MUSCAT: As many as 66,412 expatriate workers left Oman in 2019, as the country step up its Omanisation plans, which includes an expat visa ban.

According to the figures released by National Centre of Statistics and Information (NCSI), expats in Oman now make up 1,721,035 of the country’s total population marking the lowest percentage since 2015.

This according to the NCSI figures, is a drop of four percent is a four-year low. In 2015, expats made up 43.6 per cent pf the total population. The drop comes as Oman continues its efforts to nationalize its workforce, hiring more Omanis in both private and public sector jobs than foreign nationals.

The Sultanate introduced the expat visa bans in January 2018 for a six-month period for certain professions. There have been four extensions since then and it has also been expanded to cover other industries and professions – during that time tens of thousands of Omanis have found work.

“With the structural transformation that the Omani economy is undergoing, the private sector has been making significant progress and becoming the main recipient of workforce entrants,” a report from the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) said. 

Indians drop 6.3 per cent

Meanwhile, Indians continue to be the largest expat workforce despite a significant drop of 6.3 per cent, while Bangladesh workers dropped 3.9 per cent and Pakistani nationals dropped 4.8 per cent in 2019.

“This (drop) has certainly helped hundreds of Omani job seekers to earn employment in private sector companies. In the coming months, many more will find suitable placements as well,” said a senior official at Ministry of Manpower.