In Oman, recruitment and manpower offices are a reserved activity — only Omani nationals can own one, despite Oman’s otherwise liberal foreign-investment regime. This is the full 2026 guide to opening and licensing a domestic-worker recruitment office in Oman.
Part of our GCC licensing series. Educational only — several Oman figures are indicative; confirm with the Ministry of Labour.
The Authority & Legal Basis
The recruitment-office permit is issued by the Ministry of Labour (formerly the Ministry of Manpower), while the commercial registration is handled by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion (MOCIIP). The main portal is omanportal.gov.om. Domestic-worker rules were updated by Ministerial Decision 574 of 2025.
Who Can Own It
Manpower and recruitment offices are on Oman’s foreign-investment negative list (Ministerial Decision 209 of 2020) — a set of activities reserved for Omani investors. They may be established only by Omani nationals; 100% foreign ownership is not permitted for this activity, even though Oman generally allows full foreign ownership in many sectors. Some business-setup blogs claim otherwise — the negative list overrides them.
Company Structure
- An Omani-owned entity (an LLC is typical).
- MOCIIP commercial registration.
- Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI) membership.
- Ministry of Labour recruitment-office authorisation on top of the commercial licence.
Money (Indicative — Confirm Officially)
Industry sources indicate a bank guarantee for domestic-worker recruitment agencies of roughly OMR 5,000–10,000 and Ministry of Labour annual fees in the region of OMR 300–800. These figures are from private advisories, not an official Ministry schedule — verify the exact 2026 OMR amounts with the Ministry of Labour and MOCIIP.
Step-by-Step: How to Open It
- Register the Omani-owned entity with MOCIIP.
- Secure office premises meeting the activity requirements.
- Join the OCCI (chamber membership).
- Lodge the bank guarantee (indicatively OMR 5,000–10,000).
- Apply to the Ministry of Labour for the recruitment-office authorisation.
- Pass the site inspection, pay the fees, and register the labour file.
Validity & Key Obligations
- Validity: typically 1 year, renewed alongside the MOCIIP trade licence.
- Written contracts and WPS payroll for domestic workers under Ministerial Decision 574/2025.
- Welfare standards; violations are fined OMR 50–500 per worker.
Once You Are Licensed
Reach families in Oman: see the Oman agency directory, read how families choose a verified agency, and the AI tooling agencies use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreigner own a recruitment office in Oman?
No. Recruitment and manpower offices are on the foreign-investment negative list (MD 209/2020) and are reserved for Omani nationals, despite Oman’s general foreign-ownership regime.
How much is the bank guarantee?
Indicatively OMR 5,000–10,000 per private advisories — confirm the official amount with the Ministry of Labour.
What law governs domestic workers now?
Ministerial Decision 574 of 2025, which requires written contracts and WPS payroll, with fines of OMR 50–500 per worker for violations.
How long is the licence valid?
Typically one year, renewed with the MOCIIP trade licence.
Where do I apply?
MOCIIP for the company, then the Ministry of Labour (omanportal.gov.om) for the recruitment authorisation.
Conclusion
Oman keeps recruitment offices on its reserved list — Omani ownership only. If you qualify, the path runs MOCIIP → OCCI → guarantee → Ministry of Labour. Treat the OMR figures as indicative and confirm officially. Compare all six markets in our GCC licensing overview, or list in the Oman directory once licensed.
