Who licenses nurseries in Oman?
In Oman, nurseries are licensed by the Ministry of Social Development under the Child Law, and Ministerial Decision No. 378/2026 sets the rules for centres caring for children from three months to four years. Private kindergartens are licensed by the Ministry of Education as private schools for early education. Ask to see a licence before you enrol.
Checked October 2026 · Sources
Who licenses nurseries in Oman
Oman has two regulators for early years. Nurseries for babies and young children are licensed by the Ministry of Social Development under the Child Law (Royal Decree 22/2014), which says a nursery may not open without the ministry's licence. Private kindergartens, usually registered as private schools for early education (KG1 and KG2), are licensed and supervised by the Ministry of Education, like other private schools.
"Stating the licence" counts the nurseries and kindergartens listed here that name their ministry on their own website or official page.
| City | Regulators | Listed | Stating Social Development | Stating Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscat | Ministry of Social DevelopmentNurseries, Child Law and Decision No. 378/2026Ministry of EducationPrivate kindergartens and schools | 179 | 3 | 7 |
| Sohar | Ministry of Social DevelopmentNurseries, Child Law and Decision No. 378/2026Ministry of EducationPrivate kindergartens and schools | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Barka | Ministry of Social DevelopmentNurseries, Child Law and Decision No. 378/2026Ministry of EducationPrivate kindergartens and schools | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Nizwa | Ministry of Social DevelopmentNurseries, Child Law and Decision No. 378/2026Ministry of EducationPrivate kindergartens and schools | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Salalah | Ministry of Social DevelopmentNurseries, Child Law and Decision No. 378/2026Ministry of EducationPrivate kindergartens and schools | 9 | 1 | 0 |
The 2026 rules for early childhood centres
Ministerial Decision No. 378/2026 of the Minister of Social Development, reported in October 2026, sets the rules for integrated early childhood development centres. They may take children from three months to four years, and children with disabilities who are eligible for inclusion until eight.
- A licence first. No centre may operate without a prior licence, valid for three years and renewable. Centres may not advertise or collect fees before they are licensed.
- Staff ratios. One caregiver for every four babies under one; one supervisor and one caregiver for every eight children aged one to two; and for every twelve children over two. A nurse must be on duty throughout working hours.
- Safety. High-quality CCTV that records audio, emergency and evacuation plans, healthy meals without preservatives, and buses with electronic tracking and an Omani female supervisor.
- Penalties. Fines of RO 500 to RO 1,000 for violations after a warning, and up to RO 5,000 for operating without a licence. The ministry can also suspend or cancel a licence.
Kindergartens and private schools
Private schools in Oman, their kindergarten classes included, are licensed by the Ministry of Education under the by-laws for private schools (Ministerial Decision No. 287/2017). A school may not advertise its opening, register children or start teaching before its licence is issued, and it must publish its fees.
How to check a nursery's licence
- Ask to see it. A licensed nursery or kindergarten can show you its licence.
- Check the ministry. A nursery should hold a Ministry of Social Development licence; a kindergarten or school, a Ministry of Education licence.
- Check the name matches. The name and address on the licence should match the place you're visiting, branch included.
- Be wary of home nurseries. The ministry has warned about unlicensed nurseries run from homes.
- On GulfNurseries, a nursery's page shows its licence when the nursery states it.
Questions parents ask
Who licenses nurseries in Oman?
Nurseries for babies and young children are licensed by the Ministry of Social Development under the Child Law (Royal Decree 22/2014). Private kindergartens, which are usually registered as private schools for early education, are licensed by the Ministry of Education.
What is Ministerial Decision No. 378/2026?
A decision of the Minister of Social Development, reported in October 2026, that sets the rules for integrated early childhood development centres for children from three months to four years: a prior licence valid for three years, staff-to-child ratios, a nurse on duty, recorded CCTV and tracked transport.
Is it illegal to run a nursery without a licence in Oman?
Yes. A nursery may not open without a licence from the Ministry of Social Development, and under Decision No. 378/2026 operating without one can be fined up to RO 5,000. Centres may not advertise or collect fees before they are licensed.
How do I check that a nursery or kindergarten in Oman is licensed?
Ask to see its licence and check which ministry issued it: the Ministry of Social Development for a nursery, the Ministry of Education for a kindergarten or school. The name and address should match the branch you're visiting.
Sources
Rules change: confirm them with the authority or the nursery, and tell us if something here is out of date.
- Muscat Daily: Ministerial Decision No. 378/2026 sets new rules for early childhood development centres (October 2026)
- Oman Observer: Ministry of Social Development warns against unlicensed nurseries under the Child Law, Royal Decree 22/2014 (October 2020)
- Mondaq: Ministerial Decision No. 287/2017, the by-laws regulating private schools in Oman