Sultan Haitham Grants Omani Citizenship to 156 Foreign Nationals Under New Nationality Law
Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik has issued Royal Decree No. 17/2025, officially granting Omani citizenship to 156 expatriates, in line with the country’s revised nationality regulations.
The decree follows significant updates made earlier this year to Oman’s citizenship framework through the new Omani Nationality Law, which came into effect on February 2, 2025, replacing the previous law under Royal Decree No. 38/2014.
The updated legislation outlines specific pathways to obtain Omani nationality—by birth, marriage, or naturalization—each governed by clearly defined conditions. For instance, birthright citizenship requires Omani parentage, while spouses of Omani citizens must meet minimum years of marriage and residency requirements. The law also defines eligibility for citizenship by descent.
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A key feature of the revised law is the prohibition of dual nationality, unless explicitly allowed by royal decree. Under Article 23, any Omani citizen who acquires another nationality without official approval automatically loses their Omani citizenship.
The law also details rules for those gaining nationality through marriage. A foreign husband of an Omani woman may forfeit his citizenship if the marriage ends within five years due to divorce or abandonment. However, their children retain Omani citizenship. Similarly, a foreign woman married to an Omani man will lose her Omani status if she divorces and remarries a non-Omani national—effective from the date of her second marriage.
Article 26 empowers authorities to revoke citizenship in cases of insulting the Sultan or state, or associating with groups that threaten national security. Nationals working for foreign governments against Oman’s interests who ignore official warnings may also be stripped of their citizenship.
Further, Article 27 allows for the withdrawal of citizenship for individuals convicted of serious crimes against the state, or multiple felonies within five years of naturalization. Staying outside Oman for more than two consecutive years without a valid reason may also result in loss of nationality.
Despite its strict provisions, the law does allow for reinstatement of citizenship if the original grounds for revocation no longer apply.
These amendments to Oman’s nationality law reflect a strong commitment to preserving the nation’s identity and ensuring citizenship is governed by clear, enforceable standards.
