Buying a home in Sultan Haitham City as a foreigner: ownership, price, and which residency you get

In June 2026 the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning confirmed that the amendments to the Foreigners' Residence regulations concern residency only, and that non-Omani ownership remains limited to designated locations: integrated tourism complexes, future cities such as Sultan Haitham City, Al Thuraya City and Al Jabal Al Aali, and integrated residential neighbourhoods such as Surouh. Sultan Haitham City is therefore a place where you are entitled to own.

Where the project stands, and at what price

In February 2026 the Housing Minister said about 1,700 units had been sold to buyers from more than 35 nationalities, that eight developers are active in the city, that the target is about 20,000 units at roughly 1,000 a year, and that part of phase one is expected to open in 2026. He put the price at about RO 900 per sq m for investors, against about RO 400 for eligible Omani families. The price citizens quote is not your benchmark.

Which residency you get

Owner residency requires no sponsor and no minimum value, covers every location where non-Omanis may own, and lasts as long as you own. If your unit is not yet registered, Decision 87/2026 allows a sponsor-free visa of six months to a year, renewable once, with a certificate from the competent authority. The golden residency property track, however, requires a completed unit with a title deed in an integrated tourism complex, so do not buy here on that basis.

What to ask before booking

Ask the developer in writing about the ownership type in the contract, the handover date, annual service charges and when the title deed will be issued in your name, because lasting residency rests on the deed, not the booking. Remember that the Ministry of Housing registration fee is usually 3% of the value.

Source: Gulf News: Oman clarifies foreign property ownership remains restricted to designated areas (بيان وزارة الإسكان والتخطيط العمراني) — 2026-06-28 · Oman Observer: Sultan Haitham City's first phase to launch this year (وزير الإسكان) — 2026-02-24 · NGIOM: صفحة العقار (إقامة المالك، والإقامة الذهبية، والقرار 87/2026) — 2026-10-31