Non-Omani workers have been subjected to new limitations imposed by the Omani government, which restricts their ability to participate in certain professions. Within the context of the government’s attempts to emphasize local talent and increase job possibilities for Omani citizens, these limits are a component of those efforts. There are a variety of occupations that are impacted, including those of drivers, hotel workers, quality control specialists, drilling engineers, and others.
A major move has been made by the government of Oman to elevate the status of local talent and increase the number of job possibilities available to Omani people. In accordance with Ministerial Decree No. 501/2024, which was recently released by the Ministry of Labour, Omani workers are only permitted to join certain professions.
Within the context of the continuous efforts of the government to improve the Omani workforce and make better use of local talent, the new decree makes modifications to the restrictions that were previously in place.
As a result of this change, international job seekers who are seeking for work visas in Oman will be immediately impacted. Therefore, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of which occupations are now prohibited and how these changes may damage their employment opportunities.
Certain Jobs Are Off Limits to Non-Omanis
As a result of the directive, 32 new occupations have been added to the Omanization list, which means that non-Omani people are not permitted to work in those occupations. Some of the limited occupations are as follows:
- Driver Roles this area comprises drivers of refrigerated trailers and vehicles for the transportation of food and medical supplies, as well as drivers of trucks and trailers for the transportation of water.
- In the hospitality and tourism industry, Omani citizens are the only ones who are allowed to enter certain positions. These positions include hotel reception managers, swimming rescues, tourist agents, travel agents, and room service supervisors.
- Quality Control and Supervision: This encompasses a wide range of positions, including quality control managers, quality officers, drilling engineers, drilling supervisors, and quality supervisors.
- With regard to technical and maintenance work, the decree places limitations on roles such as those of electricians, general maintenance technicians, mechanics, and drilling measurement engineers.
- Marketing professionals, commercial promoters (sales agents), commercial brokers, and products arrangers are some of the roles that are prohibited that fall under the category of sales and marketing.
- Workers who are not Omani are not permitted to work in the transportation and logistics industry. This includes roles such as supervisors of airplane loading, supervisors of cargo loading and unloading, workers of ship mooring and tying, drivers of flatbed cranes, and drivers of forklift fleets.
- This category contains sales roles for new automobiles, used vehicles, new spare parts, and used spare parts. Salespersons are also included in this category.
- This category includes general system analysts, information systems network experts, labor supervisors, and marine supervisors. Other specialists and supervisors include marine supervisors.
These positions are now given more priority by the government to Omani residents in order to improve job opportunities in the local area and to correspond with Oman’s wider economic aims. It is anticipated that this decision would have a substantial influence on job seekers in Oman who are looking for employment in these industries.
Restrictions Will Be Implemented Bit by Bit
A number of occupations will be subject to the limitation beginning on a variety of dates, as specified in the regulation. In order to ensure that the implementation is carried out in stages, the bulk of these occupations will be prohibited beginning on September 2, 2024, while others will follow suit beginning on January 1, 2025, 2026, and 2027.
The following restrictions will take effect on January 1, 2025:
- Administrators of General Systems
- Engineers who specialize in information systems networks
- Observers of the Sea
- Operators of Vessel Traffic Control
- Technicians in charge of computer maintenance
The following restrictions will take effect on January 1, 2026:
- People who program computers.
- The engineers of computers.
- Those who operate computers.
Constraints that will take effect on January 1, 2027:
- Those who design websites.
- The analysts of operations.
Influence on Individuals Looking for Work
It is possible that the new limitations will have a substantial effect on individuals traveling from other countries in search of employment opportunities in Oman. Those individuals who want to submit applications for employment in limited professions have to be informed of the new laws and investigate alternate directions for their professional lives.
Jobseekers’ Guide to Oman Work Visa
Applicants seeking work visas in Oman who are not Omani should be informed of these new limitations before submitting their employment applications. When applying for a work visa in Oman, foreign people are permitted to work in the country; nevertheless, it is essential to verify that the occupation you want to engage in is not on the banned list.
Important Considerations to Take Into Account:
- To be eligible, you must ensure that your line of work is not prohibited and that it satisfies the requirements established by the Ministry of Labour.
- In order to qualify for sponsorship, you are need to have a legitimate work offer from an Omani company who will serve as your sponsor.
- The following documents are required: a visa application form that has been filled out in its whole, a passport that is still valid, a medical certificate, a copy of the labor permit, and two current pictures that are passport-sized.
- It is essential to ensure that you are aware that the criteria for obtaining a visa may differ based on the nationality of the applicant as well as the particular employment function.
It is a big step toward fostering local talent and growing the Omani economy that the Omani government has made the decision to limit some professions to workers who are Omani. Despite the fact that this may have repercussions for those who are not Omani and are looking for work, it also creates chances for Omani citizens to further their careers in a variety of departments.