Sunday 12 / April / 2026
Ibri; Al Dhahirah Governorate is regarded as one of the leading governorates in the agricultural and livestock sectors in the Sultanate of Oman, possessing distinguished natural advantages including agricultural land and available water resources. These factors make it an attractive environment for investments in food security and sustainable development.
In recent years, the governorate has witnessed a notable expansion in investment projects related to agriculture, livestock, and water resources, supporting the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and focusing on localizing the "second billion" to achieve food security.
Eng. Ahmed Rashid Al Abri, Director of the Agricultural Development Department at the General Directorate of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries, and Water Resources in Al Dhahirah Governorate, stated that the total number of agricultural investment projects in the governorate exceeds 50 projects. These projects span an area estimated at 9,000 acres with an investment value exceeding RO 50 million. He noted that these investments are distributed across the agricultural, livestock, and water resources sectors, in addition to fish markets.
He added that investment projects in the agricultural sector are witnessing significant diversity that reflects the trend toward enhancing food security and the sustainability of natural resources. These include the cultivation of field crops, led by wheat, alongside the expansion of fruit tree cultivation such as date palms, figs, and grapes due to their economic importance and high nutritional value.
Furthermore, the projects involve the establishment of greenhouses and the cultivation of other crops such as garlic and onions, contributing to the diversification of agricultural production and the achievement of self-sufficiency, Al Abri noted.
Regarding the livestock sector, he explained that projects vary to include the establishment of livestock breeding and propagation facilities, red meat production projects using local breeds and calf fattening, and milk and dairy production projects utilizing modern methods to ensure increased production efficiency and improved quality. As for the water resources sector, investment opportunities have been offered to utilize sediment and silt from the Wadi Al Kabir and Wadi Al Salif dams.
For her part, Eng. Sheikha Atiq Al Balushi, Land Specialist at the Agricultural Development Department in A’Dhahirah Governorate, explained that the "Tatweer" platform represents a qualitative leap in enhancing the investment environment. It provides investors with accurate, detailed data on lands available for investment across various governorates, including location, area, conditions, and required documents.
She also noted that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources seeks to offer 30 investment opportunities in A’Dhahirah Governorate through the Tatweer platform for the year 2026, distributed across various sectors with a focus on achieving the Ministry’s targets for self-sufficiency and the localization of the "second billion."
