E-commerce License in Oman: How to Start an Online Store

An online store in Oman requires more than a Commercial Registration. A company that sells goods or services through a website, app or social channel must align its registered activity with the business model and obtain the relevant e-commerce licence, plus any sector-specific approvals required for the underlying product or service.

The core regulatory framework is Ministerial Decision 499/2023. The official e-commerce regulation states that e-commerce activity cannot be practised without the required licence.

At a glance

• Commercial companies need a valid Commercial Registration before the e-commerce licensing layer.
• The freelancer route is separate and, under the regulation, is limited to Omani nationals aged at least 18.
• An e-commerce licence may be issued for one, two or three years.
• The store must disclose licence details, contact information, complaint procedures, privacy information, terms and return or exchange policies.
• Payments must be connected to a bank or payment service provider licensed in Oman.
• Foreign ownership depends on the underlying economic activity, not simply on the fact that the business operates online.

What does an e-commerce licence cover in Oman?

The e-commerce licence authorises the online layer of the business. It does not replace the Commercial Registration or any approval required for a regulated product, profession or activity.

Gov.om provides a specific e-commerce service for companies. This separation matters because a business may be properly incorporated yet still need an additional licence before it can legally conduct sales through electronic channels.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion has also confirmed that the framework extends beyond conventional websites. Its e-commerce regulatory update discusses online selling through both websites and social-media channels.

Who can apply?

Foreign founders will normally use the commercial-company route. The individual or freelancer route is distinct, and the regulation requires an individual applicant to be an Omani national aged 18 or over.

Foreign-owned companies

Foreign ownership must be checked against the actual economic activity being registered. Ministerial Decision 435/2024 amended the foreign investment restriction list, so an online retail activity should not be assumed to allow the same ownership structure as every other e-commerce model.

This becomes especially important for marketplaces, platform intermediaries and regulated retail categories. The activity selected in the Commercial Registration should describe how the company actually earns revenue and what it sells or facilitates.

Companies subject to foreign investment licensing

A company subject to the Foreign Capital Investment Law may also need an investment licence after the Commercial Registration. The official investment licence service lists documents including a passport copy, feasibility study, evidence of experience, a bank statement covering at least three months and a lease contract.

The investment licence is shown as valid for two years. Gov.om currently displays an issuance fee of OMR 0.900 for that service; this is not the fee for an e-commerce licence.

Step-by-step: starting an online store in Oman

The legal sequence should follow the business model, not the website build. Define what the company sells and how it earns revenue before choosing the activity and applying for licences.

1. Define the business model. Decide whether the company sells its own inventory, operates a marketplace, provides digital services or promotes third-party businesses.
2. Select the underlying economic activity. The activity must match the real commercial model and should be checked for any foreign-ownership restrictions.
3. Obtain the Commercial Registration. A commercial company must be registered before applying through the corporate e-commerce route.
4. Secure sector approvals. If the product or service is regulated, obtain the approval required by the competent authority.
5. Apply for the e-commerce licence. The electronic medium used for the licensed activity forms part of the licensing framework.
6. Arrange banking and payment processing. The store must use a bank or payment provider licensed in Oman.
7. Prepare the store's legal and consumer information. Policies, licence details, complaint channels and contact information must be accessible.
8. Complete tax registration. Income-tax registration and VAT requirements apply according to the relevant thresholds and rules.

Documents and operating requirements

The public e-commerce service pages do not currently provide a complete upload checklist. What is established by the regulation is that a commercial company must have a Commercial Registration and must obtain any additional approval required for the underlying economic activity.

• Valid Commercial Registration for the company route.
• Any sector-specific approval required for the goods or services.
• Business address corresponding to the Commercial Registration.
• Identification of the website or electronic channel used for the activity.
• Accurate product or service information.
• Licence number and tax number where applicable.
• Terms and conditions.
• Exchange and refund policy.
• Consumer complaint process.
• Customer-service and contact information.
• Personal-data protection information.
• A way for customers to correct order errors before dispatch or delivery.
• A way for customers to stop electronic marketing notifications.

Data compliance is part of operating an online business, not a separate afterthought. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology's data-protection guidance covers consent, privacy policies, processing records, marketing communications and breach obligations.

The Personal Data Protection Law was amended by Royal Decree 68/2026. A store launching in 2026 should therefore avoid relying on privacy templates written only for the original 2022 framework.

Payment gateway and bank account requirements

The e-commerce rules require the merchant to connect payment tools through a bank or payment service provider licensed in Oman. Payment setup should therefore be planned alongside the company's banking structure.

For the specific OmanNet payment gateway, Gov.om states that the merchant needs an account with a licensed local bank. The page lists a private-sector service charge of 1.5% of the transaction value, capped at OMR 10; that figure is a payment-processing charge, not an e-commerce licence fee.

Electronic contracts and orders also sit within Oman's updated legal framework. The Electronic Transactions Law issued under Royal Decree 39/2025 addresses electronic contracting, intermediary liability and trust services.

Tax and VAT for e-commerce businesses

An online business is subject to the same tax registration framework as other businesses in Oman. Income-tax registration must be completed within 60 days from the start of activity or registration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

According to the Tax Authority registration rules, mandatory VAT registration applies when annual taxable supplies reach or are expected to reach OMR 38,500. Voluntary registration is available from OMR 19,250 where the stated conditions are met.

The standard VAT rate for taxable supplies is generally 5%. The Tax Authority also publishes a dedicated e-commerce VAT guide that addresses issues including non-resident suppliers and place-of-supply rules.

Costs and timelines

The public sources confirm licence duration but do not currently provide a verified public fee for the e-commerce licence itself. Private websites may quote figures, but these should not be treated as government fees unless confirmed through the official platform or ministry.

Selling through Instagram and social media

Selling products or services through social channels can fall within the e-commerce framework. The key distinction is whether you are selling your own goods or services, or providing marketing and promotion services to other businesses.

Oman provides a separate social-media marketing licence for commercial companies conducting marketing and promotion through social-media platforms and websites. A marketing agency should therefore not assume that a retail e-commerce licence covers its service model.

Dropshipping and marketplaces

No separate official licence category called “dropshipping” was identified in the current official sources reviewed for this article. The model should instead be assessed through the e-commerce licence, the underlying activity, the goods being sold and any relevant import or sector approvals.

Marketplaces need similar care. A platform that earns commissions from third-party sellers may have a different activity profile from a store selling its own inventory, so the Commercial Registration should match the actual role of the company.

Ma'roof Oman verification

Ma'roof Oman is a verification and trust platform for licensed businesses; it does not replace the e-commerce licence. The Ministry's Ma'roof Oman information describes it as a free service that allows consumers to verify whether a seller is officially licensed.

The current official material reviewed here does not state that separate Ma'roof verification is universally mandatory for every e-commerce operator. It should therefore be treated as a verification layer rather than a substitute for company registration or licensing.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most serious setup errors usually start with the wrong business activity. An online label does not remove restrictions attached to the underlying product, service or ownership structure.

• Assuming a Commercial Registration alone authorises online selling.
• Choosing a generic activity that does not match the actual revenue model.
• Ignoring approvals required for regulated products or services.
• Using an e-commerce retail licence for third-party marketing services.
• Publishing unverified licence fees taken from private websites.
• Building the payment stack before confirming bank and licence compatibility.
• Using outdated privacy policies that do not reflect the 2026 amendments.
• Assuming every online activity permits identical foreign ownership.

Frequently asked questions

Next step

Before filing, define the commercial model, underlying activity, ownership structure and payment flow. Those four points determine most of the licensing and compliance path.

If you want Connsect to review the company structure and e-commerce licensing path for your proposed business, submit the activity, product category and ownership details through the Connsect request form.