Moving to Oman

Residency in Oman runs through the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the Ministry of Labour, with most expatriates entering under the kafala employer-sponsorship system. Vision 2040 reforms have introduced an Investor Residency Programme offering self-sponsored 5 or 10-year visas tied to qualifying real estate or business investment, alongside a freelance permit that breaks the traditional employer-tied model. Tourist entry is handled by an efficient ROP eVisa portal, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access for GCC nationals and many Western passport holders.

Oman's economy is anchored by oil and gas, which still funds the majority of government revenue, but significant diversification is underway. Key sectors for expatriates include oil and gas services (Petroleum Development Oman is the largest employer in the energy sector), logistics and ports (Duqm, Sohar, Salalah), tourism and hospitality, healthcare, education, and banking. Muscat is the economic center, followed by the industrial city of Sohar and the southern port city of Salalah.

Oman's healthcare system is a mix of well-funded public care and an expanding private sector. The Ministry of Health operates a network of hospitals and health centers nationwide, with flagship facilities including Royal Hospital and Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat. Public healthcare is subsidized for Omani nationals; expatriates typically access care through employer-provided private health insurance, which is mandatory under Omani law since 2023 through the Dhamani system. Major private providers include Muscat Private Hospital, Starcare Hospital, KIMS Oman Hospital, and the Aster Royal Al Raffah Hospital. Quality of care is high for most conditions, with modern facilities and internationally trained physicians — many of whom trained in the UK, India, or Egypt. Complex oncology, cardiology, and neurosurgery cases are handled competently in-country, though some patients still travel to the UAE, India, or Europe for highly specialized procedures. Pharmacies are widely available, and many medications that require prescriptions elsewhere are sold over the counter.

Oman has made significant investments in digital government services under the Oman Vision 2040 roadmap. The Tam app (Tasdeeq) and the ROP's digital portals allow residents to complete many official processes online. Internet connectivity is fast and reliable, with Omantel and Ooredoo as the two dominant providers, both offering fiber-to-the-home services in urban areas and nationwide 4G/5G coverage.

Omani culture is rooted in Ibadi Islam (a distinct school practiced primarily in Oman), traditional tribal values, and a maritime and trading heritage that historically linked the country to East Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Persia. The result is a society that feels both deeply Arab and unusually outward-looking — Swahili is spoken in some Omani families with East African roots, and Baluchi, Urdu, and Hindi are commonly heard in Muscat's markets. Hospitality is central. Guests are offered kahwa (Omani coffee flavored with cardamom) and dates, often multiple times, and rushing through this ritual is seen as impolite. The national dress is widely worn by Omani men — the dishdasha, a long white robe, paired with a kummah cap or a massar turban — and many government workplaces expect national dress during working hours. Omanis are generally soft-spoken, proud of their heritage, and welcoming to respectful foreigners. Building relationships before conducting business is not optional; it is the way things are done.

• •Kahwa and dates are more than a refreshment — they are a formal welcome ritual. Accept at least a small cup, and the host will often pour until you shake the cup gently to signal you are finished.
• •Dress modestly in public. Men should avoid shorts above the knee in towns; women should cover shoulders and knees outside resorts. In mosques and some traditional areas, a headscarf for women is appreciated.
• •Friday is the main day of prayer and rest. The Omani weekend is Friday-Saturday. Most businesses open later on Friday and government offices are closed.
• •Photographing people, especially Omani women, without explicit permission is a serious breach of etiquette. Military sites, palaces, and some government buildings are prohibited subjects.
• •Ramadan transforms daily life: eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours is illegal for everyone, Muslim or not. Many restaurants close during the day and reopen after sunset for iftar.