Prostitution laws in Omanعُمان
Oman's Penal Law (Royal Decree 7/2018) punishes anyone who practises prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, with one to three years' imprisonment (Art. 256). Anyone caught in a place prepared for prostitution intending to engage in it faces one month to one year (Art. 255), and consensual sex outside marriage six months to three years for both parties (Art. 259), on a complaint by a spouse or guardian or, where the accused has neither in Oman, by the Public Prosecution. Running a brothel, letting premises for one, knowingly working or living in one, or living off another's prostitution carries one to three years and OMR 500 to 1,000 (Art. 255). Inciting or helping someone into prostitution carries three to seven years (Art. 254), and doing so through an information network three to five years (Cyber Crime Law, Art. 15).
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Practising prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, is a crime (Art. 256, Penal Law of 2018). Clients are covered by a specific offence of being caught in a place prepared for prostitution (Art. 255) and by the general offence of consensual sex outside marriage (Art. 259). Brothels, living off earnings, procuring and incitement, including online, are crimes.[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Anyone who practises prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, is punishable by one to three years' imprisonment (Art. 256). Being found in a public place inciting passers-by to prostitution by word, gesture or any other means carries six months to one year (Art. 253), and consensual sex outside marriage is a separate offence (Art. 259).[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Anyone caught in a place prepared for prostitution or debauchery with the intention of engaging in it is punishable by one month to one year (Art. 255). Consensual sex outside marriage carries six months to three years for both parties, at least two years if either is married (Art. 259).[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Preparing or running a place for prostitution or debauchery, helping in any way to prepare or run one, letting a house or premises knowing it will be used for prostitution, or knowingly working or residing in such a place is punishable by one to three years' imprisonment and a fine of OMR 500 to 1,000. In every case the court orders the place closed.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Inciting, luring, tempting or helping a person by any means into prostitution or debauchery, where the act results, carries three to seven years; up to ten with coercion, threats or trickery, a victim under 18, or an offender who is an ascendant, carer or person in authority (Art. 254). Living wholly or partly on another person's prostitution under one's protection or control carries one to three years and a fine (Art. 255(d)).[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Using an information network or information technology to incite or seduce a man or woman into debauchery or prostitution, or to help them, carries three to five years' imprisonment and a fine of OMR 3,000 to 5,000; five to ten years and OMR 5,000 to 10,000 if the victim is under 18 (Art. 15, Cyber Crime Law). Public incitement of passers-by is covered by Art. 253 of the Penal Law.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Anyone who practises prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, is punishable by one to three years' imprisonment (Art. 256). Being found in a public place inciting passers-by to prostitution by word, gesture or any other means carries six months to one year (Art. 253), and consensual sex outside marriage is a separate offence (Art. 259).[1]
Article 256 reads, in our translation: "Whoever practises prostitution or debauchery for a fee without distinction shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than three years."
Note. Text read from Qanoon.om, a non-governmental site that reproduces the Official Gazette text with amendments; the translations are ours.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Anyone caught in a place prepared for prostitution or debauchery with the intention of engaging in it is punishable by one month to one year (Art. 255). Consensual sex outside marriage carries six months to three years for both parties, at least two years if either is married (Art. 259).[1]
Under Article 259 proceedings require a complaint by the spouse or guardian. If the accused has no spouse or guardian in the country, the Public Prosecution may prosecute or deport the person; the spouse or guardian may withdraw the complaint at any time.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Preparing or running a place for prostitution or debauchery, helping in any way to prepare or run one, letting a house or premises knowing it will be used for prostitution, or knowingly working or residing in such a place is punishable by one to three years' imprisonment and a fine of OMR 500 to 1,000. In every case the court orders the place closed.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Inciting, luring, tempting or helping a person by any means into prostitution or debauchery, where the act results, carries three to seven years; up to ten with coercion, threats or trickery, a victim under 18, or an offender who is an ascendant, carer or person in authority (Art. 254). Living wholly or partly on another person's prostitution under one's protection or control carries one to three years and a fine (Art. 255(d)).[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
Using an information network or information technology to incite or seduce a man or woman into debauchery or prostitution, or to help them, carries three to five years' imprisonment and a fine of OMR 3,000 to 5,000; five to ten years and OMR 5,000 to 10,000 if the victim is under 18 (Art. 15, Cyber Crime Law). Public incitement of passers-by is covered by Art. 253 of the Penal Law.[1][2]
Note. Whether Article 15 is applied to people advertising their own services, as distinct from inciting others, was not checked against case law.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| مرسوم سلطاني رقم ٧ / ٢٠١٨ بإصدار قانون الجزاء (الصيغة المعدلة) Royal Decree 7/2018 Issuing the Penal Law Arts. 253-256 · Art. 259 | Book Two, Part Seven, Chapter One (Arts. 253 to 256) covers prostitution and debauchery; Art. 259 covers consensual sex outside marriage.[1] | |
| مرسوم سلطاني رقم ١٢ / ٢٠١١ بإصدار قانون مكافحة جرائم تقنية المعلومات Royal Decree 12/2011 Issuing the Cyber Crime Law Art. 15 | Art. 15 criminalises using an information network to incite or help a person into prostitution.[2] |
Timeline
- 2011The Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree 12/2011) makes inciting prostitution through an information network a separate offence.[2]
- 11 January 2018Royal Decree 7/2018 issues a new Penal Law, repealing the Penal Law of Royal Decree 7/74, with a chapter on prostitution and debauchery (Arts. 253 to 256). It took effect the day after publication in the Official Gazette of 14 January 2018.[1]
Sources
- مرسوم سلطاني رقم ٧ / ٢٠١٨ بإصدار قانون الجزاء (الصيغة المعدلة) (Royal Decree 7/2018 Issuing the Penal Law (amended text)). Qanoon.om, 11 January 2018. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- مرسوم سلطاني رقم ١٢ / ٢٠١١ بإصدار قانون مكافحة جرائم تقنية المعلومات (Royal Decree 12/2011 Issuing the Cyber Crime Law). Qanoon.om, 2011. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026