More than 1.5 million people have directly benefited from Oman’s Social Protection Fund (SPF) as of January 2025, marking a significant step in the government’s efforts to provide a comprehensive social safety net for citizens.
The Social Protection Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, has been pivotal in delivering direct cash benefits to eligible groups, including persons with disabilities, children, the elderly, orphans, and widows. Funded entirely by the state’s public treasury, the initiative aims to ensure decent living standards and sustainable well-being for Omani citizens, in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
As of January 2025, the childhood benefit has supported approximately 1.237 million Omani children, from birth to 18 years old. The elderly benefit has reached 171,212 individuals, while 42,912 persons with disabilities have benefited from the program. Additionally, 16,338 individuals, including orphans and widows, have received support.
The ‘family income support benefit’ has played a crucial role in assisting low-income groups by bridging the gap between actual and targeted income, helping those in financial need. To date, 42,688 individuals have received assistance through this program, further boosting the overall reach of the SPF.
In addition to the cash benefits, the SPF also manages social insurance programs funded by both employers and workers. These programs cover various contingencies such as elderly, disability, and death insurance, work-related injuries, job security insurance, maternity and sick leave, and savings schemes. By January 2025, the SPF had enrolled 590,000 active insured individuals across the private and public sectors.
Furthermore, the number of Omani retirees receiving pensions under the insurance scheme had reached 124,750 by January 2025.
The SPF continues to expand its reach, having collaborated with 12 government institutions in 2024 to extend its social safety nets, ensuring broader coverage and a more inclusive support system for citizens in need.
