Muscat: The amended unified system for extending insurance protection is regarded as one of the GCC’s most significant integration projects, translating the concept of Gulf citizenship into tangible social security benefits and insurance rights for citizens working across member states.

For Omani citizens employed in other GCC countries, the system ensures continued access to Oman’s social protection framework, allowing them to maintain their insurance and retirement entitlements regardless of where they work within the Gulf region.

The initiative was originally introduced to remove barriers to labour mobility among GCC countries by ensuring that Gulf nationals remain covered under their home country’s pension and social security system while working elsewhere in the region.

Under the system, Omani workers abroad continue to benefit from key social insurance programmes in Oman, including old-age, disability, death and job security insurance. This guarantees that Omanis working outside the Sultanate receive the same level of insurance protection as those employed domestically, reinforcing fairness and continuity of social rights.

Husni bin Mubarak Al-Rawahi, Director General of Subscriptions at the Social Protection Fund, said the Royal Decree reflects the leadership’s commitment to advancing joint Gulf cooperation and strengthening social protection systems to promote job stability and social security for Gulf citizens.

Al-Rawahi noted that the amendments are designed to improve the efficiency of the insurance protection system, expand coverage to more beneficiaries, simplify procedures and strengthen data exchange between insurance institutions across GCC countries. The changes are also expected to make registration processes easier, improve monitoring of insurance rights and enhance the quality of services offered to beneficiaries.

He added that the amendments support modern social protection trends by promoting insurance justice and ensuring uninterrupted insurance coverage for Gulf citizens working outside their home countries.

The Social Protection Fund has confirmed its readiness to implement the decree and coordinate with relevant GCC authorities to ensure the effective application of the new provisions.

The system covers Omani citizens working in both the government and private sectors and applies to a wide range of employment contracts recognised under pension and social security regulations in the country of employment.

It operates through a partnership between employers and pension and social security institutions across GCC countries. Employers are required to register with the system before enrolling Omani employees and submitting the required documentation.

The financing mechanism allocates a contribution rate of 18.5 per cent of the insured wage for old-age, disability and death insurance. Of this, 7.5 per cent is paid by the employee, while 11 per cent is contributed by the employer.

Among the most significant additions introduced through the amendments are job security and unemployment insurance benefits, providing broader protection for insured individuals who lose their jobs for reasons beyond their control. The reforms also modernise payment and collection procedures and expand information-sharing mechanisms between GCC pension and social security authorities.

The amendments further align insurance systems with ongoing digital transformation efforts and evolving labour market requirements across the region.

Figures released by the Social Protection Fund highlight the growing importance of the scheme. By the end of April 2026, around 7,850 active Omani insured persons were registered under the GCC insurance protection extension system.

The United Arab Emirates hosted the largest number of Omani beneficiaries, with 4,821 insured persons, followed by Qatar with 2,062. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain accounted for the remaining registered beneficiaries.

The Social Protection Fund has urged all Omani citizens working in GCC countries to verify their registration status and complete subscription procedures in coordination with their employers and the relevant authorities in their country of employment.