Oman Loan Limits: Up to 50% of Salary for Personal Loans, 60% for Housing
The Central Bank of Oman restated its ceilings on salary deductions for loan repayments: 50 percent for personal loans and 60 percent for housing loans. What the limits mean and what to check.
Oman's central bank caps how much of your pay can go to loan repayments. In a clarification reported on 1 November 2025, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) said the maximum deduction is 50 percent of salary for a personal loan and 60 percent for a housing loan. We found no later circular changing those figures as of 6 November 2026, but we could not open the CBO's own circulars, so treat your bank's current terms as the final word.
How the ceilings work
The figure is a ceiling on total repayments compared with salary, not a promise that you can borrow up to it. National Bank of Oman's key facts statement for housing loans defines the debt burden ratio as the sum of all your monthly repayments, at that bank and elsewhere, divided by your net salary. That means:
- Your car loan, credit card instalments and other loans count towards the same limit.
- With a housing loan, the higher 60 percent ceiling applies to your total commitments, not to the housing instalment alone.
- Banks may also apply their own, tighter credit rules on top.
What the NBO statement shows for expats
The NBO housing loan statement lists the same two limits for expatriates: 50 percent without a housing loan, and 60 percent with one. The document's table was hard to read in the copy we opened, and it also lists extra terms for higher-income borrowers and pensioners, so do not rely on our summary for those cases. Ask your bank for the key facts statement for the exact product.
Loan term and interest
The CBO also said shorter repayment periods are linked to lower interest rates, and that putting off instalments raises the rate and stretches out the loan. So asking to defer instalments is likely to cost you more over the life of the loan, and a shorter term is worth asking about. The report does not say what prompted the statement, and gives no rates.
Retirees
A separate CBO scheme for retired employees sets a starting cap of 30 percent of the monthly pension if it is OMR 1,500 or less, and 35 percent above that. Banks and retirees can agree a higher share, up to the 50 and 60 percent ceilings. Zawya's article carries no publication date, so confirm with your bank.
What to check before you borrow
- Add up every monthly repayment you already have, not only the new loan.
- Ask the bank to show your debt burden ratio on the offer sheet.
- Compare the total cost over the whole term at two or three different lengths.
- If you are an expat, ask what happens to the loan if your job or residence changes. If your permit is close to expiry, see residency services.
For wider guidance on living and banking in Oman, see our move guide and the blog.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum share of my salary that can go to loan repayments?
The Central Bank of Oman said in November 2025 that the ceiling is 50 percent of salary for a personal loan and 60 percent for a housing loan.
Do the limits apply to expats?
National Bank of Oman's housing loan key facts statement shows the same two figures for expatriates: 50 percent without a housing loan and 60 percent with one. Your own bank's statement is what applies to you.
Does a shorter loan really cost less interest?
That is what the CBO said: shorter repayment periods come with lower interest rates, while postponing instalments raises the rate and lengthens the term.
Is there a different rule for retirees?
Yes. A separate CBO programme for retirees starts at 30 percent of the pension up to OMR 1,500 and 35 percent above that, and allows banks and retirees to agree higher shares up to the 50 and 60 percent ceilings. The article we saw is undated, so ask your bank whether it still applies.