Oman Maternity Leave: The Complete 2026 Guide
How Oman's new Labour Law nearly doubled paid maternity leave to 98 days and removed the old caps on occurrences and service.
→ Open the Oman Maternity Leave Calculator
Oman's new Labour Law — Royal Decree 53/2023 — nearly doubled paid maternity leave and removed two of the old law's biggest restrictions. This guide covers the 98-day entitlement, how it is timed, why there is no longer a cap or a service requirement, and how it is funded.
98 days, up from 50
Under Article 84, working mothers now get 98 days of leave at full (gross) wage — up from just 50 days under the repealed Royal Decree 35/2003. Up to 14 days may be taken before the expected delivery date (on medical recommendation), with the rest taken afterward.
No more cap on occurrences
The old law limited full maternity leave to 3 occasions with the same employer. The new law removed that cap entirely — you are entitled to the full 98 days every time you have a child, for as long as you work.
No more minimum-service requirement
The old law's qualifying-service condition was also eliminated. There is no minimum length of service required before you qualify for paid maternity leave under the new law — a new hire is covered.
Worked example
A mother on OMR 600/month basic salary taking the full 98-day leave:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Daily wage | 600 ÷ 30 | OMR 20 |
| 98 days at full pay | 20 × 98 | OMR 1,960 |
So 98 days of full-pay leave on a OMR 600 wage is worth OMR 1,960. Try your own wage on the Oman maternity leave calculator; the rule is on the Oman maternity leave guide.
How it is funded
Employers currently pay your wages during the leave directly, while also contributing 1% of wages per month into a dedicated maternity-insurance branch of Oman's Social Protection Fund (SPF), which is progressively taking over the payment function as Oman's new social-insurance regime rolls out.
How Oman compares
At 98 days, Oman is now more generous than Bahrain's 60-day entitlement — see the Bahrain maternity leave calculator and Bahrain maternity guide. For the method behind the numbers, read how to calculate Oman maternity pay.
Key takeaways
- 98 days at full (gross) wage under Article 84, up to 14 of them before delivery.
- No cap on how many times you can take it.
- No minimum service requirement to qualify.
- Funded via the employer plus a 1%-of-wages SPF contribution.
What changed, and why it matters
The 2023 reform was one of the most significant maternity improvements in the region. Paid leave rose from 50 to 98 days, the old 3-occasion cap was scrapped, and the qualifying-service condition was removed. Together these changes mean a working mother in Oman is now entitled to nearly double the paid time off, for every pregnancy, from her first day of employment — a substantial upgrade on the repealed Royal Decree 35/2003.
Timing the leave
Up to 14 of the 98 days may be taken before the expected delivery date on medical recommendation, with the remainder taken afterward. The full 98 days are paid at your gross wage regardless of how you split them. This flexibility lets mothers rest before birth if medically advised, without reducing the post-birth entitlement.
How funding is evolving
Currently, employers pay wages during the leave directly, while also contributing 1% of wages per month into a dedicated maternity-insurance branch of Oman's Social Protection Fund (SPF). Over time the SPF is progressively taking over the payment function as Oman's new social-insurance regime rolls out. For employees the effect is the same — full pay during the leave — but the funding mechanism behind it is shifting toward the state fund.
Regional context
At 98 days, Oman is now among the more generous private-sector maternity regimes in the Gulf, ahead of Bahrain's 60-day entitlement. If you are comparing roles or planning across the two countries, see the Bahrain maternity leave calculator and its guide, and estimate your Oman pay on the Oman calculator.
Key numbers at a glance
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Paid maternity leave | 98 days at full gross wage (Article 84) |
| Before delivery | Up to 14 days on medical advice |
| Cap on occurrences | None (old 3-occasion cap removed) |
| Minimum service | None (old requirement removed) |
| Funding | Employer + 1% of wages/month to the SPF maternity branch |
Glossary
Article 84 — the provision granting 98 days of fully paid maternity leave. Royal Decree 35/2003 — the repealed old law that gave only 50 days with a 3-occasion cap. SPF — the Social Protection Fund, which is progressively taking over maternity payment. Gross wage — full pay including allowances, the basis for maternity pay.
The bottom line
Oman's 2023 law nearly doubled maternity leave to 98 days at full gross wage, removed the 3-occasion cap, and removed the minimum-service requirement. Up to 14 days may fall before delivery, and funding is shifting toward the Social Protection Fund.
Putting it into practice
Knowing the rule is one thing; applying it to your own situation is another. Here is what you need to do the calculation confidently.
What you'll need to run the numbers
To estimate Oman maternity pay, you need your monthly wage and, if taking days before delivery, a medical recommendation (up to 14 pre-delivery days). All 98 days are paid at your full gross wage, so the estimate is a little over three months of pay regardless of how you split the leave around the birth.
When to get professional advice
Advice is rarely needed here, since the new law removed the old cap and service requirement, but it can help if an employer still quotes the repealed 50-day rule or a 3-occasion limit, or if there is confusion about the Social Protection Fund transition. Estimate your entitlement first on the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of paid maternity leave do I get in Oman?
98 days at full wage under Article 84 of the new Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023) — up from 50 days under the old, repealed law.
Is there a limit on how many times I can take maternity leave in Oman?
No — the new law removed the old 3-occurrence cap. You can take the 98-day paid leave every time you have a child.
Do I need a minimum length of service to qualify for Oman maternity leave?
No — the new law removed the qualifying-service requirement that existed under the old Royal Decree 35/2003.
Who pays for maternity leave in Oman?
Your employer pays your wages during the leave; the system is transitioning to funding through the Social Protection Fund, to which employers contribute 1% of wages per month toward a dedicated maternity-insurance branch.
- Royal Decree 53/2023 (Oman Labour Law) — The official text of Oman's new Labour Law, in force from 26 July 2023.
- Oman Ministry of Labour — The government ministry that administers the Labour Law and its regulations.
- Al Tamimi & Company — A leading regional law firm publishing detailed guides to Oman's 2023 Labour Law.