Oman mandates licensing for some oil and gas sector jobs

Muscat: Ministry of Manpower has announced on Monday the mandatory licensing requirement for certain jobs in the oil and gas sector, effective from September 1, 2025. 

The move comes as part of ongoing efforts to regulate the labour market and enhance the efficiency of national workforce capabilities, the Ministry of Labour, in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, has stated that individuals employed in or seeking employment in specified roles within the oil and gas sector will be required to obtain a license to practice from the Energy and Minerals Sector Skills Unit, represented by the Oman Energy Society.

Mandatory prerequisite

The license will become a mandatory prerequisite for both the issuance and renewal of work permits for the listed professions. The Labour Ministry emphasised that no permits will be granted for these roles without submission of an approved license.

The ministry's statement reads: "“Obtaining a license to practice the profession issued by the Sectoral Skills Unit for the Energy and Minerals Sector is a mandatory requirement for issuing or renewing work permits, effective from September 1, 2025. The Ministry of Labor will not grant these permits until after submitting the approved license,”. 

List of occupations classified under the Professional Accreditation System in the oil and gas sector in Oman are as follows:

• HSE Advisor

• Mobile Crane Operator

• Telescopic Handier Operator

• Forklift Operator

• Excavator Operator

• MEWP Operator

• Slinger/Signaller/RNB

• Overhead crane operator

• Vehicle Marshaller

• Lifting Supervisor

• Appointed Person

• Mud Tester

• Facilities Maintenance Craftsperson

• Manual Welder

• Mechanical Craftsperson

• Assistant Driller

• Building Maintenance Technician

• Automated Mechanized Welding Operator

• Machine Operator

• CNC Machine Operator

• Electrical Craftsperson

• Facilities Maintenance Fitter

• Sheet Metalworker

• Driller

• Production Assembler

• Machinist

• Instrument Craftsperson

• Roustabout

• Facilities Maintenance Technician

• Plate Worker

• Mechanical Technician

• Floorman

• Structural Steelworker

• CNC Machinist

• Electrical Technician

• Pipe and Tube Fabricator

• Derrickman

• Instrument Technician

• Tool Pusher

• Welding Assistant

• Machine Tool Technician

• Fitting and Assembly Technician

• Pipe and Fitting Assembling Technician

Meanwhile, Oman’s localisation rate in the oil and gas industry reached 89 percent last year, with 17,900 nationals employed, according to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals’ annual report.

State-backed Petroleum Development Oman and Daleel Petroleum hired 1,400 nationals between them, a 90 percent Omanisation rate.

Omanisation in the mining sector reached 23 percent, with 900 Omanis employed.

In July, the ministry has announced that a Professional Practice License will become mandatory for several professions within the logistics sector, effective September 1, 2025. Obtaining a Professional Practice License from the Sectoral Skills Unit for the Logistics Sector will be a mandatory prerequisite for the issuance or renewal of work permits for both Omani and expatriate workers. As of September 1, 2025, no work permit will be issued or renewed without the submission of this approved license.

List of professions classified under the Professional Accreditation System in the Logistics Sector are refrigerated truck driver (tractor-trailer), water tanker driver (tractor-trailer), tractor head driver (trailer), waste transport truck driver, food delivery representative and food delivery supervisor.