Oman strengthens penalties for private sector bribery
Royal decree expands criminal liability, increases prison terms and introduces penalties for attempted bribery in private businesses
MUSCAT, Oman (MNTV) – Oman has introduced tougher anti-bribery measures for the private sector through amendments to the Penal Code issued under Royal Decree No. 66 of 2026, expanding criminal liability and imposing stricter penalties for corruption-related offenses.
The amendments, published in the Official Gazette, create a separate chapter dedicated to private sector bribery, replacing provisions that were previously regulated under the Labor Law.
The new framework broadens the scope of offenses and strengthens legal action against both those who receive and those who offer bribes.
Under the revised law, employers, company board members, and employees who request, accept or are promised an unlawful benefit in exchange for carrying out or failing to carry out work-related duties face prison terms ranging from one to three years. They may also be fined an amount equal to or greater than the value of the benefit involved.
The penalties increase to between three and five years in prison if the bribe is linked to a breach of professional responsibilities or the deliberate failure to perform official duties. Financial penalties of at least the value of the illicit benefit will also apply.
The legislation also criminalizes attempted bribery. Individuals who offer a bribe that is rejected can face prison sentences of between three months and one year.
Those acting as intermediaries or offering bribes will be subject to the same penalties as the recipients.
However, the law allows offenders who voluntarily report or confess to the offense before authorities discover it to be exempt from punishment. Confessions made after an investigation has begun may still be considered as a mitigating factor during sentencing.
The amended provisions apply to private companies, private institutions, and international public organizations headquartered in Oman.
Government-appointed board members, employees of fully state-owned enterprises, and staff working for companies in which the government owns more than 40% of the capital will continue to be prosecuted under the Penal Code provisions governing bribery by public officials.
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