Oman Grants Citizenship to 45 Individuals Under New Nationality Law

(Oman) Oman granted Omani citizenship to 45 people on November 2, 2025, after Sultan Haitham bin Tariq issued Royal Decree No. 94/2025, applying the country’s updated Nationality Law for one of the first times since it took effect earlier this year. The move underlines the Sultanate’s stated aim to recognize individuals who have shown strong ties, contributions, and loyalty to the country, and it signals how authorities intend to use selective naturalization to support national cohesion.

Legal framework and timing

The citizenship grants come under a new legal framework introduced by Royal Decree No. 17/2025, which replaced the 2014 nationality law and took effect on February 2, 2025. The revised law broadens who can be considered for citizenship, including updated pathways based on birth, descent, marriage, and naturalization.

Officials say the changes align the law with current social and economic needs while maintaining a careful, case-by-case approach. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the decree-based grants indicate leadership plans to keep naturalization rare and purposeful, with public interest at the center of each decision.

Key changes in acquisition and criteria

• Shorter residency requirement: Foreign nationals can now seek citizenship after 15 years of continuous legal residence, reduced from 20 years under the previous law.
• The system remains selective: Authorities weigh factors such as integration, language ability, and societal contribution.
• Detailed criteria are not publicly listed in full, and final decisions rest with the government, which emphasizes national interest and loyalty.

These changes make the pathway more accessible in practice for long-term residents, but approval is discretionary and based on a broad assessment of suitability.

Loss and revocation of citizenship

The new Nationality Law also sets out grounds for losing or having citizenship revoked, including offenses considered harmful to the interests of Oman. The framework grants authorities discretion in such cases, and legal observers note that options to challenge revocation are limited.

• Supporters: Argue that strong safeguards are necessary to protect the country’s security and social fabric.
• Critics: Caution that revocation powers require clear standards and predictable procedures.

The government has not linked the revocation rules to the 45 recent grants; the latest decree is presented as a positive recognition of contribution and loyalty.

The decree’s language emphasizes national cohesion and frames citizenship as both a recognition and a long-term commitment between the state and the individual.

Process and profile of successful applicants

While the identities of the 45 new citizens were not released, people familiar with the process say such decrees typically follow:

1. Extensive background checks
2. Coordination across agencies
3. Assessment of residence history, records, and community ties

Applicants with long residence, steady records, and clear community links tend to be stronger candidates. Those applying via marriage or descent must meet stricter, specific requirements and timelines distinct from general naturalization rules.

Practical rollout and government messaging

This step marks the practical rollout of the legal overhaul that has been in force since early February. Observers in Muscat note the authorities are signaling that Oman will welcome new citizens in measured numbers, favoring individuals who have lived in the country for many years and contributed to its development.

Officials have not announced any upcoming application windows tied to the decree, and there was no indication the 45 grants were part of a public call. Instead, the decree suggests ongoing, routine implementation under the updated rules, with cases moving forward as they satisfy the law’s standards.

For official guidance and procedural updates, people are directed to the Oman Ministry of Interior: https://www.moi.gov.om.

Economic and social implications

• Economic stakeholders: Say the shorter residency threshold could support talent retention, especially for professionals who have anchored careers in the Sultanate.
• Community leaders: Describe a sense of recognition when long-term neighbors gain citizenship, reflecting shared schools, workplaces, and civic life.
• Business groups: Welcome clearer, stable nationality policies for planning purposes but caution against reading the decree as a signal of mass naturalization.

Diplomats note that, unlike some countries that tie citizenship to investment, Oman leans on time, ties, and loyalty, with the final decision held by the state—a distinction important for policymakers focused on safeguarding social cohesion while rewarding long-term contribution.

Family and category impacts

The law addresses several family-related pathways:

• Birth and descent: Recognized under defined conditions; can help eligible second-generation residents.
• Marriage-based cases: Contemplated, but subject to specific timelines and obligations beyond marriage alone.

These provisions reflect the state’s goal that citizenship follow real, lasting ties rather than short-term arrangements.

Outlook and what to watch

Observers will monitor:

• How often decrees like Royal Decree No. 94/2025 are issued
• Whether authorities publish more detail on approval patterns
• Additional guidance as ministries and agencies align the new Nationality Law with day-to-day procedures

For now, the immediate facts are clear: 45 new citizens, granted under a law that came into force on February 2, 2025, reflect a selective policy that prizes loyalty and public interest, framed by Royal Decree No. 17/2025 at the core of the legal change.