Engineering and Construction Jobs in Oman: Sectors & Requirements

Engineering and construction jobs in Oman are driven by government infrastructure (roads, airports, rail and utilities), new urban developments such as Sultan Haitham City, industrial and energy projects in Duqm and Sohar, and the emerging renewable energy and green hydrogen sector. Common vacancies include civil, MEP and project engineers, quantity surveyors, planners and site supervisors. Since August 2025, anyone employed as an engineer must hold a professional classification certificate from the Oman Society of Engineers to obtain or renew a work permit.

The construction market in Oman today

Oman's construction sector has been on a steady upward path since 2021. According to MEED, more than $2.5bn worth of construction and transport contracts had been awarded by late November 2025, with about $1bn more expected before year-end, which would make a third consecutive year of at least $3.5bn in awards. MEED also tracks a pipeline of more than $20bn in planned infrastructure schemes. Activity is still below the 2014 peak, but the pipeline points to steady demand for engineers and site staff.

Key sectors and projects driving hiring

Sector	Examples of projects	Typical roles
Roads and transport	Adam-Thumrait road dualisation, Muscat road upgrades, PPP road schemes, Hafeet Rail link with the UAE	Highway, structural and geotechnical engineers, surveyors
Airports and aviation	Planned and new airports in Musandam, Jabal Akhdar, Masirah and Sohar	Civil, MEP and aviation systems engineers
Urban development	Sultan Haitham City, Al Khuwair Downtown, New Smart City Salalah, Grand Blue City	Civil, infrastructure, MEP engineers, project managers
Tourism and real estate	Omani Mountain Destination in Jabal Akhdar, integrated tourism complexes	Building engineers, fit-out managers, QS
Energy and industry	OQ8 refinery in Duqm, Marsa LNG in Sohar, oilfield EPC work	Process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation engineers
Renewables and hydrogen	Solar, wind and green hydrogen projects coordinated by Hydrom	Electrical, renewable energy and grid engineers
Utilities	Water, wastewater and power networks	Water, electrical and maintenance engineers

Studies for a proposed Muscat Metro, described by MEED as a roughly 55km network, were completed in late 2025, and could create further demand if the project moves to construction.

In-demand engineering and construction roles

• Engineers: civil and structural, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), highway, geotechnical, water and environmental, electrical and power, process and instrumentation.
• Project controls: project managers, construction managers, planners and schedulers, quantity surveyors, cost controllers, contracts engineers.
• Site teams: site engineers, site supervisors, foremen, land surveyors, QA/QC inspectors.
• Design and technical: draughtsmen, BIM modellers and coordinators, design engineers in consultancies.
• HSE: safety officers and HSE managers on large sites.
• Trades and technicians: electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, steel fixers, welders and heavy equipment operators.

The Oman Society of Engineers certificate

The most important requirement for engineers is the professional classification certificate. The Ministry of Labour announced that from 1 August 2025, anyone working under an "engineer" title must hold a valid certificate to obtain or renew a work permit. The certificate is issued by the Oman Society of Engineers (OSE) and approved by the Sector Skills Unit for engineering professions, and applications are made through the designated electronic system. The rule applies to new applicants and existing employees.

• Verification: DataFlow Group verifies your degree and experience certificates for the OSE, so make sure your university and previous employers can respond to verification requests.
• Job title matters: the requirement is linked to engineering job titles on work permits, so check with your employer how your role is registered.
• Plan ahead: start the process as soon as you have an offer, because work permits cannot be issued or renewed without the certificate.

Always confirm the latest requirements with the Ministry of Labour and your employer.

Other qualifications employers look for

• Degree and equivalency: an accredited engineering degree, attested, with an equivalency certificate from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation where required.
• Experience: GCC or Oman project experience is often preferred, especially with local specifications, authorities and consultants.
• Professional certifications: PMP for project managers, RICS or similar for quantity surveyors, NEBOSH or IOSH for HSE roles, and chartered or professional engineer status for senior positions.
• Software skills: AutoCAD, Revit and BIM tools, Primavera P6 or MS Project, and design software relevant to your discipline.
• Driving licence: many site roles need you to drive between sites, so an Omani driving licence is often expected.

Omanisation in engineering and construction

Construction companies working on government projects face Omanisation and In-Country Value requirements, and large contractors increasingly recruit Omani engineers and technicians. Omani graduates should watch for graduate engineer schemes, training-for-employment programmes and project-linked hiring announced by developers and contractors. Expatriates are hired mainly for experienced, specialist and senior roles. Some occupations are reserved for Omanis, so check the current lists on the Ministry of Labour website before applying.

Working conditions and pay

• Locations: Muscat has the most projects and head offices, with major sites in Duqm, Sohar, Salalah, the interior and along new road corridors.
• Heat and safety: outdoor work is restricted during the hottest part of the day in summer under Ministry of Labour rules, and strict site safety standards apply on large projects.
• Packages: salaries vary widely by discipline, grade, employer (contractor, consultant or client) and experience. Site roles may include accommodation, transport or a vehicle. Compare the full package and contract terms under the Omani Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023).

How to find engineering and construction jobs

1. Browse current engineering jobs and construction jobs, or filter by city such as Muscat or Sohar.
2. Set up a free job alert for your discipline, for example "civil engineer" or "quantity surveyor".
3. Prepare your CV with a project list: project names, values, your role, client and consultant.
4. Get your degree attested and start your OSE file early.
5. Avoid anyone asking for money for a visa or job. HireTalent is a job board, not a recruitment agency, and never charges candidates.

Key takeaways

• Roads, urban developments, airports, energy and renewables are the main sources of engineering and construction jobs in Oman.
• Contract awards have stayed at multi-year highs, with a large infrastructure pipeline ahead.
• An Oman Society of Engineers classification certificate is required for engineers to get or renew a work permit since August 2025.
• Employers value GCC experience, project controls skills and certifications such as PMP and NEBOSH.
• Prepare a clear project list and start document verification early.