Oman's new rule: Professional licenses now mandatory for oil & gas jobs, check if your job is on the list

TL;DR:

• Oman ’s Ministry of Labour has mandated that, effective September 1, 2025, licensing is required for dozens of job roles in the oil and gas sector.

• Workers in these positions must obtain a license from the Energy and Minerals Sector Skills Unit , coordinated by the Oman Energy Society , before new or renewed work permits will be issued.

• The initiative is aimed at regulating the labor market, upskilling the workforce, and aligning with national Omanisation objectives.

As part of a push to enhance professional standards and workforce quality, Oman is introducing strict licensing requirements for a range of technical and operational positions in its oil and gas sector. This move, which comes into effect from September 1, 2025, is intended to further regulate the labor market and ensure that both Omanis and expatriates working in these critical fields meet verified competency benchmarks.

Scope and purpose
The mandate specifies that individuals working in, or seeking employment for, certain positions within the oil and gas sector must acquire a Professional Practice License from the Energy and Minerals Sector Skills Unit, under the Oman Energy Society. This license serves as a compulsory prerequisite for both initial work permit issuance and subsequent renewals for the affected roles. The Ministry of Labour will not grant or renew permits without submission of this license. Establishments have been instructed to ensure all their relevant employees comply with the new system.

Professions requiring licensing
The measure covers a wide set of technical, mechanical, and operational roles which are:

HSE Advisor

Mobile Crane Operator

Telescopic Handler Operator

Forklift Operator

Excavator Operator

MEWP Operator

Slinger/Signaller/Rigger

Overhead Crane Operator

Vehicle Marshal

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

A total of 43 specific job titles are subject to the new rules.

Implementation and process

• The licensing process is handled by the Oman Energy Society, with verification of candidate qualifications, experience, and, where applicable, practical assessments.
  
• The license is now a core requirement for both Omanis and expatriates when applying for or renewing a work permit for any of the listed sectors.
  

• Failure to obtain this license means no new or renewed work permit will be granted for these roles.
  

Nationalisation (Omanisation) context

• Oman’s localisation efforts in oil and gas are already advanced, with a reported 89 percent Omanisation rate and 17,900 nationals employed as of the 2024 government report. Major players like Petroleum Development Oman and Daleel Petroleum have reached 90 percent Omanisation rates.
  

• Oman's mining sector, by contrast, features a 23 percent Omanisation rate, with around 900 Omanis employed, underscoring the varied pace across sectors.
  

Parallel licensing requirement for logistics sector
The Ministry also announced, effective September 1, 2025, mandatory licensing for several logistics roles, including:

• Refrigerated truck driver (tractor-trailer)
  
• Water tanker driver (tractor-trailer)
  
• Tractor head driver (trailer)
  
• Waste transport truck driver
  
• Food delivery representative and supervisor
  

For these jobs, a Professional Practice License from the Sectoral Skills Unit for the Logistics Sector is now obligatory for both Omanis and foreign workers before work permits are issued or renewed.

Objective and impact
These licensing initiatives aim to:

• Elevate occupational standards and ensure competency
  
• Enhance the safety, reliability, and professionalism of the workforce
  
• Support Oman’s Vision 2040 targets for national workforce development and sectoral Omanisation
  
• Create a transparent and competitive business environment that rewards verified skill and compliance
  

Oman’s new licensing requirements for oil, gas, and logistics sector jobs mark a decisive regulatory step in aligning labour practices with international standards, improving workforce quality, and supporting localisation. Affected companies and professionals must ensure they obtain the necessary professional licenses from recognised sectoral bodies, or risk losing eligibility for work permits after September 1, 2025. This move is expected to foster safer operations, higher skills, and equitable access to key positions in critical industries.