Regions  ▸  Asia  ▸  Oman

LGBT Rights in Muscat Governorate

Muscat is governed by federal Oman law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Banned
    Censorship
    ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✖ Banned
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    N/A
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Muscat

?

Homosexual activity in Muscat is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1974
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Penal Code (1974) and Penal Code (2018) both criminalize homosexual sex between gay men and lesbians. The maximum punishment in both penal codes is 3 years imprisonment.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/api/downl…
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Same-sex marriage in Muscat

?

Same-sex marriage in Muscat is banned.

Current status
Banned
Oman is an Islamic state, so same-sex marriages are not recognized or performed in the country.
Details
Sources:
marryonchain.com/p/articles…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Muscat

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Muscat is imprisonment as punishment.

Current status
Imprisonment as punishment
Social media, newspapers are illegal in Oman, LGBTQ issues are censored to the point of imprisonment with several news people going to jail for reporting in Oman.
Details
Sources:
hrw.org/world-report/2021/c…
amnesty.org/en/location/mid…
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Right to change legal gender in Muscat

?

Right to change legal gender in Muscat is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
There is no legal outline set up in order to legally change your gender. Also, under Article 266 in the 2018 Penal Code, it is an offense for a man to appear dressed in women’s clothing. The penalty for the offense is between one month and one year imprisonment and a fine.
Details
Sources:
humandignitytrust.org/count…~:text=Article%20266%20makes%20it%20an,year%20imprisonment%20and%20a%20fine.
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Gender-affirming care in Muscat

?

Gender-affirming care in Muscat is banned.

Current status
Banned
It is banned to have gender affirming care in Oman, women have been routinely discriminated against. There are no known laws for gender affirming care to be legal.
Details
Sources:
gov.uk/government/publicati…~:text=Oman%3A%20gender%20recognition,-This%20section%20gives&text=Transgender%20citizens%20are%20not%20recognised%20in%20Oman.
state.gov/reports/2023-coun…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Muscat

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Muscat is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Transgender people are not legally recognized in the country of Oman, this includes non-binary people.
Details
Sources:
state.gov/reports/2023-coun…
gov.uk/government/publicati…
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LGBT discrimination in Muscat

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LGBT discrimination in Muscat is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no LGBTQ discrimination protections provided in Oman.
Details
Sources:
state.gov/reports/2023-coun…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Muscat

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Muscat is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no LGBTQ discrimination protections provided in Oman under employment discrimination.
Details
Sources:
state.gov/reports/2023-coun…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Muscat

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Muscat is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no LGBTQ discrimination protections provided in Oman under housing discrimination.
Details
Sources:
state.gov/reports/2023-coun…
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Same-sex adoption in Muscat

?

Same-sex adoption in Muscat is illegal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1979
Illegal
It is illegal to get married to the same sex, therefore there is no adoption for same-sex couples in Oman.
Details
Sources:
policehumanrightsresources.…
web.archive.org/web/2016102…//old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_SSHR_2014_
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Intersex infant surgery in Muscat

?

Intersex infant surgery in Muscat is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Muscat

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Serving openly in military in Muscat is illegal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1979
Illegal
Homosexual activity is illegal in Oman, since 1979 homosexual people are not to do such.
Details
Sources:
state.gov/reports/2022-coun…
(see homosexual activity)
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Blood donations by MSMs in Muscat

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Muscat is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Homosexual Activity is illegal, blood donations are not possible unless you are heterosexual in Oman
Details
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2013100…//lgbtweekly.com/2013/10/08/gulf-cooperation-countries-to-test-detect-then-ban-gays-from-entering-their-countries/
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Conversion therapy in Muscat

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Conversion therapy in Muscat is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Homosexual Activity is illegal in Oman, conversion therapy is not banned due to no known laws protecting it.
Details
Sources:
state.gov/reports/2022-coun…
refworld.org/reference/coun…
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Equal age of consent in Muscat

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Equal age of consent in Muscat is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Homosexual Activity is illegal in Oman, Women and Man are equal, LGBTQ members are left out. Same-sex marriage is illegal
Details
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2013100…//lgbtweekly.com/2013/10/08/gulf-cooperation-countries-to-test-detect-then-ban-gays-from-entering-their-countries/
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Equality Index ?
2 / 100
Legal Rights
2 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Muscat to help improve its accuracy.

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Muscat LGBT Organizations

There are no organizations listed in Muscat. Suggest one

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Common queries:
  • Is it illegal to be gay in Muscat?
  • Is homosexuality legal in Muscat?
  • Is gay marriage legal in Muscat?
Alternative names: Masqaţ, Maskat, Mascate

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