Opening a nursery in Oman requires a specialised licence from the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), in addition to a valid commercial registration and premises that meet the applicable childcare and safety standards. Registering a company does not authorise childcare operations. Investors must obtain preliminary approval, pass the building inspection, submit approved internal operating regulations and receive the final nursery licence before accepting children.
Oman updated its nursery regulations in 2026 through Ministerial Decision 410/2026, while Ministerial Decision 378/2026 introduced a separate framework for integrated early childhood development centres. These distinctions matter when choosing a business model, assessing foreign investor eligibility and calculating the investment required.
Oman Nursery Licensing: At a Glance
- Licensing authority: Ministry of Social Development.
- Legal basis: Child Law, Royal Decree 22/2014, and its Executive Regulations under Ministerial Decision 125/2019, as amended by Decision 410/2026.
- Preliminary approval: A complete application must be decided within 30 days.
- Licence validity: Three years for ordinary nurseries, renewable for equivalent periods.
- Renewal: Apply at least three months before the licence expires.
- Safety: CCTV with audio recording, night vision and at least three months of recording retention is mandatory.
1. Understand the Type of Childcare Licence You Need
Oman distinguishes ordinary nurseries from integrated early childhood development centres. The two categories have different licensing conditions, staffing requirements and fee structures, so the intended services must be defined before incorporating the business.
Ordinary private nurseries
Ordinary nurseries provide childcare and age-appropriate educational and developmental activities. They operate under the Child Law and the Executive Regulations issued by Ministerial Decision 125/2019, as amended by Decision 410/2026.
The Ministry of Social Development supervises licensing and compliance. Its official nursery licensing service provides the starting point for new applications and branch-related procedures.
Integrated early childhood development centres
These centres offer a broader service model than conventional childcare. Under Ministerial Decision 378/2026, their activities can include developmental assessments, psychological services, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, family guidance and school-readiness programmes.
The regulation covers children aged three months to four years. Children with disabilities may be accommodated up to age eight when the applicable integration conditions are met.
A business offering therapy or specialised developmental services should not assume that an ordinary nursery licence covers those activities. The regulatory category must match the actual services delivered.
2. Who Can Establish a Nursery in Oman?
Eligibility depends on the legal category and the applicant's ownership structure. Foreign investors should resolve this question before committing to a lease, incorporating a company or purchasing nursery equipment.
Requirements for ordinary private nurseries
Under amended Article 13 of the Child Law Executive Regulations, an individual applying to establish a private nursery must generally be an Omani or GCC national, have full legal capacity, be at least 25 years old, demonstrate good conduct and have no disqualifying criminal conviction unless legally rehabilitated. A valid Commercial Registration is also required.
Where the applicant is a legal entity, the company must be registered in the Commercial Register, and its owners and founders must satisfy the applicable regulatory conditions.
Foreign investor eligibility
Foreign ownership requires particular attention. The original Article 14 of Decision 125/2019 provides a separate route for foreign investors involving an Omani partner, valid commercial registration, specified personal eligibility conditions and investor residency in Oman.
However, Decision 410/2026 amended Article 13 and introduced updated nationality and founder requirements. Investors should therefore obtain the Ministry's position on how Articles 13 and 14 apply to their proposed ownership structure before proceeding.
Do not assume that permission to register a general mainland company automatically establishes eligibility for a nursery licence. Company formation, registration of the relevant commercial activity and specialised MoSD approval are separate regulatory questions.
Eligibility for integrated development centres
Decision 378/2026 establishes specific applicant conditions for integrated early childhood development centres. The applicant must be an Omani or GCC citizen, hold a valid Commercial Registration and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry membership, be at least 25 years old, have good conduct and demonstrate financial capacity.
3. How to Open a Nursery: The Licensing Process
The practical route begins with confirming investor eligibility and establishing the company, followed by the MoSD application, premises inspection and final approval. Each stage should be completed in the correct order.
- Define the business model. Decide whether the proposed operation is an ordinary nursery or an integrated early childhood development centre. List the intended age groups, childcare services and any specialised developmental or therapeutic activities.
- Check shareholder eligibility. Review the nationality, legal capacity and other requirements applicable to the proposed owners and founders. Foreign investors should clarify the interaction of the amended nursery provisions with the foreign-investor route.
- Register the company. Establish the appropriate legal entity and obtain its Commercial Registration. The registered business structure and activities should reflect the proposed operation.
- Prepare the licensing application. Assemble the applicant's details, company information, proposed premises, staffing arrangements and educational or developmental programme.
- Apply for preliminary approval. Submit the application to the Ministry of Social Development. A complete preliminary application must be decided within 30 days.
- Complete outstanding requirements. If the Ministry identifies missing information, the applicant has up to 60 days from notification to provide it. Failure to complete the requirements within that period results in cancellation of the application.
- Prepare the premises for inspection. Ensure the proposed building meets the applicable technical specifications and requirements of the relevant authorities.
- Correct building deficiencies. If the inspection identifies problems, the applicant may receive up to 90 days to rectify them. Failure to meet the requirements can result in cancellation of preliminary approval.
- Submit internal operating regulations. Prepare policies covering management, educational activities, opening hours, services, staffing, safety and security, and contracts with parents. Payment and refund conditions must be addressed.
- Obtain the final licence. The Ministry must approve the internal regulations as part of the final licensing process. Operations should begin only after the final licence has been issued.
Preliminary approval is not permission to operate. Accepting children or advertising the opening before final licensing can expose the operator to regulatory action.
4. Documents and Premises Requirements
A licensing application must demonstrate that the applicant is legally eligible and that the proposed facility can provide childcare safely. Prepare the corporate, staffing, programme and building information together rather than treating the application as a company-registration exercise.
Application documentation
- Applicant identification and legal information.
- Valid Commercial Registration and company details.
- Information about shareholders, owners and founders.
- Details and supporting documents for the proposed premises.
- Educational activities and the proposed annual programme.
- Management and staff information, including qualifications.
- Relevant medical fitness certificates and criminal-record documentation for staff.
- Internal operating regulations covering management, activities, opening hours, services, staffing and safety.
- Parent-service contract setting out responsibilities, payments and refund arrangements.
- Information about safety equipment, CCTV and health facilities.
The final checklist should follow the applicable MoSD application requirements for the selected licence category.
Choosing a compliant building
Premises selection is one of the most important investment decisions. A commercial property that is suitable for an office or retail business may not meet nursery requirements.
Relevant considerations include:
- An independent entrance and controlled access.
- Suitable rooms for educational activities, play and sleeping.
- Child-appropriate sanitary facilities.
- An equipped kitchen and appropriate food-preparation arrangements.
- A protected outdoor play area where required by the facility design.
- Safe air-conditioning and ventilation.
- Compliance with applicable health, environmental and public safety requirements.
Integrated early childhood development centres have additional requirements, including disability accessibility, a health visitor room, specialised activity facilities and suitable spaces for developmental services. Their locations must also be away from specified hazards, including industrial facilities, high-voltage lines, flammable-material warehouses and areas exposed to flooding or landslides.
Have the proposed property assessed against the relevant technical requirements before signing a long-term lease or beginning substantial renovation work.
5. Management, Staff Qualifications and Child-to-Staff Ratios
Staffing requirements depend on the type of licensed facility. The 2026 regulations establish updated professional requirements, and integrated development centres have specific qualifications and staffing ratios.
For integrated centres, the manager must hold a university degree in early childhood, kindergarten, education, psychology, sociology, social work or an equivalent qualification approved by the Ministry. The manager must be dedicated to the management role.
Childcare worker requirements distinguish between Omani and non-Omani applicants:
- Omani childcare workers must have at least the required secondary education level, together with one year of relevant experience or an approved training course lasting at least three months.
- Non-Omani childcare workers must hold a diploma in childhood studies or an equivalent qualification.
- Childcare workers must be aged between 20 and 55.
- Staff must be medically fit, free from infectious diseases and have no disqualifying criminal conviction.
- All staff must complete first-aid training coordinated with the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority.
The staffing ratios for integrated centres are structured by age group:
| Children's age | Required staffing arrangement | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months to under 1 year | One childcare worker | 1 worker per 4 children |
| 1 to under 2 years | One supervisor and one childcare worker | For every 8 children |
| 2 years and above | One supervisor and one childcare worker | For every 12 children |
An integrated centre must also have a nurse available during official operating hours. These ratios belong to the integrated-centre framework and should not automatically be applied to ordinary nurseries.
6. CCTV, Health and Child Protection Requirements
Oman's 2026 nursery amendments introduce specific surveillance and security requirements. A compliant CCTV system is not simply a matter of installing cameras at the entrance.
Under Decision 410/2026, cameras must cover internal facilities, corridors, play areas, entrances and exits. The system must provide:
- High-quality video recording.
- Audio recording.
- Night vision.
- Password protection.
- At least three months of recording retention.
- A display screen in the management office.
- Restricted access for authorised personnel.
For integrated development centres, additional health and child-protection arrangements apply. These include recording children's medical requirements and food allergies, providing appropriate meals and maintaining access to nursing support.
Where transport is provided, vehicles must meet the applicable safety and electronic tracking requirements, use appropriate child restraints and have an Omani female bus supervisor for each bus.
7. Licensing Fees, Processing Times and Renewal
Fees and timelines differ between ordinary nurseries and integrated early childhood development centres. Investors should keep company formation expenses separate from specialised licensing costs.
| Item | Fee or period | Applicable category |
|---|---|---|
| Licence issuance or renewal: single-person company | OMR 100 | Integrated development centre |
| Licence issuance or renewal: other companies | OMR 200 | Integrated development centre |
| Decision on a complete preliminary application | 30 days | Ordinary nursery |
| Time to complete application deficiencies | Up to 60 days | Ordinary nursery |
| Time to rectify building deficiencies | Up to 90 days | Ordinary nursery |
| Licence validity | 3 years | Ordinary nursery |
| Renewal application deadline | At least 3 months before expiry | Ordinary nursery |
| Company registration through Connsect | OMR 275 | Mainland LLC; 7–10 working days |
The OMR 100 and OMR 200 charges are specific to integrated early childhood development centres. They should not be presented as the confirmed first-time licence fees for ordinary nurseries.
For an ordinary nursery, the 30-day period concerns the decision on a complete preliminary application, not the entire period from incorporation to opening. Property preparation, inspections, staff arrangements and approval of internal regulations are separate stages.
Company registration through Connsect
Connsect provides mainland company registration for OMR 275, with an estimated service completion period of 7–10 working days. The registration can be handled without the client travelling to Oman. This service covers company formation, not the separate MoSD nursery licence.
See company registration in Oman for the service details.
Investor residency
Where the investor also needs a residence permit, Connsect offers a two-year investor visa service for OMR 795 and a one-year option for OMR 625. The published two-year package includes the business plan, municipal licence, visa, medical examination and Oman ID card.
Investor visa processing takes 20–30 working days. A combined mainland company registration and two-year investor visa package costs OMR 1,090. Residency eligibility and the nursery licensing conditions should be assessed separately.
8. Common Mistakes When Establishing a Nursery
Most avoidable problems arise from treating nursery licensing as an ordinary company setup project. The following mistakes can delay approval or create compliance risks.
- Signing a property lease too early: Confirm building suitability before committing to major rental or renovation expenses.
- Assuming company registration is sufficient: A Commercial Registration does not replace the specialised nursery licence.
- Overlooking shareholder eligibility: Foreign investors must resolve the applicable ownership conditions before incorporation.
- Confusing preliminary and final approval: Preliminary approval does not authorise operations.
- Planning staffing around total enrolment alone: Staffing arrangements must reflect the children's age groups and the applicable regulatory category.
- Installing inadequate CCTV: Systems must meet the audio, night-vision, password-protection and retention requirements.
- Using incomplete parent contracts: Payment terms, services and refund arrangements should be properly documented.
- Advertising before final licensing: Opening announcements must wait until the required licence is issued.
Operating an ordinary nursery without a valid licence, or continuing after cancellation, can result in an administrative fine of OMR 1,000 to OMR 5,000. Integrated centres also face penalties of up to OMR 5,000 for unlicensed operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Nursery Investment in Oman
A successful nursery project starts with the right regulatory classification, an eligible ownership structure and a property that can satisfy the technical requirements. These decisions should be made before major capital commitments.
Connsect assists investors with mainland company registration and business establishment procedures in Oman, with offices in Muscat and Tehran. The company registration service costs OMR 275 and takes 7–10 working days under the published service terms.
To discuss your proposed childcare business, shareholder structure and company registration requirements, request a free initial consultation with Connsect. The licensing plan can then be aligned with the relevant Ministry of Social Development requirements before you commit to the premises.
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