Oman has officially begun enforcing its annual midday outdoor work ban as authorities intensify worker protection measures during one of the country’s harshest summer heatwaves.
The Ministry of Labour announced that outdoor work in exposed areas will be prohibited between 12:30pm and 3:30pm throughout June, July and August. The restriction applies to construction sites and all workplaces directly exposed to sunlight.
The ministry warned employers of strict penalties for violating the regulation, urging companies to fully comply with the annual “Noon Work Stoppage Policy” designed to protect workers from extreme heat conditions.
“Alert Ministry of Labour has warned business owners of the necessity to comply with the (Noon Work Stoppage Policy) at construction sites and exposed places with high temperatures, during the upcoming three months,” the ministry said in a statement.
The enforcement comes as temperatures across Oman surged close to 49°C in several governorates. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Saham recorded the highest temperature in the Sultanate over the past 24 hours at 48.6°C, while Al Kamil Wa Al Wafi reached 47.9°C and Sohar recorded 47.7°C.
Other regions, including Fahud, Al Rustaq, Dima Wat Tayeen and Wadi Al Maawil, also experienced temperatures above 46°C, highlighting the widespread impact of the heatwave across coastal and inland areas.
Authorities reiterated that employing workers in areas directly exposed to the sun during the restricted hours is strictly prohibited throughout the three-month period.
Under Oman’s Labour Law, companies violating the midday work ban face fines and possible imprisonment depending on the severity and recurrence of the offence. Last year, several firms faced legal action and financial penalties after failing to comply with the regulation.
The annual ban forms part of broader Gulf-wide efforts to strengthen worker safety protections as extreme summer temperatures become increasingly severe across the region.
Countries including Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait have also begun midday work restrictions and heat protection measures this summer to reduce workplace accidents, heat exhaustion and sunstroke risks among outdoor workers.