New Licensing Requirement for Oil and Gas Professionals from September: What It Means for Your Business in Oman

• By Oman Market
• August 4, 2025August 4, 2025
• energy sector Oman Professional Licensing
• With 0 comments

Muscat: The Ministry of Labour has announced that, starting September 1, 2025, individuals working in specific professions within Oman’s Energy and Minerals Sector will be required to obtain professional practice licenses. This initiative aims to regulate the labour market, improve workforce efficiency, and align professional standards with national goals.

All current employees and new hires in the designated professions must secure a professional practice license through the Oman Energy Association, represented by the Sector Skills Unit for the Energy and Minerals Sector. This license will be mandatory for both the issuance and renewal of work permits.

The Ministry has emphasized that work permits will not be issued or renewed for these professions without a valid professional practice license. Employers are urged to ensure compliance with these new regulations.

The licensing requirement applies to 43 specific job titles, including HSE Advisors, Crane Operators, Forklift Operators, Excavator Operators, Mechanical and Electrical Technicians, Drillers, Welders, and other specialized technical roles.

This measure is intended to elevate the qualifications of the national workforce, maintain stringent safety standards, and guarantee that professionals in key sectors hold the necessary certifications for their roles.

The full list of professions subject to mandatory licensing in Oman’s Energy and Minerals (Oil & Gas) Sector is as follows:

1. HSE Advisor
2. Mobile Crane Operator
3. Telescopic Handler Operator
4. Forklift Operator
5. Excavator Operator
6. MEWP Operator
7. Slinger/Signaller/Rigger
8. Overhead Crane Operator
9. Vehicle Marshal
10. Lifting Supervisor
11. Appointed Person
12. Mud Tester
13. Facilities Maintenance Craftsperson
14. Manual Welder
15. Mechanical Craftsperson
16. Assistant Driller
17. Building Maintenance Technician
18. Automated Mechanized Welding Operator
19. Machine Operator
20. CNC Machine Operator
21. Electrical Craftsperson
22. Facilities Maintenance Fitter
23. Sheet Metalworker
24. Driller
25. Production Assembler
26. Machinist
27. Instrument Craftsperson
28. Roustabout
29. Facilities Maintenance Technician
30. Plate Worker
31. Mechanical Technician
32. Floorman
33. Structural Steelworker
34. CNC Machinist
35. Electrical Technician
36. Pipe and Tube Fabricator
37. Derrickman
38. Instrument Technician
39. Tool Pusher
40. Welding Assistant
41. Machine Tool Technician
42. Fitting and Assembly Technician
43. Pipe and Fitting Assembling Technician

This licensing effort underscores Oman’s commitment to enhancing professional standards and safety within its vital energy sector.

Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market

The introduction of mandatory professional licensing in Oman’s Energy and Minerals Sector signals a strategic shift towards workforce upskilling and stricter regulatory compliance, enhancing safety and operational standards. For businesses, this presents both a compliance challenge and an opportunity to invest in certified talent development, ensuring competitiveness and reducing risks of permit denials. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should now prioritize professional certification partnerships and training programs to align with these new regulations, turning compliance into a catalyst for market leadership.