Expats to Not Work in Certain Jobs In Oman,…

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Last Reviewed: April 2026 | Sources: DrJobPro Hiring Data Q1 2026.

Expatriates in the Gulf region account for roughly % of its 4.5 thousand residents.

“A number of private-sector jobs will be
nationalized,” the Ministry declared on Twitter on Sunday.

It continued that foreigners’ work
permits in those occupations would not be renewed beyond their expiry date.

Various employment in insurance
firms, shops, and car dealers, including banking, commercial and managerial
positions, would be “only limited to Omanis,” the Ministry said.

Work as a driver, “no matter
what the vehicle,” would still be restricted for citizens, it added.

In April 2020, Oman directed
state-owned firms to intensify the process of replacing foreign workers with
Omani nationals, particularly in senior roles, to create more jobs for people.

At the time, the finance ministry said that many expatriates were also in management roles in state-run companies.

Oman has been seriously impacted
by the coronavirus pandemic as well as lower oil prices and has boosted the
likelihood of support from its Gulf neighbors. According to estimates from the
International Monetary Fund, the economy of the Sultanate is predicted to have
contracted by 10% in 2020, among the worst in the Gulf in the wake of the
pandemic.

Against this backdrop, the GCC
member states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab
Emirates – have tried to diversify their economies and absorb millions of young
graduates into their workforce

They also all issued regulations
to prioritize citizens to foreigners in both the public and private sectors.

More than 25 million foreigners
remain in the Gulf, making up the bulk of the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Check here to find a job in Oman.