Muscat, June 29 -- Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has clarified that recent amendments to the executive regulations of the Foreigners' Residence Law do not expand property ownership rights for foreign nationals, amid confusion over the scope of the changes.

The ministry said the amendments relate only to residency rights and do not affect the legal provisions governing foreign ownership of property. It stressed that non-Omanis cannot purchase real estate across the Sultanate and remain limited to areas specified under existing laws.

According to the ministry, foreign nationals may own property only in designated developments. These include integrated tourism complexes (ITCs), future cities such as Sultan Haitham City, Al ...