Oman has opened three new mining concession areas covering 2,062 square kilometres, stepping up efforts to attract international investment in critical minerals and build a larger mining industry as the Gulf state seeks to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas.
The Ministry of Energy and Minerals announced the concessions on Tuesday at the International Mining and Resources Conference and Exhibition in Sydney, Australia. The areas offer opportunities to explore deposits of nickel, manganese, copper, chromite and gold, alongside industrial minerals including marble and basalt.
The concessions comprise Area 25-C, covering 627 square kilometres; Area 25-F, spanning 830 square kilometres; and Area 22-C, covering 605 square kilometres.
Preliminary geological data indicates potential manganese, nickel and laterite deposits in the first two areas, while the third has geological indicators of copper, chromite and gold.
The government is inviting qualified Omani and international companies to undertake geological surveys, exploration programmes and mineral resource assessments.
Commercial mining will depend on the results of exploration, technical and economic studies, and the necessary approvals.
The announcement forms part of Muscat’s broader drive to attract foreign capital, technology and expertise to its mining industry.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Mohsin bin Hamad al Hadhrami said the country wanted to move beyond extracting raw materials towards developing an integrated industry encompassing processing, manufacturing and other higher-value activities.
The strategy is aligned with “Oman Vision 2040,” the country’s long-term economic diversification programme.
Mining and mineral-based manufacturing are expected to play a larger role in generating non-oil revenue, creating jobs and expanding industrial activity.
The push also comes as governments and manufacturers worldwide seek more secure supplies of minerals used in electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy infrastructure and industrial production. Nickel and manganese are important battery materials, while copper is essential for electrical networks, power systems and electrification.
However, the newly offered areas remain exploration opportunities rather than established commercial mines.
Their contribution to global mineral supply will depend on whether companies identify economically recoverable deposits and can develop them at competitive costs.
Oman is seeking to improve those prospects through regulatory reforms, digital services and a more structured system for allocating mineral rights. Amendments to its Mineral Resources Law, enacted under Royal Decree 69/2026, are intended to strengthen transparency, clarify licensing requirements and accelerate the transition from exploration to production.
The reforms also place greater emphasis on investors’ technical capabilities and financial resources, with requirements designed to ensure that concession holders can fulfil their commitments. Competitive allocation procedures are intended to improve the quality of investment and encourage more efficient use of mineral resources.
Applications for the new concessions will be handled through the ministry’s Taqah digital platform. The government is also seeking partnerships with Australian and other international companies in exploration, mining technology and mineral processing.
Oman’s geological potential provides a foundation for the expansion. The country contains the Semail Ophiolite, an extensive geological formation that exposes ancient oceanic crust and upper mantle rocks. Its mineral resources include copper, chromite, gold, nickel, manganese, gypsum, limestone and silica.
The government has already awarded 28 mining concessions over the past five years, according to the ministry. Mineral-sector revenues increased by 39% in 2025 compared with 2024, reflecting expanding activity, copper projects entering production and other concessions progressing towards development.
Oman also exported well over 14 million tonnes of gypsum in 2025, making it the world’s leading exporter of the mineral, according to the ministry.
The next challenge is converting exploration activity into commercially viable operations. Mining projects require substantial upfront capital, reliable infrastructure, skilled workers and access to international customers. Commodity price fluctuations and environmental requirements can also affect project economics and investment decisions.
For Oman, the objective is not simply to extract more minerals but to retain a greater share of their economic value domestically through processing, manufacturing and supporting services. Greater participation by local companies and small and medium-sized enterprises is another stated priority.
The three concessions therefore represent an early stage in a longer industrial strategy. Their success will depend on the quality of discoveries, the capital attracted and the government’s ability to provide a predictable regulatory environment.
If those conditions are met, mining could become a more significant contributor to Oman’s economic diversification and its role in regional and global mineral supply chains.