Most international buyers focus on Muscat, but Oman’s freehold map extends further. This guide looks at options in Salalah, South Batinah, Duqm and Sohar — and explains why ownership terms differ outside Integrated Tourism Complexes.

Salalah and Dhofar

Hawana Salalah (formerly Salalah Beach) is an established ITC with beachfront apartments and villas. Demand is shaped by the khareef season from roughly late June to early September. Read our Salalah property buyers guide.

South Batinah: Barka and Mussanah

Al Nakheel ITC in Barka has a first phase underway with apartments, townhouses, a hotel and a lagoon. Millennium Resort Mussanah operates as a hotel within an OMRAN development; confirm whether residential units are offered freehold.

Duqm

Duqm’s Special Economic Zone has attracted residential projects aimed at workers and investors. Ownership status varies by project and zone regulations — verify before buying.

Sohar and North Batinah

As of September 2026 we found no licensed ITC in North Batinah. Residential projects promoted in Sohar, such as Ministry of Housing neighbourhood schemes, have different ownership rules from ITCs. If you are a non-Omani buyer, confirm in writing whether you can hold freehold title, usufruct rights or neither.

How to evaluate projects outside Muscat

Confirm the legal status: ITC, government freehold scheme or ordinary land.
Check local rental demand and seasonality.
Consider property management at a distance.
Plan for a longer resale period.

Start with the complete ITC list and residency rules, or compare with Muscat projects.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners buy property in Sohar?

We found no licensed ITC in North Batinah; ownership depends on each scheme’s rules. Verify before paying.

Is Salalah freehold for foreigners?

Yes, within licensed ITCs such as Hawana Salalah, for eligible units.

Information checked 16 September 2026. General information only.

Cover photo: Brian Harrington Spier from Shanghai, China (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons