Oman: New Agency Established to Regulate Foreign Worker Recruitment

Gulf News, 23 November 2025: Oman has established the Association of Expatriate Worker Recruitment Offices to oversee and standardise the recruitment of foreign workers across the sultanate.

The association has been granted authority to mediate labour disputes and will work directly with foreign embassies through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve conflicts involving expatriate workers. It will also coordinate with government agencies to validate agreements with labour-exporting countries and expand recruitment channels.

The organisation will represent licensed recruitment offices in dealings with authorities and will participate in efforts to eliminate unlicensed recruitment operations.

Funding for the association’s operations will be derived from multiple sources, including membership fees, government subsidies, and approved donations. The body will also generate revenue through its activities, subject to Ministry approval.

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Oman: Processes Foreign Vessels’ Navigation Permit

The Arabian Stories, 17 November 2025: Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has released detailed guidance on obtaining navigation permits for foreign vessels entering Omani territorial waters.

The ministry has established a framework requiring all foreign ships to submit their permit applications prior to arrival in Omani waters. Applications must meet all specified requirements before they will be processed by authorities.

Under the new guidelines, the ministry has confirmed it will handle applications during official holidays in exceptional circumstances to maintain continuous maritime operations.

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Oman: Announces National Day Holiday Rules and Worker Compensation

The Arabian Stories, 9 November 2025: Oman’s Ministry of Labour has issued guidelines for the upcoming National Day holidays on November 26 and 27, 2025, confirming compensation arrangements for employees required to work during the official break.

The announcement establishes the two-day holiday period for all government, public sector, and private sector workers across the sultanate.

According to the ministry’s statement, organisations that need to maintain operations during the holiday must provide affected staff with either alternative leave days or additional compensation as specified under current labour regulations.

The directive applies to all employees in government units, legal entities, and private sector establishments throughout Oman. The ministry has emphasised that while work may continue in essential services, employers must ensure proper compensation for staff who work during the designated holiday period.

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Oman: Central Bank Warns Media Over Incorrect Logo Usage

Times Of Oman, 3 November 2025: Oman’s central bank has issued a formal notice to media outlets regarding the misuse of its official logo in publications and digital platforms.

The notice specifically addresses instances where incorrect versions of the bank’s logo have appeared across various media channels. The bank has instructed all media organisations to verify and update their visual assets to ensure they are using only the officially sanctioned version of the institution’s logo.

The regulatory body has emphasised that strict adherence to its official branding guidelines is now mandatory for all media representations. Media outlets have been directed to remove any unauthorised variations of the logo from their platforms.

The central bank’s notice serves as a formal reminder to publishers and broadcasters about their obligations regarding the use of official institutional symbols. The bank has not specified potential consequences for continued non-compliance with these requirements.

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Oman: Issues New Law on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Arabian Stories, 27 October 2025: Sultan of Oman has issued a new Oman Sultani Decree No. 92/2025 establishing comprehensive legislation for persons with disabilities.

It introduces updated regulations governing disability rights across the sultanate.

Under the new legislation, the Minister of Social Development has been tasked with issuing executive regulations and implementation decisions. Existing regulations will remain in force until the new framework is fully implemented.

The decree explicitly repeals Oman Sultani Decree No. 63/2008 on the Welfare and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Law, along with any contradicting provisions from other legislation.

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Oman: Opens Public Consultation on New Digital Systems Regulations

The Arabian Stories, 15 October 2025: Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has launched a public consultation process seeking feedback on proposed regulations for digital systems and platforms in the telecommunications sector.

The consultation document outlines new controls for the development, testing, and operation of digital systems across the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure. The proposal covers five key technical areas, including development environment controls, external support systems, database management, systems integration, and performance measurement.

Stakeholders and members of the public have been given a four-week window to submit their responses, with the consultation period closing on October 28 2025. The authority has created an online survey system to collect feedback through its official website.

The proposed regulations establish specific requirements for technical infrastructure and security protocols within the telecommunications sector. These include detailed guidelines for system development, testing procedures, and operational standards.

The consultation document addresses various aspects of digital systems management, with particular focus on infrastructure security and technical operations. The authority has published comprehensive details of the proposed controls on its website for public review.

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Oman: VAT Guidelines Issued for Firms Trading with GCC

The Arabian Stories, 13 October 2025: The Tax Authority has released new guidance detailing VAT procedures for Omani businesses engaged in regional trade with the UAE and other GCC nations, outlining specific measures to avoid double taxation.

The guidance presents two primary options for Omani companies purchasing goods from the UAE. Under the first option, businesses can arrange with UAE suppliers to treat transactions as export supplies, qualifying for zero-rated VAT status. This requires proper export documentation to comply with UAE tax regulations.

The second option addresses situations where VAT has already been paid, offering two recovery routes. Businesses can either obtain a credit note from their UAE supplier upon providing proof of export, or directly request a refund through the Business Visitor VAT Refund Form, provided they have no permanent establishment in the UAE.

The guidance outlines the documentation requirements and verification processes necessary for businesses to properly manage their VAT obligations. For export-related transactions, companies must maintain proper export declarations and supporting documentation to validate their zero-rated status claims.

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Oman: Hiring Local Worker Mandatory for Foreign Businesses

Gulf News, 5 October 2025: Foreign-owned companies in Oman must employ at least one Omani citizen within their first year of operation, according to new legislation announced by the country’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

The requirement, established through Oman Ministerial Decision No. 411/2025, introduces Article (12) bis to the Foreign Capital Investment Law’s (Oman Sultani Decree No. 50/2019) executive regulations. Under the new rules, foreign businesses must ensure their Omani employees are officially registered with the Social Protection Fund.

Existing foreign companies that have been operating for more than a year will need to comply with the regulation within six months. This adjustment must occur when they either renew their commercial registration, obtain a new work permit, or renew an existing permit, whichever comes first.

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Oman: Implements New Maritime Labour Regulations for Seafarer Protection

Times Of Oman, 27 September 2025: Oman has introduced comprehensive Maritime Labour Regulations through Oman Sultani Decree 313/2025, implementing commitments under the Maritime Labour Convention and establishing detailed rights and responsibilities for both Omani and foreign seafarers.

The regulations apply to all vessels except fishing boats, traditional vessels, warships, war-supply ships, and those operating in protected waters. Under the new rules, vessel operators must ensure all seafarers hold valid medical certificates with a minimum of six months ‘ validity.

Key provisions include mandatory rest periods of at least 10 hours per day and 77 hours weekly. Seafarers are entitled to a minimum of 30 days paid annual leave. The regulations also mandate operators to cover repatriation costs to either the port of contract or an agreed alternative port under specific circumstances, including contract completion in foreign ports or service exceeding nine consecutive months.

Vessel operators must provide free medical care and health insurance for crew members, along with compensation in cases of ship loss. The regulations require employment contracts to be available in Arabic or include an approved Arabic translation.

Certain vessels must now carry a Maritime Labour Certificate to demonstrate compliance with the new standards. Where the regulations do not specifically address an issue, Omani Labour Law provisions will apply.

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