How much sick leave do you get in Oman?
Sick leave in Oman is set by Article 82 of the Oman Labour Law issued by Royal Decree 53/2023 (the 2023 Labour Law). A worker may get up to 182 days of sick leave a year, paid on the gross wage in four steps. You need a medical certificate (Article 47).
| Sick days in the year | Pay |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 21 | 100% of gross wage |
| Days 22 to 35 | 75% |
| Days 36 to 70 | 50% |
| Days 71 to 182 | 35% |
- 1Days 1 to 21: full pay
- 2Days 22 to 35: 75%
- 3Days 36 to 70: 50%
- 4Days 71 to 182: 35%
Some websites still show the old law's much shorter sick leave. The 2023 law replaced it with the 182 day scale above.
How much is a sick day worth?
The law counts a month as 30 days (Article 1(24)), so a day of gross wage is the monthly gross ÷ 30. Gross means basic plus all allowances (Article 1(18)).
Example: 40 sick days on a gross wage of OMR 500. A day is 500 ÷ 30 = OMR 16.67.
| Part of the leave | Days | Paid days | Pay (OMR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 21 at 100% | 21 | 21 | 350.00 |
| Days 22 to 35 at 75% | 14 | 10.5 | 175.00 |
| Days 36 to 40 at 50% | 5 | 2.5 | 41.67 |
| Total | 40 | 34 | 566.67 |
Your normal pay for those 40 days would be 40 × 500 ÷ 30 = OMR 666.67, so the illness costs you OMR 100 in lost pay.
Our reading is that the days add up across the year, so a second illness continues the count from where the first one stopped. The law says "a year" and does not say whether that is the calendar year or your year of service. Ask your HR which one they use.
Who pays sick leave, the employer or the Fund?
Under the Social Protection Law (Royal Decree 52/2023, Article 124), the employer pays the first 7 days and the Social Protection Fund pays from day 8, at the same rates. The sick leave insurance started on 19 July 2026 (Royal Decree 60/2025). Expats are covered only in the groups the Fund's board sets by decision (Social Protection Law, Article 121).
In the example above, the employer would pay 7 × 500 ÷ 30 = OMR 116.67 and the Fund OMR 450. Your total stays OMR 566.67 either way. Ask your employer whether you are registered with the Fund, as the exact groups of expats covered are still being set out.
Can you be fired for being sick?
The employer may end the contract if you have been ill for 3 months or more, but only after you have used all your sick leave and your annual leave (Article 42(4)). You keep your gratuity. Use the Oman final settlement calculator to see your dues.
What other paid leave do you get in Oman?
Article 84 gives these leaves on full gross wage.
| Leave | Days |
|---|---|
| Maternity (up to 14 before the birth) | 98 |
| Paternity | 7 |
| Marriage | 3 |
| Death of a parent, grandparent, brother or sister | 3 |
| Death of an uncle or aunt | 2 |
| Death of a wife or a child | 10 |
| Hajj, once, after 1 year of service | 15 |
| Widow's waiting period, Muslim | 130 |
| Widow's waiting period, non-Muslim | 14 |
| Exams, Omani students | 15 |
| Accompanying a husband, wife or close relative who is ill, Omani workers | 15 |
A mother also gets 1 hour a day for nursing for one year from the end of maternity leave (Article 76), and may ask for up to one year of unpaid childcare leave (Article 83).
Example: maternity leave on a gross wage of OMR 500. 98 × 500 ÷ 30 = OMR 1,633.33. The Fund's maternity insurance started on 19 July 2024 (Royal Decree 52/2023, Article VI). Ask your employer whether you are covered.
Annual leave is separate: at least 30 days a year on the gross wage (Article 78). See the Oman leave salary calculator for what unused days are worth.
Mistakes people make
- Quoting the old sick leave rules. The 2023 law gives up to 182 days in four steps.
- Using the basic wage. Sick pay and the Article 84 leaves are on the gross wage.
- Starting the count again with each illness. The law gives 182 days a year, and our reading is that every illness in the year counts toward them.
- Forgetting the medical certificate. Without one the days may be counted as absence.
- Not asking about the Fund. Maternity insurance started in 2024 and sick leave insurance in 2026, so check whether you are registered.
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 sick leave in Oman
How many sick days do you get in Oman? Up to 182 days a year: 21 at full pay, 14 at 75%, 35 at 50% and 112 at 35% of gross wage (Article 82).
Is sick leave paid on basic or gross salary in Oman? On the gross wage, which is basic plus all allowances.
Who pays sick leave in Oman? For workers insured with the Social Protection Fund, the employer pays the first 7 days and the Fund pays from day 8, since 19 July 2026 (Social Protection Law, Article 124). Ask your employer whether you are covered.
How long is maternity leave in Oman? 98 days on full gross wage, of which up to 14 can be taken before the birth (Article 84).
How long is paternity leave in Oman? 7 days on full gross wage (Article 84).
Sources
- Royal Decree 53/2023 issuing the Labour Law, English translation on decree.om (Articles 1, 42, 47, 76, 78, 82, 83, 84)
- The same law in Arabic on qanoon.om
- Royal Decree 52/2023 issuing the Social Protection Law, decree.om (Article 124)
- Royal Decree 60/2025, decree.om
This guide is general information, checked in November 2026. Rules can change, so confirm with the Ministry of Labour or the Social Protection Fund.