How many hours can you work in Oman?
Working hours in Oman are set by Article 70 of the Oman Labour Law issued by Royal Decree 53/2023 (the 2023 Labour Law).
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Normal hours | 8 a day, 40 a week |
| Break | 1 hour a day, not counted as work |
| Work in one stretch | At most 6 hours before a break |
| Ramadan, Muslim workers | 6 a day, 30 a week |
| Weekly rest | At least 2 days in a row, paid (Article 77) |
| Night | 9 pm to 5 am (Article 1(16)) |
| All hours in a day, with overtime | At most 12 (Article 71) |
Some websites still say 9 hours a day and 45 a week. That was the old law. Since the 2023 law, the limit is 8 and 40.
What are the overtime rates in Oman?
There are two cases, and they pay differently.
Article 71: overtime you agree to. The employer may ask you to work extra hours with your consent, up to 12 hours a day in total. You get your basic hourly wage plus at least:
- 25% for each hour by day
- 50% for each hour at night (9 pm to 5 am)
Instead of money, you can be given time off for the extra hours.
Article 72: overtime without your consent. The employer may make you work extra hours in two cases. The first is stocktaking, the budget, closing the accounts or preparing a sale, on up to 15 days a year unless the Ministry allows more. The second is to prevent or repair an accident, save goods that would spoil, or meet unusual pressure of work. In the second case the employer must tell the Ministry of Labour within 24 hours. The pay is higher: basic hourly wage plus at least 50% by day and 75% at night.
| Overtime | By day | At night | On a rest day or public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article 71, with consent | +25% | +50% | +100% of a day's basic, or a day off |
| Article 72, without consent | +50% | +75% | +200% of a day's basic, or 2 days off for a public holiday |
Every rate is on the basic wage, not the gross wage.
How do you work out the hourly rate?
The law counts a month as 30 days (Article 1(24)) and a normal day as 8 hours, but it does not spell out an hourly divisor. We use basic wage ÷ 30 ÷ 8. Some employers use 173.33 hours a month (40 hours × 52 weeks ÷ 12) instead, which gives a much higher rate: OMR 1.73 an hour on a basic of OMR 300, against OMR 1.25. Check your payslip to see which one your employer uses. The Oman overtime calculator lets you pick either.
- 1Basic wage ÷ 30 = a day
- 2A day ÷ 8 = an hour
- 3An hour × 1.25 by day or × 1.5 at night
- 4Multiply by the extra hours
Example: day and night overtime in a month
Basic wage OMR 300, all overtime agreed under Article 71.
- An hour of basic: 300 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = OMR 1.25.
- 10 day hours at 125%: 10 × 1.25 × 1.25 = OMR 15.625.
- 6 night hours at 150%: 6 × 1.25 × 1.5 = OMR 11.25.
- Overtime for the month: 15.625 + 11.25 = OMR 26.88 (rounded).
| Hours | Rate | Working | Pay (OMR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 by day | 125% | 10 × 1.5625 | 15.63 |
| 6 at night | 150% | 6 × 1.875 | 11.25 |
| 16 | 26.88 |
Work out your own overtime pay →
What do you get for working on a rest day?
A day's basic on OMR 300 is 300 ÷ 30 = OMR 10. Your normal wage for that day is already in your salary, so the extra is:
- Article 71 (with consent): at least +100% = OMR 10 extra, or another day off.
- Article 72 (without consent): at least +200% = OMR 20 extra. Only for a public holiday may the employer give 2 days off instead.
The same applies to work on a public holiday.
What about overtime in Ramadan?
In Ramadan the normal day for Muslim workers is 6 hours. Our reading is that hours above 6 are overtime. On a basic of OMR 300 at the normal hourly rate of OMR 1.25, 2 extra day hours a day for 20 days is 40 hours × 1.5625 = OMR 62.50. The law does not say whether the hourly rate should be worked out on 6 hours instead of 8 in Ramadan, so treat this as an estimate and ask your HR how they count it.
Mistakes people make
- Using the old 9 hour day. The 2023 law sets 8 hours a day and 40 a week.
- Paying overtime on the gross wage. The rates are on the basic wage.
- Missing the night rate. Hours from 9 pm to 5 am earn at least 50% extra, not 25%.
- Treating forced overtime like agreed overtime. Overtime without consent under Article 72 pays more.
- Working past 12 hours. Agreed overtime cannot take the day above 12 hours in total.
If you are leaving the job, unpaid overtime is part of your dues. See notice period in Oman and the Oman final settlement calculator.
This is an estimate under the published law, not legal advice. Your employer, the Ministry of Labour or a court gives the final figure.
Questions people ask about overtime calculation in Oman
How is overtime calculated in Oman? Basic hourly wage plus at least 25% by day or 50% at night, for overtime you agree to (Article 71). Overtime without consent pays at least 50% by day and 75% at night (Article 72).
What are the working hours in Oman under the new law? 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, with a 1 hour break a day that is not counted (Article 70).
What counts as night work in Oman? The hours from 9 pm to 5 am (Article 1(16)).
Can my employer make me work overtime? Only in the Article 72 cases: stocktaking and closing the accounts on up to 15 days a year, or an accident, spoiling goods or unusual pressure of work. All other overtime needs your consent.
What are the working hours in Ramadan in Oman? 6 hours a day and 30 a week for Muslim workers (Article 70).
Sources
- Royal Decree 53/2023 issuing the Labour Law, English translation on decree.om (Articles 1, 70, 71, 72, 77)
- The same law in Arabic on qanoon.om
- Ministry of Labour, Oman
This guide is general information, checked in November 2026. Rules can change, so confirm with the Ministry of Labour.