Working in Oman: labour law, pay, end-of-service, and the cost of being there
Labour law, gratuity, cost of living, and public holidays for professionals in Muscat and across Oman. Built from primary sources, reviewed monthly.
Quick answers
The four most-asked questions about working in Oman, with primary sources.
End-of-service benefit
Royal Decree 53/2023 split the calculation: tenure before 26 July 2023 uses the old tiered rates; tenure after uses a flat 30 days per year. No statutory cap.
Source: Royal Decree 53/2023, Art. 61
Annual leave
30 calendar days per year after six months of service, with public holidays counted separately on top.
Source: Oman Labour Law (Royal Decree 35/2003), Art. 61
Notice period
30 days minimum for indefinite contracts, applicable equally to either party and extendable by written agreement up to 90 days.
Source: Oman Labour Law, Art. 39
Working hours
45 hours per week or 9 hours per day, three hours shorter than the rest of the GCC. Reduced to 30 hours during Ramadan for Muslim employees.
Source: Oman Labour Law, Art. 68
Labour law topics
Deep guides on the rules that govern your employment in Oman.
Employment Contracts
Written contracts, mandatory clauses, and three-month probation.
Read full guideWork Visa & Sponsorship
Ministry-issued visas, transfer rules, and Omanisation.
Read full guideEnd-of-Service Benefit
The 2023 split-period calculation and the savings-system transition.
Read full guideTermination & Notice
Article 40 dismissal grounds and the three-months-wage wrongful-termination floor.
Read full guideLeave Entitlement
Annual, sick, the new 98-day maternity, and 7-day paternity leave.
Read full guideWorking Hours & Conditions
The GCC's shortest working week, 200% rest-day overtime, summer outdoor rules.
Read full guideSalary & WPS
Wage Protection System, the OMR 325 Omani minimum wage, social insurance.
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Calculate your Oman gratuity
Enter your basic salary and tenure to estimate your end-of-service entitlement. Locked to Oman rules.
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Estimates for private-sector mainland employees in UAE (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), Saudi Arabia (Royal Decree M/51), Qatar (Law No. 14 of 2004, amended by Law No. 17 of 2020), Bahrain (Law No. 36 of 2012), Kuwait (Law No. 6 of 2010), and Oman (Royal Decree 53/2023). Current as of May 2026. Actual entitlement varies with contract terms, company policy, and judicial interpretation.
DIFC employees are on the DEWS savings scheme (not traditional gratuity). ADGM employees may be on an optional pension scheme. QFC employment does not mandate gratuity. Most other GCC free zones follow national labour law. Oman applies a split-period calculation under Royal Decree 53/2023 (pre- and post-26 July 2023 tenure handled separately). Government employees, domestic workers, and limited/part-time contracts are excluded. Termination for gross misconduct may forfeit entitlement.
Not legal advice. Consult a qualified labour lawyer for specific disputes.
Enter your details to calculate your end-of-service gratuity entitlement
What does life cost in Oman?
All figures shown gross. Oman has no personal income tax for most professionals; your gross is effectively your net. Open the full cost-of-living calculator pre-set to Muscat.
Open cost-of-living calculatorPlan your 2026 long weekends in Oman
Public holidays and the bridge days that turn them into long weekends. Islamic-calendar dates rely on moon-sighting confirmation closer to each event.
- 3D · no leave
Thu, Jan 1 – Sat, Jan 3
3 consecutive days off
Thu1New Year DayFri2WeekendSat3WeekendIncludes: New Year Day - 3D · no leave
Thu, Apr 30 – Sat, May 2
3 consecutive days off
Thu30Eid Al FitrFri1Eid Al Fitr – Day 2Sat2Eid Al Fitr – Day 3Includes: Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Fitr – Day 2, Eid Al Fitr – Day 3 - 4D · no leave
Fri, May 29 – Mon, Jun 1
4 consecutive days off
Fri29WeekendSat30WeekendSun31Eid Al Adha – Day 2Mon1Eid Al Adha – Day 3Includes: Eid Al Adha – Day 2, Eid Al Adha – Day 3 - 4D · no leave
Wed, Nov 18 – Sat, Nov 21
4 consecutive days off
Wed18Oman National DayThu19Oman National Day – Day 2Fri20WeekendSat21WeekendIncludes: Oman National Day, Oman National Day – Day 2
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Living in Oman
Practical guides from the Tenure Compass: money, housing, visas, and family life.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum notice period in Oman?
Under Oman Labour Law (Royal Decree 35/2003), Article 39, the statutory minimum notice period for an indefinite-term contract is 30 days, applicable equally to the employer and the employee. Contracts can extend this by written agreement, with 90 days common for senior roles. Payment in lieu of notice is permitted. Probation is capped at three months under Article 24.
How is end-of-service calculated in Oman?
Royal Decree 53/2023 split the calculation at 26 July 2023. Tenure before that date uses the old tiered formula: 15 days/year for the first three years, 30 days/year thereafter. Tenure after 26 July 2023 uses a flat 30 days per year. There's no statutory cap. The old sliding-scale reduction for voluntary resignation is gone, full payment now whether you resign or are terminated, once you've completed 12 months.
Are salaries in Oman tax-free?
Yes, Oman has no personal income tax for employed workers. Royal Decree 53/2023 restructured social insurance: Omani nationals contribute roughly 8% of wages (pension + unemployment + occupational), employer matches 11.5%. Expat employees pay nothing; the employer pays approximately 1% for occupational injury only. Gross wage is effectively net wage for expat professionals.
How many annual leave days do I get in Oman?
30 calendar days per year after six months of continuous service, with leave accruing from day one of employment. Public holidays (around 10-12 per year) are a separate paid entitlement. Royal Decree 53/2023 extended maternity leave to 98 days and introduced seven days of paid paternity leave, the most progressive parental-leave regime in the GCC alongside Bahrain.
Can I change jobs in Oman without my employer's permission?
Oman is more conservative than the UAE/Saudi/Qatar reform path, in standard cases you need your current employer's written release (no-objection certificate) to transfer. Specific protected scenarios (wage non-payment, employer breach, regularisation programmes) override the release requirement under Ministry of Labour discretion. The reform trajectory has continued; check the current Ministry of Labour rules before planning a move.
When did Oman labour law last change?
Royal Decree 53/2023 (the Social Protection Law) materially restructured the end-of-service mechanic, social-insurance contributions, and parental-leave entitlements from 26 July 2023. Royal Decree 35/2003 remains the underlying labour law. The 2023 reform also signalled an eventual phase-out of expat statutory gratuity in favour of a savings-system contribution model, verify the current state with a lawyer before relying on either for a specific case.
This guide summarises public law and policy in Oman as of . It is general information, not legal advice. For contracts, disputes, visa issues, or employment decisions, consult a licensed employment lawyer in Oman.