Oman lowers salary requirements for foreigners to bring their family

Oman has reportedly halved the minimum monthly salary requirement for foreign workers to bring their family to live in the country.

Times of Oman cited a Royal Oman Police source as saying the minimum salary requirement had lowered from OMR600 ($1,558) a month to OMR300 ($800).

Shoura Council Member Sultan bin Majid Al Abri told the title’s sister publication Al Abri that the decision had been made under the council’s recommendations as part of the Tanfeedh diversification programme.

In May 2016, members of the council argued for the restriction to be lifted to increase the amount of money expatriates spend in the country.

Read: Oman’s Shura Council argues for lifting of family visa restrictions

Al Abri was quoted as saying the decision would boost the local economy including the real estate, retail and insurance sectors.

Royal Oman Police first brought in the restriction in September 2013.

Oman currently has more than 1.74 million expat workers and around 2 million expats in total including family members.

The country is expected to post an OMR3bn ($7.79bn) budget deficit this year after introducing austerity measures and tightening spending following a reduction in oil revenues

Read: Oman 2017 budget projects smaller deficit as govt plans tax hikes