The Global Phoenix - Issue 3 August 2017 | Page 40

OMAN YEMEN
Located on the Arabian Peninsula near the mouth of the
Persian Gulf, Oman has long-standing close ties with both
the US and the UK, but has pursued a relatively neutral
foreign policy, attempting to maintain cordial relations with
all its Middle Eastern neighbors. Like Kuwait, Oman has
refused to enter the current dispute with Qatar. Apart from
the UAE, Oman is perhaps the second-most progressive
nation in the region, and proactive economic and political
reforms have allowed it to avoid much of the recent civil
unrest experienced by other nations in the region. Still
heavily dependent on oil production, the recent years have
seen strained government budgets and attempts at austerity
measures. The Omani government is currently making
attempts to diversify the economy into manufacturing and
tourism, and the early indications are that the efforts at
tourism are bearing fruit. Most western visitors and expats
find Oman to be a foreigner-friendly environment. East of Oman and bordering
Saudi Arabia is Yemen, the
poorest nation in the region.
While undoubtedly possessing
untapped oil reserves, political
instability and a resulting
failure to attract foreign
investment have left that
economic potential largely
undiscovered. Any long-term
plans to rebuild infrastructure
and expand the economy pale
next to the immediate poverty
and food and water shortages.
There will be no economic
recovery in Yemen until the
end of the current military
conflicts with neighboring
Saudi Arabia and among
internal groups, and then a
massive injection of foreign
investment will be needed.
Corporate immigration to the
country is virtually nonexistent.
Immigration policy in Oman is relatively open and stable with
few recent changes. An average foreign work permit process
takes 6 to 8 weeks. Recent developments in corporate
mobility include:
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In July 2017 the permissible stays on business and tourist
visas were lengthened from three-weeks to three-months
for citizens of 38 nations;
In June of this year, a new online application submission
and processing system for business and tourist visas and
some in-country residence permits was launched.
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