Employee rights
Oman Labour Law (2026): Leave, Working Hours, Notice & Probation
Private-sector employee rights in Oman under Oman Labour Law issued by Royal Decree No. 53/2023 (replaced the 2003 Labour Law issued by Royal Decree No. 35/2003): working and Ramadan hours, overtime, annual, sick and maternity leave, probation, notice and termination.
Quick answer
- Working hours: A maximum of 8 actual working hours a day and 40 hours a week.
- Annual leave: At least 30 days of annual leave a year on full (gross) pay, which you can start taking after 6 months of service.
- Probation period: Probation can last up to 3 months if you are paid monthly, or up to 2 months for other pay arrangements.
- Notice period: 30 days' written notice for monthly-paid workers and 15 days for others, unless your contract sets a longer period.
- Law
- Oman Labour Law issued by Royal Decree No. 53/2023 (replaced the 2003 Labour Law issued by Royal Decree No. 35/2003)
- Authority
- Ministry of Labour (MoL), Sultanate of Oman
- Who it covers
- The law applies to all employers and workers in Oman, Omani and non-Omani. It does not apply to work governed by special laws or systems, and the Minister of Labour can issue separate rules for special categories of work. The law was published in the Official Gazette on 30 July 2023 and employers had six months to comply.
Working hours
A maximum of 8 actual working hours a day and 40 hours a week.
- You get a daily rest break of one hour, and this break is not counted as working time.
- You cannot be made to work more than 6 hours in a row without a break.
- The old law allowed 9 hours a day and 45 hours a week - the 2023 law cut this to 8 and 40.
- A nursing mother gets one paid hour a day to care for her child for one year after maternity leave ends (Article 76).
Article 70
Ramadan working hours
During Ramadan, Muslim workers work a maximum of 6 hours a day or 30 hours a week.
- The reduced Ramadan hours in the law apply to Muslim workers.
- This rule did not change from the old 2003 law.
- Any work beyond these limits counts as overtime and must be paid as overtime.
Article 70
Sources:decree.omomanlawblog.curtis.com
Overtime pay
Overtime is paid at your hourly basic wage plus at least 25% for daytime hours and at least 50% for night hours.
- Total working time, including overtime, cannot exceed 12 hours a day.
- Instead of overtime pay, you and your employer can agree on time off in lieu.
- Work on your weekly rest day or an official holiday earns a cash payment equal to 100% of your daily basic wage, or compensatory leave.
- Your consent is needed for overtime, except in the urgent cases listed in Article 72.
Article 71
Sources:decree.om
Weekly rest
At least 2 consecutive days of paid weekly rest.
- The weekly rest is paid - it is not deducted from your salary.
- If you work on a rest day, you get 100% of your daily basic wage as cash or a compensatory day off.
- Official public holidays are also paid at your gross wage (Article 79).
Article 77
See public holidays →Sources:decree.omclydeco.com
Annual leave
At least 30 days of annual leave a year on full (gross) pay, which you can start taking after 6 months of service.
- You can carry forward up to 30 unused days to the next year.
- You cannot give up (waive) your annual leave, even by agreement.
- Non-Omani workers are entitled to a return ticket to their home country to spend their annual leave.
Article 78
Sources:decree.omclydeco.com
Sick leave
Up to 182 days of sick leave a year, on a sliding pay scale from 100% down to 35% of your gross wage.
- Days 1 to 21: 100% of pay. Days 22 to 35: 75%. Days 36 to 70: 50%. Days 71 to 182: 35%.
- The illness must be proven, normally with a medical report.
- The old law gave only 10 weeks of sick leave a year.
- Under the Social Protection Law (as amended by Royal Decree 60/2025), the sick leave insurance branch started on 19 July 2026. Ask your employer how your sick pay is processed.
Article 82
Maternity leave
98 days of paid maternity leave, covering the period before and after childbirth.
- Up to 14 days of the leave can be taken before the birth, on medical recommendation.
- After maternity leave, a mother can ask for up to one year of unpaid childcare leave (Article 83).
- When she returns, she gets one paid nursing hour a day for one year.
- Under the Social Protection Law, maternity leave pay for insured workers is covered by the Social Protection Fund, and this was extended to expatriate workers from July 2024.
Article 84
Paternity leave
7 days of paid paternity leave, taken before the child is 98 days old.
- The child must be born alive.
- Paternity leave did not exist under the old 2003 law.
- Paternity leave pay for insured workers is covered by the Social Protection Fund, including for expatriates from July 2024.
Article 84
Bereavement leave
Paid bereavement leave of 2 to 10 days depending on the relative, and longer for a widow.
- 10 days for the death of a wife, son or daughter.
- 3 days for the death of a father, mother, grandparent, brother or sister.
- 2 days for the death of an aunt or uncle.
- On the death of her husband, a Muslim female worker gets 130 days (the iddah period) and a non-Muslim female worker gets 14 days.
- You may be asked for proof, such as a death certificate. Marriage leave is a separate 3 days.
Article 84
Sources:decree.omclydeco.com
Hajj leave
15 days of paid leave to perform Hajj, once during your service with an employer.
- You must have worked for the employer for at least one continuous year.
- It can be taken only once during your whole period of service.
Article 84
Sources:decree.omclydeco.com
Probation period
Probation can last up to 3 months if you are paid monthly, or up to 2 months for other pay arrangements.
- An employer can put you on probation only once.
- Either side can end the contract during probation by giving at least 7 days' notice.
Article 37
Sources:decree.om
Notice period
30 days' written notice for monthly-paid workers and 15 days for others, unless your contract sets a longer period.
- This applies when either side ends an unlimited-term contract for a legitimate reason.
- If notice is not given, the side ending the contract must pay compensation equal to the missing notice period.
- Notice given during your leave starts the day after the leave ends. During notice, you can take 10 paid hours a week to look for a new job (Article 39).
- You can leave without serving notice if, for example, your wage is unpaid for more than 2 consecutive months, the employer deceived you when hiring, or there is serious danger to your safety or health (Article 41).
Article 38
Sources:decree.om
Termination and end-of-service
An employer can dismiss you without notice only for listed serious reasons, and you are owed an end-of-service gratuity of at least one month's basic wage for each year of service.
- Dismissal without notice and without gratuity is allowed for reasons such as a mistake causing serious material loss, more than 7 consecutive days of absence without an acceptable excuse, a final conviction for a felony or crime of honour or trust, or a serious breach of duties (Article 40).
- The gratuity is at least one basic wage for each year of service, pro rata for part years (Article 61). It is due to be replaced for expatriates by a savings system funded at 9% of basic wage, starting no later than 19 July 2027.
- Termination for economic reasons is allowed but needs prior approval from a Ministry of Labour committee. Dismissal for gender, race, disability or union membership is banned.
- If a court finds a dismissal unfair, it can order reinstatement or compensation of at least 3 and at most 12 months' full salary.
- When the contract ends, the employer must return a non-Omani worker to their home country within 60 days (Article 14).
Articles 40, 43 and 61
Calculate your end-of-service gratuity →Sources:decree.omclydeco.comomanlawblog.curtis.comomanobserver.om
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do workers get in Oman?
At least 30 days a year on full pay under Article 78 of the Labour Law. You can take it after 6 months of service, and you can carry up to 30 unused days into the next year. Expatriates also get a return ticket home for their leave.
Is the probation period in Oman 6 months?
No. Under Article 37 of the 2023 Labour Law, probation is a maximum of 3 months for monthly-paid workers and 2 months for others. An employer can use probation only once, and either side can end the contract during probation with 7 days' notice.
What is the notice period when I resign in Oman?
30 days if you are paid monthly and 15 days otherwise, unless your contract says longer. If you leave without serving notice, you may have to pay compensation equal to the missing notice period - unless a legal exception applies, such as unpaid wages for more than 2 consecutive months.
How is end-of-service gratuity calculated for expats in Oman?
Under Article 61, the employer pays at least one month's basic wage for each year of service, pro rata for part years. The Social Protection Law will replace this with a savings system where 9% of the basic wage goes into an individual account each month, starting no later than 19 July 2027.
What are the overtime rates in Oman?
Your hourly basic wage plus at least 25% for daytime overtime and at least 50% for night overtime. Total hours cannot exceed 12 a day. Work on a rest day or public holiday earns 100% of your daily basic wage or a day off in lieu.
What can I do if my salary is not paid in Oman?
If your wage is unpaid for more than 2 consecutive months, Article 41 lets you leave the job without serving notice. You can also file a labour complaint with the Ministry of Labour, and you may stay in Oman while a case about your entitlements is pending.
Last reviewed: 17 Oct 2026. General information based on the official sources cited - not legal advice. Check with the relevant authority before acting.
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