"Oman and Saudi Arabia step up their localization efforts in the private sector", 7 Aug 2022

Though high oil prices are fuelling strong economic recovery in both Oman and Saudi Arabia, the two countries are steaming ahead with localisation programmes. Both have recently issued ministerial decisions that ban migrants from certain jobs in the private sector.

Some managerial level positions and specialists in all sectors, engineers, technicians, as well as other jobs typically held by migrant workers including security guards and bus drivers, can now only be held by nationals.

According to the decision, existing work permits for non-Omani workers in the banned professions will be valid until they expire...

...The Omani government has since taken a more aggressive approach to localise jobs to Omani citizens, which, in tandem with the pandemic, resulted in the migrant population dropping by 17.7% between the end of 2019 and 2021.

The country nonetheless remains dependent on migrant workers. Recently, the government significantly reduced fees for obtaining and renewing migrant labour visas, and migrant worker recruitment increased by 10.2% in the first half of 2022 compared to the end of 2021.