Oman Business Visa for UAE Residents 2026: GCC Resident eVisa, Sponsored Business Visa, Documents and Fees

Oman Business Visa for UAE Residents - 2026 Quick Answer

As of November 2026, Oman has no single business visa for UAE residents. The route depends on the passport, the applicant's profession and whether an Omani company sponsors the trip.

• GCC Resident Visa (Royal Oman Police type 29A): no sponsor, OMR 5, one entry and a four-week stay plus a one-week extension. Approved professions only.
• Sponsored visa: the Business Visit Visa (type 5), the Business Man Visa (type 10), the Express Visa (type 8, OMR 30) or a multiple-entry visa, requested by an Omani host.
• 14-day exemption: depends on nationality, not on UAE residence alone, and is framed by Oman's Foreign Ministry as a facility for tourists.

Emirati citizens need no visa, says Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Officially, the GCC Resident Visa and the 14-day exemption are tourism routes, and no official text bans or allows business meetings on them. For formal business or an unlisted occupation, our advice is the sponsored route.

Visarun is a visa agency. We help travellers and their employers choose the entry route and check documents. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) makes the decision, and no outcome is guaranteed.

Visa-Free, GCC Resident eVisa or Business Visa - Which Route Fits

The 14-day exemption by nationality

Oman's Foreign Ministry (page updated 22 September 2026) exempts visitors from more than 100 countries and regions for stays up to 14 days. The conditions are a passport valid for six months, a return ticket, a confirmed hotel booking, health insurance and enough money. The stay cannot be extended or transferred to a residence visa.

• Indian and Egyptian nationals: both are in the Ministry's second group, which needs a residence or valid visa of the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, Schengen or Japan. The Ministry also accepts GCC residents in approved professions, but the ROP list does not. UAE residence alone is not a safe basis, and approved professionals can take the GCC Resident Visa (OMR 5) anyway.
• Filipino nationals: the Ministry puts the Philippines in its unconditional first group, but the ROP list does not include it (checked 4 November 2026). We recommend confirming on the Royal Oman Police eVisa portal before travelling.
• Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Nepali nationals: not on Oman's 14-day lists.

For business trips we recommend a visa instead: the GCC Resident Visa for an approved occupation on the Emirates ID, or a sponsored visa for an unlisted occupation, formal business with an Omani company or repeat entries.

Entering by road

The ROP eVisa FAQ says road travellers apply online first and then enter through any legal border post, with paper forms kept for exceptional cases. Oman's government services portal adds that the GCC resident visa is also issued at entry points.

Gulf News (May 2026) reports a Dh35 UAE exit fee, five road crossings (Al Darah, Dibba, Khatmat Milaha, Hatta/Al Wajajah and Mezyad) and border-bought Omani motor insurance, the Orange Card, from about Dh106 for five days. These are media figures, and fees can change.

The GCC Resident Visa - Professions, Residence Validity and Stay

The ROP lists the GCC Resident Visa as type 29, for GCC residents visiting for tourism who hold professions specified by the authority. No sponsor is needed, and it gives one entry and a four-week stay, extendable for one week. Type 29A covers the main traveller, and type 29B a companion.

Which professions qualify

According to Gulf News (updated 31 July 2026), the occupation on the back of the Emirates ID decides eligibility. A list it reproduced from the eVisa platform includes Businessman, Investor, Commercial Delegate, Sales Executive, Company / Institute Representative and Employee. Gulf News adds that residents with unlisted jobs need a sponsored or embassy-issued visit visa.

The ROP publishes no standalone list. It appears inside the eVisa form, so we recommend checking the occupation there before booking.

Residence, passport and stay

The service card on Oman's government services portal (updated 10 August 2025) sets three conditions:

• A passport valid for at least six months.
• A GCC residence valid for at least three months.
• Employment with an institution.

The visa costs OMR 5, and the one-week extension also costs OMR 5. Gulf News says it can be issued on arrival at Muscat International Airport and at land crossings, or as an eVisa paid after approval.

Business Visa With a Oman Sponsor

When the GCC Resident Visa does not fit, the ROP lists these business visas, mostly requested by an Omani sponsor:

• Business Visit Visa (type 5): a visit by a professional or business person under a local sponsor, described as a local employer in the Arabic list.
• Business Man Visa (type 10): the same business purpose and sponsor requirement.
• Express Visa (type 8): for businessmen whose work requires a visit and holders of rare, high-level professions, requested by a local sponsor. One entry, up to three weeks plus one week, used within one month of issue.
• Sponsored Multi-entry Visit Visa (type 11): repeat visits for professionals or business people in certain occupations.
• Unsponsored Multi-entry Visit Visa (type 25): purpose "Business", a stay for a specified period, first entry within three months of issue. The list does not state who is eligible.

As of November 2026, no fee, validity or length of stay is published for types 5 and 10. The sponsor pays on the ROP system and confirms the amount. A December 2025 US Commercial Service guide also notes that business visas are arranged in advance through an Omani sponsor.

Who can sponsor

According to the eVisa portal, only residents of Oman can register as sponsors, with a valid Civil Number and, for organisations, a Company Register Number. The eVisa FAQ adds that the company registers first and then applies to the Directorate General of Passports and Residence for "Admin and PRO" accreditation.

A UAE employer without an Omani entity cannot sponsor its own staff, so the host is usually the Omani client, partner or group company.

Muscat Airport's undated page says sponsors can deposit the visa at its Visa Deposit counter at least 24 hours before arrival, so we recommend confirming the handover with the host.

Documents for a Business Trip

GCC Resident Visa

• Passport copy, valid for six months or more.
• Personal photo.
• Residence card copy, with UAE residence valid for three months or more.

Express and multiple-entry visas

• Passport copy.
• Personal photo.
• Request letter from the Omani host.

For both, the applicant is outside Oman when applying, holds no other valid visa and has a six-month passport, per Oman's government services portal. The Express Visa is for senior professionals and businesspersons.

The eVisa FAQ limits passport and photo files to 512 KB and lets anybody submit an application for someone else, so HR teams can file unsponsored eVisas for staff.

Driving a Dubai-registered car

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (updated 14 October 2026) says residents driving to any GCC country need a no-objection certificate from the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE and an RTA tourism certificate. The certificate costs AED 120 for a light vehicle and is valid for six months. Other emirates have their own licensing authorities.

Fees, Processing Time and Validity

Fees in Omani rials from Oman's government services portal as of November 2026, worth rechecking before each trip:

• GCC Resident Visa: OMR 5, extension OMR 5.
• Express Visa: OMR 30.
• Multiple-entry visit visa: OMR 50, with stays of up to three months each time. The card names no ROP code and no total validity, so the host and the ROP confirm the exact type.
• Business Visit and Business Man visas: not published.
• General visit visa extension: OMR 20. The card does not say which visas it covers, and the Express Visa extends by one week only.

Processing time

The ROP sets no fixed processing time and recommends applying at least 4 days ahead. Gulf News reports 4 to 5 working days for the GCC resident eVisa, a figure not found on ROP pages. Nothing is published for sponsored business visas. Paying does not guarantee issue.

Validity before use

• Unsponsored eVisa and Express Visa: one month.
• Sponsored tourist visa: three months.

Royal Decree 15/2025 sets the National Day holiday on 20 and 21 November. Days off can move, so the announced dates are worth checking.

What You Can and Cannot Do on a Business Visit

Oman publishes no official list of activities allowed on a business visit. HR teams typically confirm the visa type with the Omani host before booking.

Work is the clear line. Oman's Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023, in an unofficial English translation) says a non-Omani may not join any work in Oman before obtaining a work permit. Per Oman's government services portal, a work visa is issued at the employer's request under a Ministry of Labour licence and costs OMR 20.

Other trip purposes have their own ROP visas:

• Temporary work: the Short Work Visa (type 24), requested by a sponsor licensed to bring in workers, for applicants aged 21 or older. It expires three months after issue.
• Exhibitions: the Festivals Visa (type 22), for festivals or exhibitions approved by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Government visits: the Official Visit Visa (type 7), requested by the entity being visited, for three months, renewable for a similar period.
• Pre-employment testing by government entities: the Contractor Visit Visa (type 13), two months plus one.
• Truck and bus drivers: the Truck Driver Visa (type 12), multiple-entry and valid 60 days, with stays of up to one month when unloading in Oman or five days in transit.

A 2021 ROP rule reported by the Oman Observer lets GCC-resident, business and express visit visas be converted to a work or temporary work visa if conditions are met.

Recent Changes (2025-2026)

• 26 February 2025: the Dibba land border in Musandam opened, per an ROP announcement reported by the Oman Observer. It leads to Musandam, not to Muscat.
• November 2025: the Oman Observer reported a new Cultural Visa for conference and festival guests, from OMR 50 a year. It is not a business visa.
• 31 July 2026: Gulf News updated its reproduction of the approved professions list, which the ROP does not publish separately.
• 3 August 2026: an ROP decision (Official Gazette No. 1659) came into force, adding a free 14-day tourist visa for nationals of designated countries. As of November 2026 no country list is published, and Business Standard reported in August that India was not named.
• 22 September 2026: the Foreign Ministry updated its 14-day exemption page.
• 14 October 2026: Dubai RTA updated its page on driving to GCC countries.
• 29 October 2026: Oman's government services portal updated its fines page (OMR 10 a day for visit-visa overstays).

FAQ

Can I attend business meetings on the GCC Resident Visa?

Officially it is a tourism visa, and as of November 2026 no official text allows or bans meetings. For formal business we recommend a sponsored visa.

Can an Indian UAE resident enter Oman visa-free for 14 days?

Not on UAE residence alone, because the Foreign Ministry and ROP lists disagree on the GCC-residence route. Indians in approved professions can use the GCC Resident Visa for OMR 5.

Do I have to travel to Oman directly from the UAE?

A 2022 ROP decision reported by the Oman Observer said GCC residents need not arrive from their country of residence. The official condition is a GCC residence valid for at least three months.

How early should a company apply?

The ROP recommends at least 4 days ahead. Sponsored visas have no published timeline, so we recommend agreeing dates with the Omani host early.

Can a UAE company sponsor its staff for Oman?

Not without an Omani entity. Sponsors register with an Omani Civil Number, so the host is usually the Omani client or partner.

Can a business visa be extended?

The Express Visa extends by one week. Extension terms for the Business Visit and Business Man visas are not published, so the sponsor confirms them.

What are the overstay fines?

Oman's government services portal lists OMR 10 a day on visit visas, paid on departure. The UK FCDO says the total fine can reach 500 rials.

Can I work on a project with a business visa?

Not without a work permit, under Oman's Labour Law. Temporary work uses the Short Work Visa (type 24), requested by a licensed Omani sponsor.

Is a unified GCC visa coming?

Nukta reported that the GCC Secretary-General said in September 2026 it will launch soon. As of November 2026 no date had been announced, and it is a tourist visa.