The majority of expats who seek work in Oman do so on a temporary basis. International companies usually recruit workers on a fixed term contract and after several years the worker returns to their home country.

For several years there has been a shortage of skills in the Middle East and this has led to a lot of recruitment abroad in industries such as oil, gas, petroleum, teaching, medicine and construction. As the countries have become more developed Omani workers are learning the skills that they need so there is more regulation now for foreign workers, although there is still a demand for specialists in the oil and gas industries and for teachers of English.

It is believed that the country will still require foreign workers, as there is still a great deal of development happening in Oman. In order to obtain a work visa for Oman it is much better to have a firm offer of employment in place. The company who intend to employ you will have to apply for the work visa on your behalf. You will have to provide documentation such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, medical certificate and have a passport that has at least six months left to run.

Employment contracts may include benefits such as accommodation, company car and medical insurance and one of the main perks of working in one of the Gulf States is the lack of taxation. You may earn a salary which is comparable to the one you had in your home country, but a slightly lower cost of living and no taxation means that you will have more disposable income.

The working week will vary between 40 and 48 hours, depending upon the industry you are in. For most the working day will start around 8.30 am or 9 am and finish around 5.30 pm or 6 pm. The weekend in Oman is Thursday and Friday (so most people are expected to work on Sunday).

There are a number of recruitment agencies which recruit for companies in Oman. Some of these are based in the country itself and some are based in other parts of the world. These agencies will all have websites so you can browse details of positions available before you apply. It is worth avoiding agencies which charge you a fee to join them. A reputable agency will only charge the recruiting company and not the applicant.