Muscat – H E Dr Laila bint Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development has issued Ministerial Decision No. 378/2026, introducing a new regulatory framework for integrated early childhood development centres in Oman, with comprehensive requirements covering licensing, child safety, care, education, inclusion and professional services.

Under the new regulations, no centre may be established or operated without obtaining a prior licence. Licensed centres will provide integrated social, psychological, health and educational services, alongside specialised services including speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

The centres will also be required to provide early screening for developmental delays and indicators of disability, medical and social rehabilitation, and inclusion programmes for children with disabilities to help prepare them for school.

Services will extend beyond children to families and caregivers through counselling, training programmes, interactive courses and educational support programmes.

Centres must also provide educational and developmental activities designed to build children’s abilities and skills, with programmes supporting multiple forms of intelligence, including linguistic, logical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical and social abilities.

The regulations allow centres to accept children from three months to four years of age. Children with disabilities who are eligible for inclusion may remain enrolled until the age of eight.

Admission requires parents or guardians to submit an application and official documents confirming that the child is free from communicable diseases and has received all required vaccinations.

The licensing framework sets eligibility requirements for applicants, including Omani or GCC nationality, a minimum age of 25, good conduct, a valid commercial registration, a membership certificate from the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and adequate financial capacity.

Applications must be decided within 30 days after all required documents and information have been completed. Licences will be valid for three years, renewable for similar periods, with renewal applications required at least 90 days before expiry. The regulations establish detailed technical and safety standards for centres, including appropriate room sizes, independent premises, safe access, play and activity areas, sleeping facilities and high-quality surveillance cameras with audio recording.

Centres must be equipped to accommodate children with disabilities eligible for inclusion and must have a nurse throughout official working hours.

Transport must meet safety requirements, include electronic tracking systems and have an Omani female supervisor on each bus.

Centres must also provide healthy meals free of preservatives, maintain emergency and evacuation plans and comply with prescribed staff-to-child ratios.

These include one caregiver for every four children aged three months to one year, one supervisor and one caregiver for every eight children aged one to two years, and one supervisor and one caregiver for every 12 children above that age.

Fines for unlicensed centres

The regulations prohibit centres from advertising before obtaining a licence, collecting service fees before they are approved, making unauthorised structural changes or using premises for purposes other than the licensed activity.

The Ministry may impose sanctions for violations, including suspension and cancellation of licences.

A RO100 administrative fine applies for failure to renew a licence within 30 days of its expiry, while violations can attract fines ranging from RO500 to RO1,000 after a written warning and a 15-day correction period.

The strongest penalty is a fine of up to RO5,000 for establishing or operating a centre without a prior licence, operating before a licence is issued, or continuing operations after an official suspension or cancellation order.

The regulations also strengthen government oversight, requiring centres to submit statistical reports and annual activity plans and allowing authorised officials to inspect premises and monitor compliance.

The new framework is intended to establish a more integrated system of early childhood care and development, strengthen child protection and inclusion, and ensure centres operate according to clear professional, technical and safety standards.