The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman, in the largest reform initiative in the history of the country’s commercial registry, has removed more than 42,000 inactive and expired commercial records from official databases in four consecutive phases. This measure was implemented to accurately recalibrate economic data, enhance market transparency, strengthen the credibility of statistical indicators, and reinforce economic governance.
This process was carried out in accordance with the Commercial Registry Law and its executive regulations, and in full coordination with the relevant ministries and regulatory bodies. Prior to deletion, all records were thoroughly reviewed in terms of tax liabilities, Ministry of Labour obligations, and security status with the Royal Oman Police. The list of records was published for public notice for 30 days in compliance with legal procedures.
Nusra bint Sultan Al-Habsiya, Director General of Commerce at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, announced the details of the operation as follows:
- Phase One: Removal of 3,410 records dating from 1970 to 1999
- Phase Two: Removal of approximately 35,000 records from the period 2000 to 2020
- Phase Three: Removal of 1,116 records
- Phase Four: Removal of 2,638 records between March and November 2025
According to the official, the long-term accumulation of inactive records over past decades had created an inaccurate picture of the true size of the private sector, the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, and the labor market situation. The implementation of Article 14 of the executive regulation played a central role in restoring legal discipline to economic activities and formally eliminating suspended, violating, or non-operational records.
The impact of this cleanup on the government’s digital infrastructure has also been significant. By removing outdated and duplicate data from the Commercial Registry system and the “Oman Business” platform, the efficiency of electronic systems has improved, data exchange processes among government entities have been facilitated, and the administrative and processing burden on regulatory networks has been noticeably reduced.
From an economic and security perspective, this action has played an important role in reducing the risk of misuse of inactive records for illegal or fictitious activities and has enabled regulatory authorities to focus on active market entities. Field supervision and inspection structures have also been aligned with the current reality of the market.
From a legal and business standpoint, the removal of expired records has enabled their owners to close unjustified obligations, prevent the accumulation of administrative and financial penalties, and register new business activities without legal obstacles. The simultaneous updating of employer lists at the Ministry of Labour has also enhanced the accuracy of employment data, Omanisation indicators, and labor market statistics.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion has described this action as part of a deep and ongoing structural reform in the country’s economic governance system and emphasized that the review and purification of commercial records will continue on a periodic, systematic, and permanent basis. The ultimate goal is to establish a transparent, reliable, sustainable business environment based on real data in the Sultanate of Oman.
Publication Date: 7 December 2025
Sources:
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman
Al-Masar Online Newspaper – almasar.om
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