The Sultanate of Oman has unveiled three mining concessions covering 2,062 square kilometres on the opening day of the International Mining and Resources Conference + Expo (IMARC), flagging a major push for global investment in its resources sector.

The announcement puts highly anticipated new exploration acreage the size of the Australian Capital Territory before the global investment community as the Sultanate moves to convert its geology, infrastructure and strategic location into producing mines and downstream industries.

Delivering a keynote address at IMARC, H.E. Mohsin bin Hamad Al Hadhrami, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said the offer was designed to turn international interest into projects and long-term partnerships.

“Oman is moving from potential to production,” H.E. Al Hadhrami said.

“We are opening quality opportunities to investors with the capital, technology and operating expertise to help build complete mineral value chains in the Sultanate. Our proposition is clear: transparent access to concessions, direct engagement with decision-makers, efficient digital services and a stable, safe and secure operating environment at the crossroads of Australasia, Africa and Europe.”

Mining is a strategic pillar of Oman Vision 2040, the country’s plan to build a diversified, private sector-led economy. Oman aims to lift mining’s contribution to GDP from 1.4 per cent in 2020 to 10 per cent by 2040. The Mineral Wealth Law, long-dated concessions and the Taqa digital platform are intended to give investors greater clarity and speed from application to operation.

H.E. Mohsin bin Hamad Al Hadhrami said Oman’s mining history stretches back more than 4,000 years to ancient Magan, known for copper production and trade with Mesopotamia.

“Fast forward to today, and the Samail Ophiolite and our sedimentary basins offer potential for copper, chromite, nickel, cobalt, gold and other strategic metals, as well as gypsum, limestone, dolomite, silica and salt.

“Oman seeks to become a critical minerals investment and development hub, linking exploration and mining with processing, refining, manufacturing and export. Our deep-water ports at Sohar, Duqm and Salalah, established industrial zones and direct access to major shipping lanes support that ambition.

“But importantly, we are aligning investment with responsible development, stronger local supply chains, Omani skills and internationally competitive health, safety and environmental standards.”

Indeed, projects already under way show the model taking shape. Al Hadeetha Resources has moved the Al Wash-hi Majaza copper project into production, including a concentrator supporting a new domestic copper value chain. Minerals Development Oman is advancing the integrated Mazoon Copper project in Yanqul.

The Ministry has also awarded two exploration concessions covering 1,687 square kilometres to Emaar Mining and Royal Gulf Minerals and Energy, backed by planned exploration spending of about US$15.4 million.

H.E. Al Hadhrami said. “At the end of the day, the measure of the success of our strategy is not the number of announcements, but the projects that move into operation. “Oman is here with executable opportunities and a clear message: we are investment ready.”

Oman’s IMARC delegation includes senior Ministry officials and companies active in copper, gypsum, chromite and dolomite. It is seeking partners across exploration, mine development, processing, technology, finance and market access, while promoting local opportunities through the Majd program.

Anita Richards, Chief Operating Officer of Beacon Events, said Oman’s decision to make the announcement at IMARC, backed by such a large and senior delegation, reflected the event’s emergence as one of the world’s leading mining and resources gatherings.

“Oman’s strong ministerial and industry presence underlines IMARC’s position as a global platform where governments, mining companies and investors come together to advance major opportunities and form practical partnerships and showcase this calibre of investment opportunity in front of the sector’s leading analysts and investors,” Ms Richard said.

“IMARC brings the people shaping global mining investment into one place.”

For more information and to register for IMARC 2025, please contact the IMARC Media

Team at pr@imarcglobal.com or visit the IMARC Website.