Oman tenders from government bodies are governed by the Tender Law issued by Royal Decree 36/2008, as amended, and run by the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority, the new name of the Secretariat General of the Tender Board since Royal Decree 57/2025. Registration, classification and bidding run electronically through the Esnad platform.
This guide explains how a tender is issued in the Sultanate, what it requires of bidders in registration, classification and bonds, how a foreign company gets in, and when an accredited local partner is the shorter road. The Arabic version is here.
Who issues Oman tenders
The Tender Law applies to all units of the state administrative apparatus, public authorities and institutions, and companies wholly owned by the government, except security and defence units and bodies excepted by another law (Article 2). The Tender Board is responsible for tenders: reviewing specifications, deciding the method of tendering, receiving and opening bids, and taking award decisions (Article 8).
Not everything passes through the Board. An internal committee in each entity has the Board's powers for tenders up to OMR 250,000, and sub-committees in the governorates up to OMR 50,000 (Article 15). Tenders above half a million rials are announced in the Official Gazette (Article 18), and bidders get at least forty days to submit (Article 19).
How a tender is issued
The rule is that supplies, works and services are contracted through public tenders; by exception, by limited tender, practice (negotiated procurement), direct award or competition (Article 3), all subject to the principles of publicity, equal opportunity, equality and free competition (Article 4).
A public tender is one of two kinds (Article 16):
- Local: participation is restricted to those entered in the Omani commercial register, or in any professional register the Board decides to include in defined cases.
- International: open to international companies not registered in the Sultanate, provided they register under Omani regulations within thirty working days of being notified that their bid was accepted (Article 23).
This distinction is the key for a company coming from abroad: a local tender is closed to it unless it has an Omani commercial registration, or a partner that does.
Registration and classification on Esnad
The Authority classifies and registers suppliers, contractors and consultancy offices under the regulation issued by Decision 104/2022, whose certificate is what allows a company to compete for government project and procurement tenders:
| Item | What the regulation provides |
|---|---|
| Grades | Excellent, first, second, third and fourth (Article 6) |
| Who it covers | Suppliers, contractors and offices licensed in the Sultanate; it does not apply to foreign companies competing in international tenders (Article 2) |
| GCC companies | Companies owned by GCC nationals are treated as Omani companies (Article 3) |
| Free-zone companies | Treated as foreign companies when working outside the free zone (Article 4) |
| Documents | A valid commercial registration, membership of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a municipal licence, a tax certificate, and sector licences where they exist (Article 7) |
| Contractors' experience | Certificates of completed and delivered works of no less than the value required for the grade (Article 24) |
The classification application is filed through the electronic tendering system (Article 8), and the department decides within fifteen working days of the documents being complete. The Esnad platform offers several account types, including a local Omani company and an international vendor.
Bonds and deadlines
- The bid bond is no less than 1% of the total bid value, forfeited if the bid is withdrawn before its validity expires, and returned to unsuccessful bidders when validity ends or on award (Article 43). A bid without the full bond is excluded (Article 41).
- The performance bond is 5% of the total awarded value, within ten working days of the winner being notified, twenty working days for a contractor abroad; consultancy offices may provide professional indemnity insurance instead (Article 44). A winner who fails to provide it may see the award cancelled and the bid bond forfeited (Article 45).
- Change orders up or down within OMR 100,000 or 10% of the original bid value, whichever is greater (Article 42).
- Exclusion: a bid is excluded if the bidder is not registered in the Sultanate, except in international tenders, or does not prove its sound financial position, or its documents are incomplete (Article 41).
Local content and small enterprises
Preference in bids goes to the national products of small and medium enterprises that meet the conditions, including a price preference of up to 10% (Article 36). Following up the local content policy now sits with the Authority itself, and according to the US International Trade Administration's guide, the in-country value principle is embedded in government tenders across sectors, with a minimum equivalent to 10% of the contract value to be invested in the Sultanate.
When you need an accredited local partner in Oman
- When the tender is local. Participation is limited to those in the Omani commercial register or a professional register the Board decides; registering after award is open only for international tenders.
- When it asks for a classification grade you don't hold. The five grades rest on works completed and delivered in Oman, and works dated before the activity was entered in the commercial register do not count (Article 25 of the regulation).
- When local content is weighed. An Omani partner, with its staff and suppliers, raises the in-country value you achieve.
- When your company is from the GCC. It is treated as Omani in classification, so a partner adds local experience rather than eligibility.
That is what Munaseq is for: you send us the tender and the classification or accreditation you are missing, by name, and we match you with up to three accredited partners that registered it and showed proof, each with the reason for the match, and arrange the first meeting. The contract is directly between you and your partner.
- Have a tender in Oman and no classification or local registration? Find an accredited partner for your tender.
- A classified Omani company that wants work to reach it? Let the companies entering the market find you.
- Bidding in Kuwait or Saudi Arabia too? Read our guides to Kuwait tenders and Etimad tenders.
Sources
- Royal Decree 36/2008 issuing the Tender Law, as amended, Qanoon Oman legal portal (Arabic).
- Decision 104/2022 issuing the regulation on the classification and registration of suppliers, contractors and consultancy offices, Tender Board, 12 December 2022 (Arabic).
- Royal Decree 57/2025 renaming the Secretariat General of the Tender Board the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority.
- Company registration on Esnad.
- Oman: Selling to the Public Sector, US International Trade Administration.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. The law, its regulations and the tender documents are what count.