There has been a significant transformation in Oman’s education and health sectors in recent decades, supported by long-term development strategies and actionable mid-term plans. The government has experienced success in closing the labour market skills gap and encouraging the Omanisation of the workforce. Key indicators, such as literacy and life expectancy rates, have risen considerably in recent years as the government has invested more heavily in education and health care. Meanwhile, collaborations with international organisations have driven up health and learning standards, as well as accelerated modernisation and the adoption of digital technologies across both sectors.
Education
The Ministry of Education (MoE) oversees the running of pre-primary, primary and secondary education in Oman, while the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MHERI) oversees tertiary-level education. The 11 governorates each have a Directorate General of Education responsible for implementing national policies at the local level. Private schools are managed by the General Directorate of Private Schools, which formulates policies and regulations for private institutions. Administrative and regulatory bodies include the Education Council, which is responsible for formulating and implementing national policies, and the Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education (OAAAQA), an independent entity that focuses on delivering quality education in line with international standards. The OAAA’s Qualifications Framework document, published in September 2023, provides a comprehensive, integrated and mandatory National Qualifications Framework for all public and private educational institutes.
The Oman Vision 2040 development strategy emphasises the need to improve basic and higher education and update the curricula to equip students with the proficiencies needed to close the skills gap in the labour market. It highlights the importance of meeting international standards for accreditation and using modern teaching and learning techniques. The Education Council developed the National Strategy for Education (NSE) 2040 in 2018, aiming to encourage continuous revision and evaluation. The NSE focuses on four objectives: setting a new framework for education, capacity building, transfer of jurisdictions and responsibilities to educational institutions and the adoption of an outcome-based approach. In May 2023 the government passed the School Education Law and Higher Education Law that reflect the objectives laid out of Vision 2040 and the NSE 2040.
Spending on education in 2022 was 4.2% of Oman’s GDP and contributed 14.1% of the total government expenditure. Each education authority receives an independent funding allocation from the national budget. The MoE spent OR1.3bn ($4.4bn) in the 2021/22 academic year. The 2024 national budget allocated OR900m ($2.3bn) for the implementation of developmental projects. The MoE will use its share to build 15 public schools, float tenders for 20 government schools, construct the University of Technology and Applied Sciences building in Musandam Governorate, implement the Ruwad Oman abroad scholarship programme, offer 850 additional contracts for public school buses, replace 1000 school buses with new ones and replace more than 20,000 air conditioners in schools.
Sector Breakdown
Oman’s education system is structured to include six years of primary school, three years of middle school, and three years of secondary education, after which students are awarded a secondary school leaving certificate. The primary language in public schools is Arabic, and English is taught as a second language from grade one. The Education Law reiterated the provision of free public basic education for all Omanis. It also emphasised a minimum number of study days of at least 180, bringing Oman up to the international average. Furthermore, the law highlights the importance of lifelong learning and equipping students with essential knowledge and skills to enter university or the workforce.
There were 2133 schools in Oman in 2022 – an increase of 240 from 2021. The Al Batinah North Governorate is home to 17.7% of the schools in Oman. Approximately 56.4% of Oman’s schools are government-run, while 41.3% are private. There were 898,073 students across 35,639 classrooms, with an average of 12 students per teacher and 25 students per classroom in 2022, putting it ahead of the global average.
The number of out-of-school children has dropped considerably in recent years, from 48,574 girls and 49,056 boys in 1992 to 19,469 girls and 21,136 boys in 2022. This is supported by government efforts to improve access to mandatory education, which has driven up enrolment. Under the School Education Law the government introduced fines for parents who fail to send their children to school to promote universal enrolment. Net school enrolment rose from 67% in 1990 to 86% in 2018 at the primary level and from 49% in 1993 to 96% in 2018 at the secondary level.
Youth literacy rates have improved significantly, standing at 97.7% of youths aged 15 to 19 by 2022. Oman had aimed to eradicate illiteracy by 2024 under the Arab Literacy Decade 2015-24 programme. A notable effort has been made to enhance access to education in rural locations, such as Oman’s islands, which has helped decrease the illiteracy rate for ages 15 and above to approximately 2.6%.
Public Education
In the 2022/23 academic year, there were 1203 government schools, with three special education schools in Oman. In the 2022 Global Innovation Index (GII), which ranks world economies’ innovation capabilities, Oman came 76th out of 132 countries. It rose to 69th in 2023 scoring 52nd in education and 27th for tertiary education.
Oman has high inclusion rates, with policies promoting education for women, rural communities and disabled populations. The country’s ranking in the Gender Inequality Index fell from 0.389 in 2005 to 0.264 in 2017, demonstrating significant progress. Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Education’s Educated Village programme, launched in 2004, assesses geographically restricted villages with a high level of illiteracy to conduct surveys and respond to community education needs by building schools and training teachers.
Private Education
The private school sector is growing steadily, with 881 private and 46 international schools in 2022. Schools offer a range of international curricula. The regulatory environment limited the scope of private institutions, although the sector has grown in recent years. The Oman private K-12 education market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5% from 2019-29. Private school enrolments increased at a CAGR of 8.3% between 2011 and 2016, compared to 1.2% in public schools, demonstrating the speed at which the private education sector is expanding. Private schools increased by 33% between the 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic years. There were 50,800 students studying at private schools across Oman, consisting of 50,400 expatriate and 392 Omani students, equivalent to 5.7% of the total student population in 2021/22. Meanwhile, the 2023 Education Act introduced scholarships for students to study at private schools so long as the average annual general cost does not exceed that of public schools. This is expected to contribute to a rise in Omani students studying at private schools.
Staff
In 2022 there were over 72,800 teachers across the country’s public and private schools. Over the 15 years leading to 2025, Oman has given schools greater autonomy to run training programmes. The MoE has substantially improved its assessment tools and offers ongoing professional development for teaching staff. Teachers must obtain a license to teach. The 2023 Education Law encouraged the adoption of a board of directors to manage administrative and financial affairs, with the school principal as head of the board.
Greater Omanisation is being encouraged in early education in response to the large quantity of expatriate teachers working in the education sector. In 2020/21 there were 1040 non-Omani female teachers. Subsequently, in 2021 the MoE launched a programme to prepare over 100 Bachelor of Education graduates for the early education workforce – a development aligning with National Employment Initiative aims.
Higher Education
In 2020/21 some 70.3% of general education diploma graduates entered higher education. Around 30,954 students enrolled in universities, bringing the number of registered students to 120,678, with 20,389 graduating that year. In addition, 1167 Omani students enrolled in tertiary institutions in other countries. In 2021/22 there were 13,700 students enrolled in government institutions, while 16,100 students entered private institutions – an increase of 8.3% from the previous year. In 2020 there were over five private universities and 19 private university colleges offering around 350 academic programmes.
The Higher Education Law introduced a range of initiatives for sectoral improvement. It offers foreign universities the right to open branches in Oman and provides financial incentives to the private sector to establish new institutions. The law aims to consolidate the higher education policies of the last 40 years.
Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), established in Muscat in 1982, has 7512 students, 282 international students and 811 faculty members. In 2024 it ranked 10th in the QS Arab Region University Rankings. SQU launched a long-term strategic plan for 2016-40 in line with the government’s Oman Vision 2040. The implementation of the plan will be carried out in five phases through medium-term plans that coincide with Oman’s five-year development plans.
Professional & Vocational Training
Technical and vocational education training (TVET) is critical to the advancement of the industrial sector and needed for economic diversification, outlined in Vision 2040. The TVET sector demonstrates growth potential, particularly in workplace-based professional development initiatives. The alignment between educational outcomes and labour market requirements presents ongoing opportunities for enhancement in Oman. While the private sector has historically favoured experienced international workforce solutions, significant promise remains to expand technical and TVET pathways for national talent. The government has demonstrated its commitment through key initiatives, including the 2011 establishment of the Occupational Standards Centre and Sector Skills Councils, which facilitate dialogue between industry stakeholders and educational institutions to develop market-responsive curricula.
The Directorate General for Occupational Standards and Curriculum Development, and the Directorate General for Vocational Training are responsible for sectoral oversight. In 2018 there were around 1700 students enrolled in secondary TVET institutions, of which 22.3% were female. There were 359 Private Training Institutes across the country. The EU and Oman’s government met in June 2023 to discuss the development of the TVET sector. This reflects efforts by the EU to broaden and deepen its cooperation with the GCC and member states as outlined in its May 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf. That includes boosting cooperation in education, vocational training, scientific research and civic participation, which could support the development of new TVET opportunities.
Education Technology (Edtech)
The Education Act emphasises the importance of promoting and integrating technology in teaching and learning. The MoE aims to improve student interaction with digital technologies by providing teacher training in using new technologies. The 2019 Oman National Strategy Framework for the ICT Sector, the 2020 National Innovation Strategy and the 2022 Reference Framework for the Use of Educational Devices in Schools of Oman all promote the use of digital technologies in schools. Oman is also developing an Executive Programme for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to integrate AI into digital systems. During the Covid-19 pandemic, edtech use for remote learning increased by around 75% in schools nationwide. This burgeoning use of technology tools in schools led to a 20% increase in student interest in science, technology, engineering and maths, according to a 2023 study by Oman’s National Centre for Education.
Health Structure & Oversight
Oman’s health care sector has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years, largely owing to the significant socioeconomic development since the 1980s and Oman’s commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The government, having expanded health infrastructure starting in the 1970s is dedicated to improving the quality of health care services.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) is responsible for health care planning and regulation across the sultanate, ensuring health services are aligned with national health policies and international standards. It also promotes public health initiatives, disease prevention and health education. Health care administrators operate under the direction of the MoH and are responsible for implementing national policies and strategies, as well as making them actionable in health care facilities.
The government’s Oman Vision 2040 development strategy emphasises the importance of education institutions in training medical staff, conducting high-quality research and using digital technology. It emphasises the importance of decentralising power and authority to increase fairness, responsiveness and accountability so the MoH can focus on policy creation. In 2014 the country introduced Health Vision 2050, a comprehensive strategy designed to support Omanis in leading healthy and productive lives by creating a well-organised, fair, efficient, and responsive health care system based on the principles of equity and social justice.
Expenditure
Oman earmarked OR3.2bn ($8.3bn) for health expenditure in 2023, equivalent to around 4.5% of GDP. Health care expenditure is expected to increase at a CAGR of 4.7% between 2022 and 2027 to reach $6.1bn, with growth anticipated to be the fastest in the GCC. The health care market is forecast to achieve a CAGR of 5.9%, reaching $4.3bn by 2025. The MoH spent $229m on primary care clinical services in 2019, equivalent to $113 per capita. Around 55% went to general practice, 19% to child health and 16% to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
The 2024 health budget will support the completion of seven government hospitals, the construction of three new hospitals, renovations to two existing hospitals and the expansion of three others. Key projects include the Sohar Recovery Centre and the maintenance and management of MoH facilities in Muscat, North, and South Al Batinah governorates. These developments are funded by an OR51m ($132.6m) supplement for health and education.
The government aims to achieve universal health coverage (UHC); however, funding this objective is difficult due to Oman’s heavy reliance on oil revenue and the volatile energy market. Oman aims to diversify the economy through investment in education and key industries. The MoH’s 10th Five-Year Plan for Health Development 2021-25 promotes the diversification of funding sources for the sector and encourages greater private sector investment while ensuring strong social protection measures stay in place.
Performance & Health Indicators
Oman worked with the WHO to evaluate the first two years of its Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2018-22 to provide a new assessment of the state of health care through the updated CCS 2021-25. The report suggests that Oman is making progress in meeting the SDGs, though there are challenges that require further attention to ensure continued success. Access to health care has improved in recent decades, as has the quality of services. Oman’s Health Care Access and Quality Index score rose from 52.5 in 1990 to 76.2 in 2016. However, there are still barriers to achieving UHC, such as limited access to health care services for foreign nationals and for unskilled workers. In recent decades, the trend towards urbanisation has contributed to increased demand for housing in certain areas, sometimes leading to higher population densities and challenging living conditions. As a result, many health centres now serve more than 15,000 people, exceeding their original design capacity of 10,000.
Oman’s health care has improved significantly in recent decades, with average life expectancy rising from 49 years in 1970 to 72.6 years in 2024. In addition, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation has successfully maintained a high coverage of around 99% of the population, resulting in a considerable drop in the prevalence of communicable diseases. This is further supported by improved living standards across the country. In 2019 deaths caused by communicable diseases fell to 9.8% of all deaths. There are few cases of HIV in Oman and no malaria, while diseases such as poliomyelitis, neonatal tetanus, diphtheria, measles and rubella are prevented through high vaccination rates.
The percentage of people living with tuberculosis rose to 9.3 out of every 100,000 people in 2022 compared to six per 100,000 in 2018. Nevertheless, Oman has registered a decline in tuberculosis cases from 16 per 100,000 in 2000. Infant mortality rates fell from 153 per 1000 in 1970 to nine per 1000 in 2022, while the under-five mortality rate dropped from 229 to 10.5 per 1000. This is largely owing to the increase in skilled birth attendance, which stood at 99% of births in 2017.
The prevalence of NCDs has risen in recent years, coinciding with middle-class population growth and lifestyle changes. Nearly 25% of the population over 18 has high blood pressure, and two-thirds are overweight or obese. Almost one in five Omani adults die from NCDs before 70, accounting for 79.8% of all deaths in 2019, up from 74% in 2000. Heart disease is the leading cause of death. The MoH has taken steps to help reduce the NCD burden, including establishing the National Multisectoral Noncommunicable Disease Committee in 2012, developing a national NCD policy and action plan, and adopting a screening program for those aged 40 and above. The government has also introduced taxes on sweetened beverages, energy drinks and tobacco products. Meanwhile, primary care services have expanded to address the growing NCD challenge.
Public Health
Oman’s health care system is divided into three levels. There are primary health care centres, which provide basic medical assistance and preventative care. Secondary facilities, such as specialised hospitals and polyclinics, offer more advanced diagnostic and treatment options. Tertiary care centres include regional and national referral hospitals.
The government owns and operates around 60% of hospitals and 73.4% of all hospital beds nationwide. The MoH manages 212 primary care centres and 36 local and provincial hospitals. There are 90 hospitals, 50 of which fall under MoH management, with 7238 beds.
Public health care is freely available to Omanis and expatriate workers in government jobs. A new scheme will also provide emergency health services for foreign visitors whose health insurance coverage limit is too low and those without travel insurance documentation. Recent expansion works include the OR30m ($78m) Nizwa Hospital project, adding 245 beds and bringing the capacity to 555 beds and the Sohar Hospital OR28m ($72.8m) expansion project, increasing beds to 636. Work is ongoing on the OR18.2m ($47.3m) Central Public Health Laboratory project in Muscat, expected to open in the first half of 2025 and equipped with new technologies and tests to combat infectious diseases.
In recent years, Oman’s health sector has undergone a digital transformation, with most health facilities now using digital technologies. Al Shifa is the main health care information system, holding health care data and patient records. It allows medical staff to store and exchange information, thereby improving the coordination of health care services.
Private Health Care
Private health care providers account for approximately 30-40% of health services in the country. Foreigners working in Oman’s private sector are required to pay for health insurance to access health facilities. However, the number of people with health insurance in the country has risen substantially in recent years, with coverage reaching approximately 650,000 people as of April 2025 – including many Omanis as well as foreign nationals. Insurance premium reached OR191m ($496.4m) in 2022, compared to OR163m ($423.6m) in 2021.
The MoH aims to encourage more private companies to invest in health care to alleviate the burden on public health services, an objective in line with Health Vision 2050. To boost investment, the MoH is conducting a study to standardise the health care services base rate between payers and providers, in an effort to promote transparency. The ministry has granted initial approval for 16 new private hospitals and 215 private health institutions. These establishments will be mainly located outside of the Muscat Governorate. This is in addition to 38 private hospitals, more than 2000 clinics and over 900 pharmacies operational as of April 2025.
The private sector’s contribution to health care spending is expected to rise from 12.1% in 2020 to 12.3% by 2025 and 13.2% by 2030. This increase results from the plan to implement the government’s mandatory private health insurance scheme, as well as an increase in public-private partnerships. In addition, Oman’s increasing population – expected to reach 5.4m by 2027 and 6.3m by 2050 – is adding to the growing demand for high-quality health care services. In an effort to ease access to health services, in April 2025 the Financial Services Authority launched the Dhamani programme, an electronic platform that facilitates the exchange of health insurance data, as well as claims between insurance firms and private health companies.
Pharmaceutical Sector
The Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and Drug Control is the body responsible for the licensing and safety standards of medicines. Oman has historically relied on the import of medicines, pharmaceuticals and surgical consumables. Around 7.3% of the MoH’s recurrent expenditure goes towards medicines, with per capita spending on medical supplies more than doubling since 2000. Generic products make up 15% of the market and 7.6% of pharmaceuticals are bought in the local market, meaning there is scope for Oman to cut its pharmaceutical costs.
The projected revenue for medical devices in the sultanate in 2024 stood at $575.8m, with cardiology devices expected to contribute $92.8m. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.3% in the 2024-29 period to reach a total of $820.1m. In February 2024 the MoH announced plans to develop three pharmaceutical and medical solutions factories in Nizwa, Rusayl and Salalah. This is expected to increase local manufacturing capabilities in the sultanate’s health sector and reduce reliance on imports.
Medical Staff
The sultanate has seen success in the Omanisation of its health sector workforce, supported by the expansion of medical education. In 2017 approximately 30% of doctors and 48% of nurses were Omani. Various training programmes and study-abroad opportunities have attracted more Omani youth to the field. By 2019 there were 6419 doctors and 14,491 nurses in the sector. There were 4.4 nurses and midwives per 1000 people in 2020, compared to 3.3 in 2000 and 2.3 in 1990. Meanwhile, the number of physicians rose from 1.4 to 2 per 1000 people between 2000 and 2020.
Outlook
The development of long-term development strategies and mid-term actionable plans for education and health care support a significant transformation. The MoE and MoH have been open to modernisation, regularly updating policies in line with regional and global trends and encouraging the uptake and use of digital technologies. Meanwhile, collaboration with foreign institutions and international organisations has helped Oman improve its education and health standards. Efforts to close the skills gap in the labour market are resulting in the greater Omanisation of the workplace, which will likely continue in the coming years. Finally, key indicators in both sectors have improved considerably in recent decades, putting the country well on track to meeting the UN’s SDGs.
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