( Guide · Ecommerce · Oman )
How to start an online store in Oman: licence, registration, payments, delivery and VAT
By OGB Labs · Published · Updated
Step by step
Register the business. Companies get a commercial registration (CR) through the Oman Business Platform. Payment gateways ask for it: Thawani, for example, lists the commercial register among the documents a merchant must provide.
Get the e-commerce licence. Add the e-commerce activity and apply online; the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion offers the service for commercial companies and for freelancers. The next section explains what the licence involves.
Open a business bank account. Gateways settle to an Omani bank account in the company's name.
Choose a platform. Shopify for most retail brands, a headless storefront when the experience is the product, a custom platform for B2B or marketplace models. Our comparison of Shopify, headless and custom stores goes through the trade-offs.
Apply for a payment gateway. Choose one that accepts Omani debit cards as well as Visa and Mastercard, such as Thawani, Amwal Pay or your bank's gateway. Expect to provide your CR, an ID and bank details, and have the store's policies published before you apply. Our guide to payment gateways in Oman compares the options.
Set up cash on delivery. Decide delivery fees, confirmation steps and what happens when a customer refuses the order.
Sign up with couriers. Asyad Express, Aramex and local last-mile companies cover different areas and speeds; many stores use two.
Prepare products in English and Arabic. Names, descriptions, sizes and photos, with prices in OMR to three decimals.
Publish policies. Delivery, returns, refunds, privacy and terms, in both languages. The e-commerce regulation requires several of them, and gateways check for them. The privacy notice and consent must also meet Oman's Personal Data Protection Law, and the returns policy must give at least the 15 days the Consumer Protection Law requires for defective goods.
Test real orders through every payment and delivery path before launch.
Register for VAT when required, and keep invoices and reports ready for filing.
The e-commerce licence and Maroof Oman
Selling online in Oman needs a licence. The e-commerce regulation issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion under Ministerial Decision 499/2023 says that e-commerce may not be practised before the licence is obtained (Arabic text of the regulation). The Ministry states that the regulation is the legal basis for online businesses and that it covers websites and social media accounts.
Who can apply: under the regulation, a commercial company must be on the commercial register, and an individual applicant must be an Omani national aged 18 or over. The licence is issued for one, two or three years, as the applicant chooses, and has to be renewed before it expires. The government services portal lists the application for commercial companies and for freelancers, with the current fee, and sends you to the Oman Business Platform to apply.
Maroof Oman is the Ministry's platform for verifying licensed online stores. The Ministry describes it as a free service for sellers and buyers: buyers can see the list of licensed stores, check their details and rate them, and the Ministry advises shoppers to look for a store's verification certificate before they buy. Apply for verification once you hold the licence. A store that has the certificate must display it clearly.
The regulation also requires the licence holder to take payments through a bank or payment service provider licensed in Oman, and allows the Ministry to issue warnings, fines of up to OMR 500, a block on the store or cancellation of the licence. It lists what a store must disclose through a link on the site:
- Accurate information about each product or service.
- How customers' personal data is protected.
- How complaints are received and handled.
- The tax number, if the business has one.
- The licence number and the trademark.
- Contact and customer service channels.
- The exchange and return policy.
- The terms and conditions for using the store.
Next steps for the licence
Read the regulation or ask the Ministry if your case is unusual: this guide is a summary, not legal advice. The step-by-step application is in our guide to the e-commerce licence in Oman. We set up the disclosure pages and the licence details in the footer as part of every ecommerce website in Oman we build.
Payments in Oman
Omani debit cards are processed through OmanNet, the national switch set up by the Central Bank of Oman, and not every international gateway accepts them. A store that only takes Visa and Mastercard credit cards turns away customers who pay by local debit card. Most Omani stores combine a local gateway for debit cards, card acceptance for international cards and wallets, and cash on delivery. Thawani is licensed by the Central Bank of Oman as a payment service provider, and Amwal Pay is an Omani gateway with a Shopify integration. Fees, documents and settlement are compared in our guide to payment gateways in Oman.
| Criteria | Local card gateway | International cards | Cash on delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who uses it | Customers paying with Omani debit cards | Credit card holders and visitors | Customers who prefer to pay at the door |
| Examples | Thawani, Amwal Pay, bank gateways | Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay through a gateway | Collected by the courier |
| Settlement | To your Omani bank account | To your Omani bank account | Remitted by the courier |
| Watch out for | Approval time and fees | Fraud checks and chargebacks | Refused orders and cash reconciliation |
VAT on online sales
Oman applies value added tax at 5%. The Oman Tax Authority states that registration is mandatory when annual revenue from taxable supplies reaches, or is expected to reach, OMR 38,500, and that a business may register voluntarily from OMR 19,250. Once registered, you must present prices inclusive of VAT, as Article 37 of the VAT Law requires, and issue tax invoices. Your store should be configured for this from the start; check the current rules with the Tax Authority or your accountant.
Delivery across Oman
- Muscat same-day and next-day delivery is widely expected for smaller items.
- Interior governorates such as Dhofar, Al Wusta and Musandam take longer and cost more; set delivery zones and fees by wilayat.
- Send order confirmation and tracking on WhatsApp. It reduces refused cash-on-delivery orders.
- For bulky items, agree installation or appointment delivery with a specialist courier.
Choosing a platform
Shopify suits most new Omani stores: it is quick to launch and cheap to run, with Omani payments handled through a gateway app and cash on delivery. Regional platforms such as Salla and Zid are Arabic-first and popular in Saudi Arabia. A headless or custom build makes sense for brands with unusual catalogues, B2B pricing, or an experience that templates cannot deliver.
For prices, see our guide to ecommerce website cost in Oman. OGB Labs builds all three under its ecommerce development service, and most Omani brands start with Shopify store development in Oman. If you also need a company website, see website cost in Oman and how to choose a web development company in Oman.
( FAQ )
Questions people ask.
Do I need a commercial registration to sell online in Oman?
A company does: under the e-commerce regulation a commercial company must be on the commercial register to get the e-commerce licence, and gateways such as Thawani ask for the commercial register. An Omani national aged 18 or over can apply for the licence as an individual. In both cases the e-commerce licence comes first.
Do I need an e-commerce licence to sell online in Oman?
Yes. The e-commerce regulation issued under Ministerial Decision 499/2023 says e-commerce may not be practised without a licence from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. You apply online; see the official service for commercial companies and our guide to the e-commerce licence in Oman.
What is Maroof Oman?
Maroof Oman is the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion's free platform that verifies licensed online stores. Buyers can check that a store is licensed and rate it, and the Ministry advises shoppers to look for the verification certificate before buying.
Do Instagram and WhatsApp sellers need a licence in Oman?
The Ministry says the e-commerce regulation covers websites and social media accounts, so a business that sells through social media should hold the licence too.
Which payment gateway is best in Oman?
The one that accepts Omani debit cards and international cards, settles quickly to your bank and has fees that suit your order size. Thawani, Amwal Pay and bank gateways are common choices; our guide to payment gateways in Oman compares them.
Does Shopify Payments work in Oman?
No. Oman is not on Shopify's list of countries supported by Shopify Payments (checked October 2026), so Shopify stores in Oman use a third-party gateway plus cash on delivery.
Do I need to charge VAT on online sales in Oman?
Once you are VAT-registered, yes, at 5%. The Oman Tax Authority makes registration mandatory when annual taxable supplies reach or are expected to reach OMR 38,500.
How long does it take to launch an online store in Oman?
A Shopify store typically launches in one to two weeks once the commercial registration, e-commerce licence and bank account are in place. Gateway approval can run in parallel.
Should my store be in Arabic?
For consumer brands in Oman, yes. An Arabic storefront with right-to-left layout reaches more customers and builds trust.
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