Monday 04 / May / 2026
Muscat: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) will begin implementing a new regulatory framework for fuel filling stations starting Wednesday, 6 May 2026. Issued under Ministerial Decision No. (142/2025), the regulation aims to streamline licensing, enhance service quality, and align the sector with modern technical and urban planning standards.
A key feature of the new framework is the classification of stations into four distinct categories based on size and service scope:
Integrated Stations: Minimum area of 10,000 square metres, offering comprehensive commercial services, solar infrastructure, and electric vehicle (EV) charging.
Commercial Stations: Minimum area of 3,000 square metres.
Smart Self-Service Stations: Minimum area of 800 square metres.
Mobile Stations: Providing services through portable units.
Eng. Ahmed Al Balushi, Head of the Petroleum Products Licensing Section, noted that the regulation also sets specific distance requirements, such as a 5-kilometre minimum between stations on non-dual carriageways and 50 kilometres between integrated stations in the same direction, with certain regional exceptions. To support sustainability, integrated stations are now required to provide solar energy infrastructure, EV charging points, and hydrogen refuelling capabilities.
The MoCIIP highlighted that the sector has already seen significant activity in 2026, with 16 new station applications and eight total licences issued for construction or operation. The new procedures allow for operating licences to be issued within 30 days of meeting requirements, valid for a renewable three-year period. To ensure compliance, the framework includes administrative penalties ranging from warnings and fines to the suspension of licences for serious violations.
