strait of Hormuz. Shippers and freight forwarders face the threat of service disruptions, increased costs, and delays.
- Hormuz: Only Four Cargo Ships Registered in a Single Day23 Sept 2026
Only four cargo ships were registered in the Strait of Hormuz on that day. Due to disabled AIS, significantly more vessels may have actually transited.
Logistics questions
What is the import VAT in Oman?
The standard VAT rate is 5 percent and has applied since 16 April 2021. Import VAT is charged on the CIF value plus duty; some goods are zero-rated or exempt.
How high are import duties?
Under the GCC Customs Union a common external tariff of mostly 5 percent applies to the CIF value. Goods from other GCC states are duty-free; some items carry higher rates.
Which system is used for customs declarations?
All customs declarations are filed electronically through the Bayan single-window system of the Royal Oman Police - Directorate General of Customs.
Is there a free trade agreement with Switzerland or EFTA?
Yes. Under the GCC-EFTA free trade agreement, Swiss-origin goods qualify for preferential treatment with a valid proof of origin.
Which seaports and airports matter for cargo?
Key ports are Salalah (a global transshipment hub), Sohar and Duqm; Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat now serves tourism. Air cargo runs through Muscat (MCT) and Salalah (SLL).
Which goods are prohibited or restricted?
Prohibited items include weapons, drugs, pornography and goods of Israeli origin; alcohol and tobacco only under licence. Medicines, plants, animals, radio devices and drones are licence-restricted.
What advantages do the free zones offer?
The free zones of Sohar, Salalah, Duqm (SEZAD) and Al Mazunah are exempt from duty and tax while goods remain in the zone, making them suited for transshipment and processing.
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 28 Jul 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.