Oman: Updated List of Professions Restricted to Omani Nationals

Effective immediately, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) issued an updated list of professions restricted to Omani nationals, which has decreased from 257 to 207 professions. Professions removed from the list include, but are not limited to, reinsurance specialist, light and optics lab technician, optometrist, systems analysis technician, operator in oil products, paramedic, and purchasing and delivery representatives. Employers seeking to hire new workers in the positions on the list must only hire Omani nationals. These decreased restrictions are a part of Oman’s larger initiative to boost nationalization efforts, while balancing the recruitment and retainment of foreign nationals in sectors where there are skills gaps in the local population.