Glossary of Oman property terms
This glossary explains the words buyers meet most often when buying off-plan property in Oman, from ITC and freehold to Mulkiya, handover and service charges. Each definition is short and written in plain language. For legal detail, always check the official ministry pages linked below before you sign anything.
- ITC (Integrated Tourism Complex)
- A master development licensed by the government for tourism and residential use. ITCs are the main places where buyers of any nationality can own freehold property in Oman, subject to the rules of each complex.
- Freehold
- Full ownership of a property and the land share that comes with it, registered in the buyer's name with no end date.
- Usufruct
- A right to use a property and benefit from it for a set number of years, without owning the land outright.
- Mulkiya (title deed)
- The official ownership document issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning once a property is registered in the owner's name.
- Handover
- The point when the developer completes the unit and gives the buyer the keys, usually after the final payment due at completion.
- Snagging
- An inspection before or at handover to list defects the developer must fix, such as cracks, leaks or unfinished work.
- Service charge
- A yearly fee owners pay for the upkeep of shared areas and services in a building or community, such as security, cleaning and landscaping.
- Owners association
- The body of unit owners in a building or community that manages shared areas and approves the service charge budget.
- Payment plan
- A schedule that splits the price into stages, for example a deposit, instalments during construction and a final payment at handover.
Official sources
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