Oman employment contracts, probation, notice and leave: the 2023 Labour Law rules
In Oman the contract must be written in Arabic, or carry an Arabic copy, and fixed terms run up to 5 years. Probation is capped at 3 months for monthly-paid staff and 2 months for others, and notice on an indefinite contract is 30 days for monthly-paid staff and 15 days for others. Staff work up to 8 hours a day and 40 a week, and get at least 30 days' annual leave.
Oman contracts, probation and leave
- Arabic contract approved by authority
- Probation and notice by pay basis
- Leave balances tracked and carried
Oman's 2023 Labour Law sets the current contract, probation and leave rules
What happened
Royal Decree 53/2023, issued on 25 July 2023, replaced the Labour Law of 2003. It took effect the day after publication in Official Gazette No. 1504 and gave employers 6 months to bring their arrangements into line. It sets the probation caps, notice periods, a 40-hour week and 30 days' annual leave.
What it means for you
Contracts drafted under the 2003 law should be checked against the 2023 rules, especially probation length, the two consecutive rest days and the overtime rates.
Dates to know
- 25 July 2023Labour Law issued by Royal Decree 53/2023
Source: Ministry of Labour, Sultanate of Oman. We check this page every week. Last checked .
These are the rules in Oman's Labour Law that govern the employment relationship day to day: how the contract is written and approved, how long it can run, how long probation can last, how much notice ends it, and how much time staff work and take off. They come from Part Three (the employment contract) and Part Four (working hours, leave and wages) of the Labour Law issued by Royal Decree 53/2023, which applies to private sector employers in Oman.
What must an employment contract in Oman include?
It must be in writing, in Arabic, in two copies, one for each side. A contract in another language needs an attached Arabic copy approved by both parties, and the contract must be approved by the competent authority. If there is no written contract, the worker can prove their rights by any means.
Article 36 lists what the contract must state, including the employer and workplace, the worker's details, the type of work, the basic wage and any allowances, and the pay date. It must also state a notice period for not renewing, and notice from the employer cannot be less than one month.
How long can a fixed-term contract run in Oman?
Up to 5 years, renewable by agreement, with renewals added to total service. A contract for more than 5 years, or one whose original and renewed terms pass 5 years, is treated as indefinite.
Under Article 35 a contract also becomes indefinite if it has no stated term, or if a fixed-term contract ends and both sides carry on without a written agreement. A contract for a specific task becomes indefinite if the work runs past 5 years.
How long can probation last in Oman?
Up to 3 months for staff paid monthly and up to 2 months for staff paid another way. Probation must be written into the contract and can only be used once with the same employer. Either side can end the contract during probation with at least 7 days' notice.
This is Article 37. A probation period that the worker passes counts towards their length of service.
How much notice is needed to end an employment contract in Oman?
For an indefinite contract, 30 days' written notice for monthly-paid staff and 15 days for others, unless the contract sets longer, and the ending must rest on a legitimate reason. Ending without notice means paying the notice period, or what is left of it, at the last gross wage.
Under Article 39, employer notice cannot start while the worker is on leave. In all cases, during notice the worker may take 10 paid hours a week to look for work. Article 43 lists cases where the employer can end the contract after notice, such as poor performance after a warning and at least 6 months to improve, or closure. For poor performance and closure the employer must tell the Ministry 3 months before the end date.
Can an employer dismiss without notice in Oman?
Only in the nine cases listed in Article 40, and then without the end-of-service gratuity. They include using a false identity or forged documents, and more than 7 days' consecutive unexcused absence. Others are disclosing the employer's secrets and a serious breach of the worker's duties.
For absence on separate days, the trigger is more than 10 days in a year, with a written warning after 5 days. Under Article 41 a worker can also leave without notice and keep all rights, including the gratuity, if the employer has not paid wages for more than two consecutive months or has assaulted the worker.
What are the working hours and overtime rules in Oman?
No more than 8 actual working hours a day and 40 a week, with at least two consecutive paid rest days a week. In Ramadan, Muslim workers work no more than 6 hours a day or 30 a week. Overtime normally needs the worker's consent and total hours cannot exceed 12 a day.
Agreed overtime is paid at the basic hourly wage plus at least 25% by day and 50% at night, or replaced with time off (Article 71). Work on a rest day or public holiday earns 100% of the basic daily wage on top of the day's wage, or a day off in lieu. In the cases in Article 72, such as annual stocktaking for up to 15 days a year or emergencies, the employer can order overtime without consent. That ordered overtime is paid at the basic hourly wage plus at least 50% by day and 75% at night, and on rest days and public holidays it earns 200% of the basic daily wage on top of the day's wage.
How much annual leave do employees get in Oman?
At least 30 days a year on gross wage, available once the worker has completed 6 months with the employer. Up to 30 unused days can be carried over, unless the leave was missed because of the needs of the work. Unused leave is paid at gross wage when employment ends.
The employer can postpone leave by up to 6 months when work requires it, but the worker must take at least 30 days at least once every two years (Article 81). A non-Omani worker is entitled to a return ticket home for the leave agreed in the contract (Article 78). Paid public holidays are on gross wage (Article 79).
What other paid leave does the Labour Law give?
Article 84 gives paid special leave on gross wage. It includes 7 days' paternity leave, 98 days' maternity leave, 3 days for marriage and 3 days on the death of a parent, grandparent or sibling. It also gives 15 days once for Hajj after one year's continuous service.
Article 84 also gives 10 days on the death of a wife or child, and 130 days for a Muslim working woman whose husband dies, or 14 days for a non-Muslim woman. Of the maternity leave, no more than 14 days may be taken before the birth. Sick leave rules and the Social Protection Fund's leave insurance are covered in our Oman payroll guide.
Key figures
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Written Arabic contract | In writing and in Arabic, or with an Arabic copy approved by both parties, and approved by the competent authority. (source) |
| Fixed-term limit | Up to 5 years, renewable by agreement; longer terms make the contract indefinite. (source) |
| Probation | Up to 3 months for monthly-paid staff and 2 months for others, once per employer, ended by either side with at least 7 days' notice. (source) |
| Notice | 30 days for monthly-paid staff and 15 days for others on an indefinite contract, unless the contract sets longer. Pay in lieu is at the last gross wage. (source) |
| Job-search time | 10 paid hours a week during any notice, and employer notice does not run while the worker is on leave. (source) |
| Working hours | 8 actual hours a day and 40 a week; 6 a day or 30 a week in Ramadan for Muslim workers; at most 12 hours a day including overtime. (source) |
| Overtime pay | Agreed overtime: basic hourly wage plus at least 25% by day and 50% at night. Overtime ordered without consent in the Article 72 cases: plus at least 50% by day and 75% at night. (source) |
| Weekly rest | At least two consecutive paid rest days a week. (source) |
| Annual leave | At least 30 days on gross wage after 6 months' service, up to 30 days carried over, and at least 30 days taken every two years. (source) |
| Maternity and paternity leave | 98 days' maternity leave and 7 days' paternity leave, both on gross wage. (source) |
Frequently asked questions
Can probation in Oman be 6 months?
No. Article 37 caps probation at 3 months for monthly-paid staff and 2 months for staff paid another way, and it can only be used once with the same employer.
Does an employment contract in Oman have to be in Arabic?
Yes. Article 33 requires a written contract in Arabic. A contract in another language is allowed only with an attached Arabic copy approved by both parties, and the contract must be approved by the competent authority.
How many days off a week do employees get in Oman?
At least two consecutive paid rest days a week under Article 77, within a 40-hour working week.
Can an employer pay out unused annual leave in Oman?
Only with the worker's written agreement while employed, and then at basic wage (Article 81). When employment ends, any unused balance is paid at gross wage.
Can a non-compete clause be used in Oman?
Yes, where the job gives access to trade secrets or clients. Article 69 requires the clause to state the time, place and type of work, keeps it within the employer's area of activity, and caps it at two years.
Each of the six Gulf states writes its own labour law, its own end-of-service rules and its own quota for hiring citizens. When Teamed is your legal employer, we apply the right rules for the country each person works in and update your contracts, policies and payroll as the law changes, so you never have to read a statute to stay compliant.
