Oman Jobs Boost: 28 Factory Deals Worth RO304m in Sohar, Duqm, Salalah
Oman jobs: OPAZ has signed 28 deals worth RO304m for new steel, car assembly, transformer and food plants in Sohar, Duqm and Salalah.
OmanIn brief
- OPAZ signed 28 investment agreements worth more than RO304 million (about $790 million).
- The biggest is an Atlas Steel iron and steel plant in Sohar worth over RO112 million.
- Other projects include a RO38m car assembly complex, a RO40m shrimp-feed plant in Duqm and a RO19.25m steel structures plant in Salalah.
- The authority says the projects are meant to create jobs, though no total job figure was given.
| Country | Oman |
|---|---|
| Organization | Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) |
| Official source | Arab News – Oman signs $790m in investment deals across industrial zones ✓ arabnews.com |
There is encouraging news for anyone hunting Oman jobs in industry. Oman's Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) has signed 28 investment agreements worth more than RO304 million (about $790 million) for new plants across the country's industrial cities, free zones and special economic zones. The deals were reported on 28–29 October and are aimed at expanding manufacturing and creating jobs.
The biggest projects
| Project | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas Steel – iron and steel products plant | Sohar | Over RO112m |
| Al Jazir – shrimp-feed plant | Duqm | RO40m |
| Sohar Automotive & Advanced Industries – car assembly complex | Sohar | RO38m |
| Ceramics plant | Sohar | RO20m |
| Al Nawras – steel structures plant | Salalah | RO19.25m |
| Voltamp – transformer plant | Sohar Free Zone | RO15m |
| Gypsum plant | – | RO7.7m |
| Marai Dhofar – dairy plant | – | RO6m |
Other agreements cover electric vehicle chargers and precast concrete production at Khazaen Economic City.
Why it matters for jobs
OPAZ has not given a total job count, but new factories need staff at every stage: first for construction, then for operations. Typical roles at plants like these include:
- Production operators and machine technicians
- Electrical and mechanical maintenance staff
- Welders, fabricators and steel fitters
- Quality control and lab technicians
- Engineers (process, electrical, civil)
- Logistics, warehouse and HSE staff
- Admin, HR and finance roles
Under Omanisation rules, many of these positions will be set aside for Omani nationals, especially at entry and technician level. Skilled expats may still find openings in specialist engineering roles.
OPAZ chairman Qais Al-Yousef said the authority is focused on clear rules and efficient services to attract investors. The projects support Oman's 11th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), which targets growth outside oil.
How to apply
These are company projects, so hiring will be done by each investor once their plant moves ahead. No vacancies have been announced yet. Omani job seekers should keep their profile updated with the Ministry of Labour, and watch the official careers pages of companies such as Voltamp and the steel firms named above.
What it means for job seekers
- Sohar is the hotspot – five of the largest projects are there or in Sohar Free Zone.
- Technical diplomas pay off – welding, electrical and mechanical skills will be in demand.
- Duqm and Salalah are worth watching for food processing and steel jobs.
- Be patient – factory hiring usually starts months after a deal is signed.
Oman is also planning thousands of tech roles – read about the digital economy programme's 3,000 jobs a year.
More Oman news: all Oman job news
Frequently asked questions
How much are Oman's new OPAZ investment deals worth?
The 28 agreements are worth more than RO304 million, around $790 million.
Where will the new factories be built in Oman?
Mainly in Sohar, Sohar Free Zone, Duqm, Salalah and Khazaen Economic City, among other zones.
How many jobs will the OPAZ deals create?
OPAZ said the projects aim to create jobs but did not publish a total number.
Apply only through the official source.
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