( Guide · Ecommerce · Oman )
E-commerce licence in Oman: who needs one, how to apply, and Maroof Oman
By OGB Labs · Published · Updated
Who needs an e-commerce licence in Oman
Anyone who sells, displays, markets or promotes goods or services to consumers online. Article 2 of the E-commerce Regulation, Ministerial Decision 499/2023 states that e-commerce may not be practised without a licence. The decision was issued on 10 September 2023 and took effect 90 days after publication in the Official Gazette.
The regulation defines e-commerce as activity carried out through an online store or any electronic means, so it is not limited to websites. The Ministry has said that owners of business accounts on social media such as Instagram and Snapchat should apply, as reported by Oman Observer. WhatsApp is not named in the text. The definition is broad, so if you sell only through WhatsApp, confirm your case with the Ministry.
Individuals must be Omani and at least 18. Companies must be on the commercial register. Non-Omanis can practise e-commerce under the Foreign Capital Investment Law, according to the Oman News Agency report on the regulation. Some activities also need approval from their own regulator.
This guide is general information as of October 2026, not legal or tax advice, and rules change. Confirm your own case with the Ministry or the Tax Authority.
The regulation at a glance
| Criteria | What the regulation says | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | E-commerce may not be practised without a licence | 2 |
| Authority | Commercial Affairs and E-commerce Department, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion | 1, 3, 4 |
| Individuals | Omani nationals aged 18 or over | 3 |
| Companies | Must be on the commercial register | 3 |
| Licence term | One, two or three years, chosen by the applicant; renew before it expires | 4, 6 |
| Payments | Link to a bank or payment service provider licensed in Oman | 10 |
| Verification | A verified store must show its certificate clearly and report data changes within 15 days | 16 |
| Penalties | Warning, fine up to OMR 500 (doubled if repeated within three years), store blocked, licence cancelled | 18 |
How to apply on the Oman Business Platform
The application is online. The Gov.om service page for commercial companies lists a licence fee of OMR 6.5 for local investment and OMR 12.5 for foreign investment (checked October 2026). It does not say how the fee changes with a two-year or three-year term, so confirm the total on the platform when you pay.
These are the steps published on Maroof Oman's registration page.
If you have no commercial registration, open one first on the Oman Business Platform. Maroof Oman notes that an individual needs a freelance commercial registration if they hold no other.
Log in, choose to manage your business, update the commercial registration data and add e-commerce as an activity.
Go to Licences, pick the commercial registration and click to submit a licence application.
Answer yes to licensing the activity as e-commerce, then select the activity to be licensed.
Under the places of activity, add the address or link of your online store.
Submit the application, fill in the form and pay the fee. The licence is then issued automatically.
Maroof Oman: how store verification works
Maroof Oman is the platform, run under the Ministry's supervision, that verifies licensed online stores. It is free for sellers and buyers. Buyers can look up a store, see its details and rate it. Up to February 2026 the platform had verified 340 stores and received 670 applications, according to the Ministry. You need the e-commerce licence first.
Register a merchant account on Maroof Oman with your civil number.
Open My Businesses and add a new business.
Fill in the store details and link the store to your commercial registration.
Add the links to the store's social media accounts.
Save. The request goes to the platform administrator, who approves or rejects it.
Once the details are checked you receive a verification certificate for the store. Show it clearly in your store.
What an online store must display
Article 9 of the regulation requires the licensee to disclose the following through a link:
- Correct details of each product or service.
- How customers' personal data is protected.
- How complaints are received and handled.
- The tax number, if you have one.
- The licence number and the trademark.
- Contact channels and customer service details.
- The exchange and return policy.
- The terms and conditions of using the store.
- The regulation also asks for a clear way to correct an order before it ships, a way to stop electronic notifications, and prompt notice to the authorities if the store is breached (Articles 11 to 13).
- The exchange and return policy must also respect the Consumer Protection Law: at least 15 days for defective or non-conforming goods, and no "no returns" wording. See Oman's Consumer Protection Law for online stores.
VAT on online sales
VAT in Oman is 5%. The Oman Tax Authority says registration is mandatory when annual revenue from taxable supplies reaches, or is expected to reach, OMR 38,500, and optional from OMR 19,250. Both thresholds are set in the Chairman's decision on registration thresholds. Once registered, show your tax number in the store and set prices and invoices up for VAT from the start. VAT-registered sellers must also issue e-invoices from 1 October 2027 at the latest: see our guide to e-invoicing in Oman (Fawtara).
How OGB Labs helps
The licence is one step in opening a store: commercial registration, e-commerce licence, business bank account, payment gateway, store, then Maroof verification. Our guide on how to start an online store in Oman covers the full order, and payment gateways in Oman compares the providers.
OGB Labs does not issue licences or give legal advice. We build the store: Omani card payments, cash on delivery, OMR pricing, 5% VAT and a full Arabic storefront, at a fixed price agreed before we start. Shopify stores start from OMR 100 and go live in one to two weeks. See ecommerce development in Oman or our Shopify stores in Oman.
( FAQ )
Questions people ask.
Do I need a licence to sell online in Oman?
Yes. Under Ministerial Decision 499/2023, e-commerce may not be practised in Oman without a licence from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. You apply on the Oman Business Platform.
Do I need a licence to sell on Instagram or WhatsApp in Oman?
The regulation covers selling through any electronic means, and the Ministry has asked owners of business accounts on social media such as Instagram and Snapchat to apply. WhatsApp is not named in the text, so confirm your case with the Ministry.
How much does an e-commerce licence cost in Oman?
The Gov.om service page lists OMR 6.5 for local investment and OMR 12.5 for foreign investment (checked October 2026). Confirm the total for your chosen term on the Oman Business Platform.
What is Maroof Oman?
Maroof Oman (maroof.om) is a free platform, run under the Ministry's supervision, that verifies licensed online stores. Sellers link the store to their commercial registration and receive a verification certificate. Buyers can check a store and rate it.
Can a non-Omani get an e-commerce licence in Oman?
An individual applicant must be Omani and at least 18. Non-Omanis can practise e-commerce under the Foreign Capital Investment Law, as the Oman News Agency reported when the regulation was issued. Confirm the route with the Ministry.
What is the penalty for selling online without a licence in Oman?
Article 18 of the regulation allows a warning, an administrative fine of up to OMR 500 that doubles if the violation is repeated within three years, blocking of the store and cancellation of the licence.
When do I have to register for VAT in Oman?
When your annual taxable supplies reach, or are expected to reach, OMR 38,500. You may register voluntarily from OMR 19,250. The rate is 5%.
( Related )
Service · 04
Ecommerce
Stores built to sell: storefronts that feel like your brand, a checkout people finish and inventory that stays in sync.
Muscat · Oman
Multivendor marketplace development in Oman
Guide · Ecommerce · Oman
How to build a multivendor marketplace in Oman
Guide · Ecommerce · Oman
Oman VAT registration for online sellers
Guide · Ecommerce · Oman
Oman consumer protection rules for online stores
( Next step )
Want this done for you?
Tell us what you are building. We reply within one business day.