For many years the Engine Engineering Company of Oman has been modifying 4 × 4 cross-country vehicles for a variety of specialised military and paramilitary roles. Based on this considerable experience the Engine Engineering Company has developed and placed in initial production the Nimer 1 light armoured personnel carrier (LAPC).

The first example of the Nimer 1 LAPC is based on a Mitsubishi (4 × 4) chassis, although the first production batch of six vehicles, believed to be earmarked for Bahrain, are based on a Toyota Land Cruiser (4 × 4) chassis.

Oman has taken delivery of 174 BAE Systems Land Systems Piranha II (8 × 8) armoured personnel carriers and variants. Many of these were fitted with a one-person .50 (12.7 mm) M2 weapon station developed and manufactured by the Engine Engineering Company.

Nimer 1 has a hull of all-welded steel armour that is 6 mm thick, providing protection from small-arms fire. The upper part of the hull slopes inwards, as does the lower part.

The fully enclosed engine compartment is at the front, with the commander and driver in the centre, with the troop compartment extending to the rear. The commander and driver are each provided with a bulletproof window to their front and a forward-opening door to their side, which is provided with a bulletproof window in the upper part.

In addition to the commander and driver it can carry eight people, seated four down the back facing inwards on a bench seat. These enter and leave the vehicle via a door in the hull rear that opens to the right and that is provided with a bulletproof window in the upper part, with a replacement wheel and tyre below. There is a single, circular firing port in the right side of the hull at the rear.

Bulletproof windows provide all-round observation and two firing ports located in each side of the hull allow some of the crew to fire their weapons from within the vehicle.

Armament depends on mission but a 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun can be mounted on the roof to provide suppressive fire. This can be mounted on a simple ring mount or in a turret or cupola that provides protection for the gunner.

Mounted forward and either side of the commander's and driver's position is a bank of four 76 mm electrically operated smoke grenade launchers that cover the frontal arc.

Additional stowage racks are provided either side of the upper part of the hull towards the rear and additional fuel and/or water containers are also carried externally on the lower part of the hull.