The State of the World's Human Rights; Oman 2025

Restrictions on freedom of expression increased. A new citizenship law enabled authorities to revoke citizenship from critics of the Sultan or the state, while activists and protesters faced arrests and imprisonment for peaceful expression. Press freedom was further restricted by new media regulations granting state authorities broad powers of censorship and surveillance. Minimum standards for employing domestic workers were introduced but migrant workers, particularly domestic workers, remained trapped under the abusive kafala (sponsorship) system, suffering exploitation with limited legal protection. Women and girls continued to experience gender-based discrimination, including under the new citizenship law, and lacked protection from domestic violence.

Freedom of expression and association

On 11 February the Sultan of Oman ratified a new citizenship law that allowed the authorities to revoke Omani citizenship from people who verbally or physically “offend” Oman or the Sultan, or who belong to a group, party or organization that embraces principles or beliefs that “harm the interests” of Oman – vague terms that can be used to silence opponents and restrict opinions.

Authorities continued to summon, arrest and prosecute activists, government critics and peaceful protesters.

On 8 April, activist Talal Al-Salmani was arrested after joining a peaceful gathering during which he criticized the government. He was sentenced two days later to a fine for “participation in an unlawful gathering” and to one year in prison for “spreading news likely to undermine the prestige of the state”. In May the Muscat Court of Appeal upheld his conviction but reduced the prison term to three months for each charge, to be served concurrently. He was released on 6 August.

Salem bin Salam Al-Salti was summoned for interrogation on 8 August. He was subjected to enforced disappearance, the duration of which could not be confirmed by the end of the year. Media outlets and an Omani NGO reported that his summons was related to his comments on social media criticizing government policy on unemployment.

Omani authorities arrested writer Mohammed Ali Al-Bar’ami on 18 June, two days after he posted comments on the platform X criticizing the government system as “corrupt”. On 28 July the Primary Court in the city of Salalah sentenced him to four years in prison, fined him OMR 5,000 (around USD 13,000) and ordered the closure of his social media accounts for “using information networks and information technology means to publish what may harm public order”.

Press freedom

In September the Ministry of Information issued Executive Regulations to operationalize the Media Law passed in December 2024. The Media Law expanded state power to restrict press freedom by granting authorities broad powers to control media content and licensing of newspapers, broadcasting channels, news agencies, media workers and publishing houses. The law also granted sweeping powers to suspend activities without judicial approval, impose surveillance on journalists and media institutions, and limit the licensed use of social media accounts to Omani citizens in that profession.

Migrants’ rights

Despite official pledges to abolish the kafala (sponsorship) system, it remained in force leaving hundreds of thousands of migrant workers – particularly domestic workers – vulnerable to abuse. Sponsors continued to exert control by illegally confiscating workers’ documents, restricting their freedom of movement and employment, while the authorities failed to provide adequate protection to those fleeing exploitation.

In September at least 11 Indian migrant workers were stranded after the company employing them withheld four months’ wages, denied overtime pay and confiscated their passports when they protested.

On 13 October the Ministry of Labour issued Ministerial Decision No. 574/2025, which introduced regulations to establish minimum standards for domestic workers, including weekly and annual leave, sick leave, regulated working hours and rest periods, prohibition of forced labour, and banning the retention of workers’ passports.

While these changes were long overdue, they did little to shift the power imbalance between employers and migrant workers. It remained unclear how the changes were being implemented, as many migrant domestic workers continued to face abuse, poor working and living conditions, unpaid wages, long working hours, movement restrictions and illegal passport confiscation.

Women’s and girls’ rights

Oman continued to lack comprehensive legal protections against domestic violence. There remained no stand-alone law that explicitly criminalized domestic abuse. Existing legislation on divorce, marriage and inheritance continued to uphold gender biases, consistently favouring men.

The new citizenship law, passed in February, discriminated against women by restricting their ability to confer nationality to their children and foreign spouses on the same basis as men and imposing stricter conditions for children of Omani women married to foreign men. This perpetuated gender inequality and put children at risk of statelessness.