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Oman Restricted Professions List
Which jobs in Oman are reserved for Omanis?
Checked against Oman Ministry of Labour rules · reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · next review 1 Jan 2027
How to read the list
Each row is a profession closed to expats from the date shown. 'In force' means the restriction already applies; 'Upcoming' means it starts on that date. Partial list: these are the professions added in phases by Ministerial Decision 501/2024, which amends MD 235/2022 (200+ professions). Check the full list with the Ministry of Labour before hiring.
Phases under MD 501/2024
| From | Professions added |
|---|---|
| 2 Sept 2024 | Marketing specialist, Quality control officer, Mechanical technician, Electrical technician, Sales representative (commercial promoter), Commercial broker |
| 1 Jan 2025 | Systems analyst, Information systems network specialist, Marine controller, Ship traffic controller, Computer maintenance technician |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Computer programmer, Electronic computer engineer, Computer operator |
| 1 Jan 2027 | Web designer, Operations analyst |
Before you hire
- Partial list: these are the professions added in phases by Ministerial Decision 501/2024, which amends MD 235/2022 (200+ professions). Check the full list with the Ministry of Labour before hiring.
- Phases come from a secondary (KPMG) summary of the decision.
Data Sources
More on Omanisation
The duties and fines that apply to every employer are in the Omanisation guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs are restricted to Omanis?
Ministerial Decision 235/2022, amended by Ministerial Decision 501/2024, lists more than 200 professions that only Omanis may fill. The 2024 amendment added professions in phases — marketing specialists, sales representatives and technicians from September 2024; systems analysts and network specialists from January 2025; computer programmers from January 2026; and web designers and operations analysts from January 2027.
Is this the full list?
No. This table shows the professions added in phases by MD 501/2024, from a KPMG summary. The full list in MD 235/2022 is longer. Check any role with the Ministry of Labour before you hire an expat for it.
What happens to expats already in a restricted job?
Oman's Labour Law lets an employer end a non-Omani's contract to replace them with an Omani under its Omanisation plan (Art 43). How existing work permits in a newly restricted profession are handled is set by the Ministry — confirm the transition rules with it before renewing.
Where do I find the Omanisation percentage for other jobs?
Percentages are set by ministerial decision per sector (Labour Law Art 23) and aren't published in a calculable form yet. See the Omanisation guide for the duties and fines that do apply.
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