Oman to Reserve 22 Transport Roles for Nationals by 2027

Oman has announced a nationalisation policy that will reserve 22 specific roles within its transport and logistics sector for Omani nationals, with full enforcement expected by 2027. The policy, published by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information, began implementation on 1 September 2025 and will continue through 2027.

The targeted roles span across various sectors including Aviation, Land transport, and Administrative/technical. Specific occupations listed include marine observer, vessel traffic controller, pilot, forklift driver, cargo handler, quality controller, travel agent, and several others.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to decrease the country's dependence on expatriate labor and enhance the participation of Omani citizens in the workforce. Companies in the affected sectors will be required to meet specific quotas for hiring nationals, with penalties for non-compliance.

Expatriates currently in these roles may not face immediate job loss, but their long-term employment prospects could diminish as the 2027 deadline approaches.