Work in Salalah or another city in Oman is possible after receiving an invitation from a local employer and obtaining a work visa. You can find a job yourself or through a recruitment agency. To search for a job and write a resume, you will need knowledge of English. The most popular vacancies in the service sector are bartenders, hostesses, animators, flight attendants, financiers, and engineers are often required. The average salary in Oman is 18,400 AED (about 5,000 USD).
Almost everyone knows about the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. These are rich oil states, where many migrant workers who specialize in hotel and restaurant business or construction aspire to. But neighboring Oman is known to a much lesser extent, although it is much larger in territory, and only slightly inferior to the UAE in terms of population.
What is Oman?
Oman is a fairly wealthy country, although it is inferior in terms of prosperity to its neighbors. If in Qatar the nominal GDP per capita is 60 thousand dollars a year, in the UAE – 37 thousand, then in Oman – about 16 thousand, which is comparable to the European countries of the former socialist camp.
Good state budget revenues and a dynamically developing economy create many interesting opportunities for labor migrants in Oman. Traditionally, citizens of India, Bangladesh and other countries of Southeast Asia travel to this region of the world to work. But for immigrants from the former USSR, there is also a lot of interesting things here.
Although we are talking about a Muslim country, traditional stereotypes are inappropriate here. In Oman, foreigners are very loyal (both the state and local residents), there is a low unemployment rate, and almost zero crime. At the same time, the sector of public and social services is very well developed, so you will not stay here without qualified medical care and police protection. However, traditional Islamic values are taken seriously here, so before traveling to Oman, you should study the local culture and laws in matters of social behavior and moral standards.
A foreigner has the right to obtain the status of a resident of Oman on the basis of employment in the state. However, before moving, you should pay attention to local traditions and mentality, as well as a hot, humid climate. Go to layboard.in, if you want to know more about how to find a job in Oman, what vacancies are most in demand and what is needed to obtain a resident visa for employment.
Jobs in Oman for foreigners
Moving to Oman follows the traditional pattern: finding an employer, work permit, work visa, residence permit, etc. With this, numerous employment agencies specializing in the Gulf region can help you.
The average level of wages in Oman is significantly ahead of that in the CIS countries and many European countries. For example, a primary school teacher here receives 1,250 rials a month, which is about 2,500 euros. However, such high incomes exist only in the public sector, which is generously financed by petrodollars. Of course, almost exclusively Omanis are hired for government positions.
If we also consider the private sector, then the average salary level is from 1 to 2 thousand dollars per month. The average figure is greatly reduced by labor migrants from Southeast Asia, who are employed in the most difficult and low-skilled jobs. Nevertheless, immigrants from Europe can count on very good earnings:
- In the field of hotel services – hotel administrator, hostess, doorman, animator. The average salary is 1-1.5 thousand Omani rials.
- In the restaurant service – bartender, waiter, barista, cook. The average salary is about 1 thousand rials.
- In the field of real estate – a realtor. The salary is about 1.5 thousand rials.
- In the field of sales – sales assistant, manager. Of course, we are talking about expensive boutiques, and not about a grocery store or an electronics store. The average salary is from 900 to 1700 rials.
- In the beauty industry – masseur, stylist, manicurist. The salary is about 1 thousand Omani rials.
For reference. One Omani is equal to approximately 2 euros.
Of course, for all the above professions, you need not only to be a master of your craft, but also to be fluent in English and very preferably Arabic, at least at a minimum level.
This job search websites help you to find jobs
The most relevant vacancies in Oman for Indiians in 2019 are presented in the field of oil and gas, construction, medicine and education. Experienced engineers, IT-specialists, teachers, construction project managers are in demand. In the field of unskilled labor, work in Oman is practically inaccessible. For example, agriculture employs a very small labor force. There are vacancies in the field of tourism (administrators, hostesses) and sports (fitness trainers).
In most cases, Omani employers offer very decent salaries to foreign specialists. The official minimum wage in the country is 325 reais per month, which is equivalent to 845 dollars. The average salary in Oman in 2019 is around $1500-$2000. Qualified foreign workers receive several times more, and in managerial positions very often salaries exceed $9,000-$10,000 per month.
It is possible to find a job in Salalah on your own, for this you need to pay attention to the following sites:
- edarabia;
- total jobs;
- indeed;
- bayt;
- hh.ru;
- layboard;
- Rigzone;
- Laimoon;
- ae.jobrapido;
- careerjet
Also, vacancies in Salalah for Indians can be found in specialized groups in social networks. The applicant must prepare a detailed resume in English with a photo and send it to the email address of the company you like. This will be followed by an interview via Skype or Zoom. This option of finding a job in Oman is the least expensive – when contacting employment agencies, the applicant will save time, but incur additional financial costs.
Searching for a job in Salalah is possible not only remotely: Omani law allows you to visit the country as a tourist for this purpose. A foreigner can find a vacancy and arrive for an interview with a potential employer.
Labor migration to Oman
The population of Oman in 2019 is about 4.9 million people. It is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. About 800 thousand people live in the largest city and capital of the state – Muscat. According to some estimates, more than a quarter of the local residents are immigrants. Mostly immigrants from Egypt, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. Most often, foreigners come to Oman for the purpose of employment.
Despite the policy of so-called omanization of the local labor market pursued in Oman in recent years, dependence on foreign labor is still very significant. Foreign specialists are attracted by high salaries, the absence of income tax and a reasonable cost of living. In addition to dull sandy landscapes, Oman has enough interesting places and attractions, including ancient castles and fortresses.
Unlike many other countries in the Middle East, Oman is a progressive modern state with more liberal laws, including in relation to women’s rights. Nevertheless, potential labor migrants should not forget about Muslim traditions and culture. The rules of conduct in a foreign country must be observed. Another point is the extreme temperature, which often exceeds 40-45 ° C.
Today, many young Omanis receive quality education in Western universities and are gradually replacing qualified foreigners in large companies. In order for a foreign applicant to officially work in Oman, local residents must not apply for a vacancy. In addition, you need to find an employer in advance and apply for a work visa. Usually the document is issued for two years with the right to renew. Changing jobs is generally not allowed.
