MUSCAT: The General Secretariat of the Tender Board has issued Circular No (2025/2), reinforcing the government’s stance on prioritising national workforce employment by making Omanisation compliance a strict requirement for all ministries and government entities. The directive explicitly prohibits these bodies from contracting with private sector companies that do not meet the government-approved Omanisation quotas. This move reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen local employment and ensure that public spending contributes meaningfully to national human resource development.
According to the circular, a mandatory clause focusing on Omanisation compliance and the employment of Omani nationals must now be included in all tender documents before they are released. Government entities are instructed to use the official template issued for this purpose, ensuring uniformity and legal alignment across all procurement activities. This clause is designed to guarantee that Omanisation requirements are not only considered but embedded within the contracting framework from the very beginning of the tendering process.
In addition to document changes, a verification mechanism is now in place to ensure compliance prior to awarding any contracts. All government entities must confirm, through the Isnad electronic tendering system, that bidding companies meet the required Omanisation levels. The Isnad platform is integrated with the Ministry of Labour’s database, allowing real-time verification of a company’s compliance with national employment targets. This step serves as a critical checkpoint, preventing non-compliant companies from securing government contracts.
For international companies that are not registered within the Sultanate of Oman but are participating in international tenders, the circular clarifies that Omanisation monitoring will occur post-award and throughout the duration of the contract. These companies must adhere to the local content plan, ensuring that they fulfil their Omanisation commitments during execution. The circular reinforces the strategic objective of aligning international investment and foreign contracting with the Sultanate’s employment goals and economic development plans.
