Maternity Leave in Oman: How the 98-Day Entitlement Works

The current rule in one sentence

Oman's current Labour Law provides a 98-day maternity leave for a female worker, covering time before and after childbirth; pre-birth leave may be granted on the recommendation of the competent medical body for up to 14 days, with the remaining period granted from the date of birth. The Ministry of Labour's current law page places this entitlement in Article 84.

Older guidance can still show pre-reform figures, so the current legal text matters here.

Think in two parts, not one old “maternity weeks” number

The current law is designed around the period surrounding childbirth. Up to 14 days may be taken before birth on medical recommendation. The remainder starts from the date of birth.

The entitlement is a special leave with full remuneration under Article 84, and the law requires supporting proof for the special leaves listed in that article.

What to put in a workplace request

A strong request does not need dramatic legal language. It should identify:

• the requested start date;
• the expected delivery date when available;
• the statutory leave period being requested;
• the medical recommendation or supporting document required by HR; and
• a request for confirmation of the recorded return date.

Copy-ready request

Subject: Request for Maternity Leave

Dear [HR/Manager],

I request maternity leave beginning [date]. My expected delivery date is [date], and I am attaching the medical document supporting the pre-delivery period where applicable. Please record the maternity leave under the applicable Oman Labour Law provisions and confirm the expected date of return to work.

Regards,

[Name / Employee Number]

Why the 98-day figure matters

Readers looking for “maternity leave Oman 98 days” usually need to confirm the current entitlement first, then understand how the 98 days are allocated.

This makes the guidance more useful than a one-paragraph template and helps prevent outdated figures from being repeated.

Other leave provisions worth knowing

The same Article 84 contains several other special-leave categories, including seven days of paternity leave where the child is born alive and other family or bereavement situations. Those rules have their own conditions and should not be merged into the maternity calculation.

Practical HR checklist

Before submitting the request, confirm the employer's preferred channel, attach the relevant medical proof, keep a copy of the request, and ask HR to confirm the return date in writing. The law provides the entitlement; the employer's workflow determines how the request is recorded.

Common questions

Is the 98 days only after childbirth? No. The current law expressly covers the period before and after childbirth, with up to 14 days before birth on medical recommendation.

What happened to older 50-day or 10-week figures? Those figures can come from older Labour Law material. For a current article, use the 2023-law framework and cite the Ministry of Labour's present legal text.

Does this article cover every worker in Oman? It describes the Labour Law framework. A worker whose employment is governed by a special system may need to check that separate rule.

Do I need to prove the leave? Article 84 states that supporting proof is required for the listed special leaves.

Official-source note

Primary source: Oman Ministry of Labour, current Labour Law text, especially Articles 78, 82 and 84. The Ministry's current page shows the 98-day maternity entitlement and the supporting-document requirement.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. For unusual employment categories or disputes, use the Ministry of Labour or professional legal advice.