Oman: Premarital Medical Tests Become Compulsory Starting January 1

In Oman, a new Royal decree has made premarital medical examination compulsory for Omanis starting Thursday, January 1, 2026, the Sultanate's state news agency said.

Omani citizens who wish to tie the knot are, from now on, required to undergo a medical examination along with their partner prior to the conclusion of the marriage contract.

The reform was included in Royal Decree No. 111/2025 on Regulation of Premarital Medical Examination issued by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.

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The required tests apply whether the marriage contract is concluded inside or outside the country and whether one or both of its parties is an Omani citizen.
Health institutions that conduct the medical examination are asked to notify both parties intending to marry of the result of each party's examination and provide the necessary medical counselling if required in light of the medical examination results. It is prohibited to disclose the examination results to any third party.

They should also issue a certificate proving the two parties have undergone the medical examination. Marriage officiants must not conclude the marriage contract until the two parties have presented the certificate.

Violators of this Royal decree will be punished by imprisonment for a period of no less than ten days and not exceeding six months, and/or by a fine of no less than 100 Omani Riyals and not exceeding 1,000 Omani Riyals.

In the UAE, premarital medical examination is mandatory for all couples, but genetic testing for all citizens intending to get married across the country became a part of the mandatory premarital screening programme from January 2025.

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