Over 42,000 inactive and expired commercial registrations cancelled in Oman

Muscat: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion has carried out the largest regulatory operation of its kind since the establishment of the commercial registry in the Sultanate of Oman. More than 42,000 inactive and expired commercial registrations were cancelled in four consecutive phases, aiming to restructure commercial data, enhance market transparency, and improve the reliability of economic and administrative indicators used by various government entities.

This measure was implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Registry Law and its executive regulations, and in full coordination with relevant authorities to ensure compliance with legislation and safeguard stakeholder rights.

Nasra bint Sultan Al Habsi, Director General of Commerce at the Ministry, stated that the cancellation process followed a thorough review of the commercial records, ensuring they were free of obligations with the Tax Authority, Ministry of Labour, and Royal Oman Police. Lists of records slated for cancellation were published for 30 days in line with legal procedures.

The first phase involved the cancellation of 3,410 records dating from 1970 to 1999. The second phase saw the removal of 35,000 records from 2000 to 2020. The third phase included 1,116 records, and the final phase concluded with 2,638 cancellations between March and November 2025.

Al Habsi emphasized that this initiative helped resolve longstanding legal irregularities, as inactive records had distorted data across government platforms, affecting indicators related to private sector size, SME growth, and labor market statistics. The enforcement of Article 14 of the executive regulations restored discipline to commercial activity regulations and prevented non-compliant or inactive records from remaining in official databases.

She added that cleansing the commercial database directly improved the efficiency of digital systems linked to the registry and the “Invest Easy” platform by removing outdated and duplicate data that had burdened system updates and inter-agency integration. The move also supported the formal economy by reducing the risk of unauthorized use of inactive records, eased administrative burdens on inspection teams, and allowed greater focus on active market entities.

The cancellation also enabled owners of expired records to settle dormant obligations, avoid accumulating fines or liabilities, and reopen new records without legal hindrance. It improved employer listings at the Ministry of Labour and removed non-operational establishments from systems, enhancing the accuracy of Omanization data and labor market indicators.

Al Habsi concluded that cancelling inactive commercial records is a fundamental solution to decades-old accumulations and forms part of a broader regulatory reform of the commercial sector. It reflects the Ministry’s commitment to transparent enforcement of legislation, improving data quality, and empowering government bodies and investors with accurate and reliable indicators.

She affirmed that the Ministry will continue periodic and systematic reviews and cancellations to ensure the commercial database remains up to date, strengthen governance, enhance digital system performance, and foster a more transparent and sustainable business environment in Oman.