Oman Marks International Women’s Day, Reaffirms Commitment to Women’s Rights and Empowerment
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman joined the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 under the theme “Rights. Justice. Work. For all women and girls,” highlighting the importance of protecting women’s rights and raising awareness about issues affecting women and girls worldwide.
Oman places significant importance on women, recognizing them as active partners in the country’s development and nation-building process. Omani women continue to receive strong support and patronage from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, enabling them to contribute their expertise and skills across various sectors of society.
Women in Oman enjoy extensive rights that allow them to assume leadership roles in the public, private and civil sectors, serving as examples of excellence and active participation in national life. The country has also strengthened women’s rights through a comprehensive legal framework that guarantees equality and non-discrimination.
The Basic Law of the State stipulates equality between men and women in rights and duties, equality before the law, and equal opportunities in voting and candidacy, reflecting Oman’s commitment to inclusive participation in governance and public affairs.
According to statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the total number of Omani women employed in the public and private sectors reached 270,696 in 2025. Of these, 107,212 women worked in the government sector, while 163,484 were employed in private, family, civil and other sectors, highlighting the expanding role of women in the labour market and their growing contribution to national development.
As part of its continued efforts to promote and empower women, Oman also signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) under Royal Decree No. 42/2005, reaffirming its commitment to involving all segments of society in the development process and strengthening programs aimed at advancing women’s empowerment.
