Sultan Haitham Grants Omani Citizenship to 156 Expatriates

Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik has issued Royal Decree No. 17/2025, granting Omani citizenship to 156 expatriates, in accordance with the recently updated Omani Nationality Law.

The decree follows the implementation of new regulations under Royal Decree No. 17/2025, which came into effect on February 2, 2025, and replaces the previous nationality framework established by Royal Decree No. 38/2014.

The updated law introduces clear eligibility pathways for acquiring Omani citizenship—through birth, marriage to an Omani national, or naturalization. It also outlines specific conditions for each route, including requirements related to parentage, residency, and integration into Omani society.

Notably, the law prohibits dual nationality, except in cases where it is explicitly granted by the Sultan. Under Article 23, individuals who acquire a foreign nationality without official approval will automatically lose their Omani citizenship.

Marriage and Citizenship

The law stipulates consequences for citizenship acquired through marriage:

• A foreign man who gains citizenship through marriage to an Omani woman may lose it if the marriage ends in divorce or desertion within five years.
• A foreign woman who becomes an Omani citizen through marriage to an Omani man forfeits her citizenship if she divorces and subsequently marries a non-Omani.

Importantly, in both cases, children retain their Omani citizenship, even if a parent loses theirs.

Grounds for Revocation

Under Article 26, citizenship may be revoked for individuals who:

• Insult the Sultan or the state, either verbally or through actions.
• Join organizations that promote ideologies harmful to Oman’s interests.
• Work for foreign governments or hostile entities against Omani interests and ignore requests to resign.

Article 27 allows for revocation if an individual:

• Commits crimes against state security.
• Is convicted of multiple felonies within five years of acquiring citizenship.
• Resides outside Oman for more than 24 consecutive months without valid justification.

However, the law also allows for citizenship reinstatement if the circumstances leading to revocation no longer apply.

Preserving National Integrity

These new provisions reflect Oman’s firm stance on national loyalty and integrity, ensuring that citizenship is granted and maintained under strict, well-defined conditions.