The Arabian Stories, 8 September 2025: The Ministry of Labour in Oman has unveiled comprehensive regulations governing remote work arrangements in the private sector, establishing the country’s first formal framework for flexible working practices.

Under the new ministerial decision, employers must now follow specific guidelines when implementing remote work schemes. The regulations apply to both partial and full remote working arrangements, though notably prohibit remote contracts with workers based outside Oman.

The decision mandates that employers must:

• Maintain an official register of remote workers
• Supply necessary IT equipment and software
• Implement electronic monitoring systems for performance tracking
• Cover installation and maintenance costs of work-related technology.

To protect workers’ rights, the legislation explicitly forbids surveillance systems that infringe on employee privacy or misuse personal data. Workers are granted the right to disconnect from company systems if such violations occur.

The regulations specify that full remote working contracts must be written agreements detailing employment terms, including working hours, remuneration, and technological requirements. For partial remote working arrangements, employees may submit requests which employers can approve or decline based on operational needs.

Employers retain the right to recall partially remote workers to on-site work under specific circumstances, including information security breaches or failure to maintain agreed working hours.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.