Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has issued Royal Decree No. (50/2026) establishing an Artificial Intelligence Special Zone in Muscat, marking a strategic step to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and innovation agenda.
According to the decree, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones will oversee the appointment of an entity responsible for managing, operating, and developing the new zone, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
The initiative aims to attract advanced technology investments by offering projects within the zone a range of incentives, privileges, and exemptions, as outlined in Royal Decree No. (38/2025) governing Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.
The decree will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force the day after its publication, setting the stage for the development of a dedicated ecosystem to support artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in Oman.
