Arrested or in prison in Oman 

The British embassy in Oman can offer help but will not be able to get you out of prison or get you special treatment because you’re British. Find out what help the embassy can offer.

Family and friends can contact:

• the British embassy in Oman
• the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000

British Embassy Muscat

Finding a lawyer and translator

Find a lawyer in Oman

You should carefully consider getting a local Omani lawyer. Discuss all costs with them in advance.

Prisoners Abroad has information on appointing a lawyer and legal aid (not specific to Oman).

Private lawyers

Check the list of local English-speaking lawyers if you want to appoint your own private lawyer. Ask the British embassy if you need a paper copy.

Discuss legal fees and payment arrangements with your lawyer before agreeing to take their services. Lawyers usually require an advance payment before accepting a case. In cases involving money, the lawyer may ask for a percentage of the final settlement if the case is successful.

Legal aid

There is no legal aid in Oman.

Court-appointed lawyers

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you’ll have to represent yourself. In certain circumstances the court may appoint a free lawyer to represent you.

Find a translator or interpreter in Oman

You may need a translator to help you read Arabic documents about your case. You might need an interpreter to help you communicate with your lawyer or at your trial, or for prison visits.

Search for an English-speaking translator or interpreter in Oman.

What happens when you’re arrested in Oman

You can be arrested and taken to a local police station:

• because of an existing arrest warrant
• where there are grounds for issuing an arrest warrant
• if you’re caught in the act of performing a crime
• if it’s expected you’ll leave the country to escape justice
• your identity cannot be confirmed

You may be detained at a police station or a detention centre depending on the reason for your arrest.

The police must tell you in English (or a language you understand):

• why you’ve been arrested
• that initial proceedings against you have started
• your rights

Do not sign any documents unless you understand them – you must be given an interpreter if you ask for one. 

Occasionally, and usually only in minor cases, the case may be dropped if both parties make a statement. However, this can only be done before the case reaches the public prosecutor. Once it has reached the public prosecutor, the case can only be dropped with the authority of the public prosecutor. Once the papers are passed to the court, the case cannot be settled out of court. 

Your rights

You have the right to:

• remain silent
• refuse to cooperate in the proceedings
• appoint a lawyer of your choice or ask for the help of a court-appointed lawyer
• ask for an interpreter
• tell your next of kin you’ve been arrested
• tell the British embassy you’ve been arrested
• access food and water
• request medical attention if you are feeling ill, or if you’re taking medication for a medical condition – you may be taken to the Royal Oman Police hospital for a medical examination, at the discretion of the police station

Visits from British embassy staff

The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs must approve visits by British embassy staff to you if you’re in a police station, detention centre or Central Prison. We’ll submit a visit request when we’re told you’ve been arrested. There is often a delay before a consular officer can visit you. In some cases, it can take weeks before the ministry approves a request.

During a consular officer’s visit to you, a member of the Royal Omani Police will often be present.

How long you can be held for

You can be held in a police station for up to 72 hours during the working week (Sunday to Thursday) before seeing the public prosecutor. If you’re arrested over the weekend, this period may be longer.

The public prosecutor will decide whether to release you on bail or move you to a detention centre.

It may take longer for you to see the public prosecutor depending on the severity of the charges against you, for example terrorism related charges.

Being put on remand

You may be put on remand if you’re strongly suspected of committing an offence. This means you’ll be put in prison while you wait for the criminal investigation and trial to finish.

The initial police remand period is 48 hours, during which you must be seen by a public prosecutor. There can be exceptions to this, for example if you’re under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, are medically unfit, there is a public holiday or you’re arrested over the weekend. The public prosecutor may extend your remand period if they still need an important piece of evidence, for example a forensic report.

The prosecutor does not have to explain to you or the embassy why they have asked for an extension. They only need to satisfy the court that an extension is necessary. It is not unusual for even simple cases to take months.

Personal belongings

The police will keep your personal belongings at the police station and later move them to the detention centre, depending on your case and how long you’re in custody.

Going to court

Only a lawyer registered in Oman can speak on your behalf during a court hearing. Your lawyer may attend court for you, especially if you are detained.

In certain circumstances the court may appoint a lawyer to represent you.

If you are on remand, the court will likely send you a link to online information about proceedings, including court dates. Usually only your lawyer can access information about your court case. The British embassy is unable access this information or ask about court proceedings on your behalf.

You may appeal against your detention to the court. If the court finds no justification for your detention, they will release you. Once you have been charged with an offence, you cannot appeal against your detention.

The official language of the court is Arabic. Some officials may speak English. If you  represent yourself, you’ll be expected to speak in Arabic.

The court uses official translators when the judge wishes to speak directly to the defendant. They are not responsible for translating all the court proceedings.

A transcript of the court proceedings in Arabic is available after the hearing. A lawyer with a power of attorney can request it on your behalf.

It is not unusual for court dates and cases to be adjourned for long periods of time without explanation.

Bail

There is no specific right to bail. The court or the public prosecutor decides whether to grant bail based on your case.

If bail is granted, you:

• may have to surrender your passport during the bail period
• may have to pay a financial security or meet other conditions – the court may accept a personal guarantee from an Omani national instead of a sum of money
• will get a travel ban

The embassy cannot act as a guarantor or transfer bail funds for you.

Arriving at prison

When you arrive at the prison, you’ll:

• have your photo taken and get a prisoner number
• be subjected to an intimate body search
• get a uniform
• be put in a temporary cell

You’ll be asked to give details like your:

• name, date of birth and nationality
• home address
• medical conditions or allergies
• religion, marital status and profession
• name and address of next of kin

Your next of kin will not be told you’re in prison unless you give your permission.

The main prison in Muscat is Sumayil Central Prison. There is also Arzat Prison in Salalah.

If you’re remanded in custody while the public prosecutor investigates your case or get a prison sentence, it is highly likely that you’ll serve time in detention centres. Most detainees in Muscat are taken to Al Khoud detention centre.

Guards will handcuff you if they transport you anywhere, or example to the courts or a hospital. They will probably chain your legs (shackles). If you’re sentenced to deportation, the authorities use the same transportation method when they take you to the airport.

Personal belongings

The authorities will take your belongings and store them. Apart from the uniform you got when you arrived, you’ll have to buy all other items of clothing, such as flip flops and t-shirts, from the prison shop.

Your prison cell

There are no private cells. Overcrowding can be a problem, especially in detention centres. At first you may have to sleep on the floor until the prison can provide a bed.

There is usually one guard assigned to each cell.

Each cell has a ‘senior’ prisoner who speaks with the guard on behalf of the other inmates. The prison guard will arrange for telephone calls and manage requests relating to food and access to doctors and dentists.

Contacting the British embassy or consulate

Tell the prison if you want the British embassy to know you’re in prison.

Medical check-up

A doctor will give you a check-up within the first few days of being in prison. It might include X-rays and blood tests.

Tell the doctor about any medical conditions you already have. The doctor will decide if you need a special diet or any other medical treatment.

Visits from family or friends

Prison regulations state that only family members can visit inmates in prison. However, the public prosecutor or Royal Oman Police may issue a visit order for a friend – you can get this from the public prosecutor’s office.

You or your family or friends can ask your lawyer, or the prison directly, about the rules. These can vary depending on where you are being held. 

How many visits you’re allowed

If your family is in Oman, they will be allowed to visit once a month. If they have travelled from the UK, the authorities are usually more flexible.

Visits take place in a public area. Visiting hours are usually from Sunday to Thursday, 8am to midday. Hours can differ between prisons. You or visitors will need to ask the prison.

Arranging visits

Once you’re sentenced, the British embassy can help to arrange a visit with someone coming from outside Oman. Family and friends must tell us about their planned visit a few weeks in advance, so we can get permission from the prison authorities. Arranged visits must be on working days before midday.

If you’re on remand, your visitors may need to get permission from the public prosecutor or Royal Oman Police.

During the visit

Visits usually last 15 to 30 minutes. You will likely meet your visitors face to face. Jails and prisons do not have glass partitions in visiting rooms.

All visitors must:

• allow guards to search them
• not bring mobile phones into the meeting rooms – your visitors will be asked to leave these with the guards before entering the meeting area
• bring ID – Oman civil cards or UK passport are acceptable

Guards are usually nearby and will be able to hear to all conversations.

What visitors can take with them

There are strict rules on what visitors can bring into the prison. Visitors may be allowed to bring books, but magazines are not allowed. Ask the prison authorities for permission.

You can only get toiletries, fruit and biscuits by buying them from the prison shop in the main prisons like Samayil and Arzat.

Money

The British embassy does not provide financial assistance to prisoners.

Prison accounts

You’ll get a prison account. Any money you were holding on arrival will be placed in this account. You can use this money to buy items from the prison shop.

Money transfers from family or friends

Depending on the prison or detention facility, your family or friends can deposit money to your prison account.

They can ask the prison authorities for your account information, about rules on depositing funds and how soon you can access the money.

How to make a complaint about mistreatment

The British embassy can help if you have been mistreated or abused – it will take all complaints seriously. Tell the embassy if you decide to make a complaint. We will ask your permission before taking any action such as raising your concern with authorities.

Complaining to the prison authorities through the embassy

To report incidents of mistreatment during detention, you can tell us during our visit with you. You can also pass us a message through your family or friends. We may be able to help take up complaints about ill treatment, personal safety or discrimination with the police or prison authorities if you’re not treated in line with internationally recognised standards.

Filing an application with the court

You can also file a complaint about mistreatment with the local courts through your lawyer.

Your investigation and trial in Oman

Oman’s judicial system is different to the UK’s.

The 3 courts are the:

• Primary Court
• Appeal Court
• Supreme Court

The Oman justice system is ‘inquisitorial’. There is no jury.

There is no magistrate’s court system. Once you have been charged with an offence, you’ll usually be tried by a judge in the criminal division of the Primary Court. If you’re charged with a serious offence, the matter may be referred straight to a judge in the Appeal Court.

The British embassy cannot interfere with the Oman judicial system. It cannot ask for your case to be judged more quickly just because you’re British or ask the authorities to waive any penalties.

Completion of investigations

A public prosecutor will investigate the alleged offences while you’re on remand. They may interview you and any witnesses and collect any relevant evidence. This might take some time. For example, statements from financial institutions can take months to prepare, and forensic analysis of blood or urine samples can take several weeks.

During the investigation the public prosecutor can keep the same charges, increase the charges or reduce them. The charges decided by the public prosecutor will be the ones heard at court for your trial.

The investigation stage is finished when the public prosecutor believes they have enough evidence to take you to trial or the case is resolved by the public prosecutor, and you are released.

The indictment

When there’s enough evidence to open a prosecution, the investigation stage is formally closed, and the trial stage is opened.

The public prosecutor must produce an indictment, showing:

• the accused
• the crime they’re accused of
• when and where the alleged crime took place
• the criminal laws that apply to the case

A date for the first hearing will be set once the judge receives the indictment. You or your lawyer can apply to get a copy of the case file at this point. 

Start of your trial

The trial starts when the investigation is finished.

If the public prosecutor decides to send your case to court, a date will be set for the first hearing. A judge will then consider the case. There is no time limit within which the case must be heard.

Judges have the responsibility of carrying out a detailed assessment of all the facts about your case. Their final decision will be based on these findings.

Formal pleas of ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ do not exist in Omani trials. The defendant or lawyer also does not make an opening statement.

It may take longer for a judge to decide serious or complicated cases. Between July and September only a limited number of cases may be considered due to the extended summer break.

The criminal procedure law issued by Royal Decree 97/99 (in Arabic) sets out court procedures for criminal offences.

Sentences

The sentence given will depend on the type of crime, and could be one or more of:

• a prison sentence
• a fine
• deportation
• the death penalty, in certain rare cases

The length of prison sentences also depends on the type of crime.

The death penalty

Although the death penalty is the maximum penalty for some crimes in Oman, it is rarely carried out. The British government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances.

Crimes carrying a maximum penalty of death in Oman are:

• crimes affecting the security and interests of Oman
• crimes upon persons like premediated murder
• drug trafficking
• rape

If you’re facing death penalty charges, the British embassy can raise its objection to the Omani authorities. If you receive a death sentence, the British embassy will try and ensure it’s not carried out.

The organisation Reprieve can also work with you and give advice if you’re facing the death penalty.

Making an appeal

You can appeal a Primary Court judgement to the Appeal Court and an Appeal Court judgement to the Supreme Court.

All parties including the prosecution have the right of appeal against a sentence. If you have not appointed a lawyer, you may wish to consider appointing one at the appeal stage.

Within 30 days of sentencing, your lawyer must submit your appeal to the Appeal Court through the prison authorities.

Prison conditions in Oman

Conditions can differ between Oman’s jails, detention centres and central prisons. Conditions, particularly in central prisons, are generally good and meet international standards. Overcrowding can be a problem. All prisons are closed prisons – they are secure facilities.

Letters and packages

Letters and packages may be sent to you directly at:

There are no restrictions on the number of letters but there are rules about what you can and cannot receive.

Receiving packages

You’re allowed to receive books. They will be checked and may be censored. This means that it may be a couple of weeks before you get them.

Pornography or pictures showing nudity are strictly forbidden.

You, your family or friends should check rules about what you can or cannot receive with the prison.

Stamps and stationery

You can buy stamps and stationery at the prison shop to send your own letters.

Checks on your mail

All mail will be censored and checked thoroughly before being handed to you.

Telephone calls

Phone calls are treated as a privilege. There are limits on when, where and how frequently you can make them. You’re only allowed to make domestic calls.

Inmates can arrange telephone calls with prison guards directly. You must buy a phone card to make calls.

There are often no facilities for families to make phone calls to speak directly to a detainee. 

Medical and dental treatment

Your basic medical needs must be met while you’re detained in Oman.

If you need medical or dental treatment, you should make an appointment to see the prison or police doctor, or request a hospital or dentist visit. Prisons have resident doctors. Most police stations do not, and police may have to escort you to a local hospital. Prison doctors are often similar to UK GPs (general practitioners), so they may have to refer unusual or complex medical problems to a specialist outside the prison.

If you do not see a doctor after requesting one, you should contact the embassy.

Treatment for a new illness or condition

Speak to the prison guards if you need medical or dental treatment.

The doctor might not visit every day in smaller prisons, so submit the request as soon as possible.

Existing conditions

The British embassy can try to make sure the prison knows about any medical or dental issues you have if you want us to.

Mental health care

There are no psychiatrists in jails or prisons. The prison doctor will assess you first and may recommend your transfer to a specialist hospital depending on your condition.

Mental health is not prioritised as much as in the UK, but there is growing interest and concern from the government and civil society to spread awareness about its importance. 

Talk to the prison doctor as soon as possible if you feel you need treatment for your mental health. For example, you have depression or anxiety. You can also inform the embassy if you would like us to raise concerns on your behalf with prison authorities.

The prison may be able to make recommendations about adjustments for psychological issues.

Food and diet

Jails and prisons provide 3 meals per day and drinking water. You can also buy food and other personal items such as biscuits, dairy products and fruit from the prison shop.

Special diets

Only a prison or police doctor can approve a special diet on medical grounds. It is up to you to ask to see the doctor and ask them for a special diet.

Sometimes places of detention will provide a special diet on request, but this is not an automatic right.

Prison shop

Central prisons have a prison shop where you can buy items such as deodorant, soap and towels.

Showers and hygiene

Central prisons allow a daily shower schedule. Shower and bathing facilities are communal. Conditions are generally clean.

Work and study

There are no educational or vocational facilities in prisons. Internet access is not allowed.

Books, languages, activities and study

Holy books are available. You can arrange subscriptions to English or Arabic newspapers through the prison authorities on a monthly payment basis.

Prisoners Abroad might be able to send some reading material, language textbooks and dictionaries. These will be sent through the embassy, and consular officers can arrange to deliver these to you.

Contact with other inmates is not restricted.

Exercise

There are no recreational facilities. You can access a courtyard for an exercise period. The prison manages timings.

Transferring to another prison

The UK and Oman do not have a prisoner transfer agreement, so you cannot apply to transfer to a prison in the UK.

Early release

You can sometimes have your sentence reduced, especially if you’re a first-time offender. Clemency or pardon is possible in some rare cases. You can also sometimes pay a fine instead of spending time in prison.

Clemency or pardon

After you’ve served two-thirds of your sentence and paid any fines, you or your next of kin can request a pardon. You must directly address this plea to the Sultan.

The Oman government also announces pardons during Eid and National Day of Oman mainly for detainees who have completed two-thirds of their sentence.

Decisions on pardons are taken on a case-by-case basis and may depend on your behaviour in prison and adaptation to prison life. There are no hard-and-fast rules for success, and few are granted.

The letter should give reasons why clemency or a pardon should be granted. You should speak to your lawyer about the content of the letter. The embassy can arrange for it to be delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a covering letter. More than one letter can be sent but they must be submitted together. The most important will be from family members. Others should be from friends, plus perhaps another letter from a professional person who will support your case, for example your MP or MEP or a lawyer.

Release and deportation

You can contact the British embassy if you need help when you’re released. You’ll usually be deported.

Deportation

If you’re sentenced to imprisonment followed by deportation, you’ll be deported back to your home country once you’ve served your sentence. This is known as judicial deportation. You must pay for your own deportation. You’ll be kept in prison until someone pays for the airfare.

Even if the court did not order deportation, the authorities can still decide to ‘administratively’ deport you. Again, you’ll be responsible for paying the airfare.

If you’re to be deported, you should arrange for an air ticket to be given to the prison authorities at least a couple of working days before your release.

On the day of your flight, if that is your release date, you’ll be collected from your cell and given your valuables and passport. You’ll be taken to the airport police station and put in the custody of the Immigration Police. The Immigration Police will escort you to the plane.

Getting a passport 

Make sure your British passport is still in date. Contact the British embassy before you’re released if you need an emergency passport for your journey home. There will be a fee for an emergency passport.

Useful Arabic words and phrases 

English	Arabic
Amnesty or pardon	Afou
Appeal	Istinaf
Application form	Talab
Bathroom	Hammaam
Blanket	Battaniya
Blood test	Fahs dam
Book	Kitab
Case	Kadiya
Case number	Rakam al Kadiya
Central prison	Al Sejin Al Markazi
Clinic	Eyada
Complaint	Shakwa
Court	Mahkama
Deportation	Ibaad
Deposit	Amanat
Doctor	Tabeeb
Embassy	Safara
Federal Supreme Court	Al Mahkama Al Itihadiya
Food	Taam
Guilty	Mouznib
Hearing session	Jalsat Istimaa
Indictment	Al Touhma
Innocent	Barei
Interpreter	Moutarjem
Jail	Sejin
Judgement	Mouhakama
Lawyer	Mouhami
Library	Maktaba
Money	Feloos
No Problem	Ma fi Moushkila
Notary	Kateb Adel
Plaintiff	Al Moudaii
Police	Shurta
Power of attorney	Wakala
Prison Director	Mudir Al Sejin
Prison rules	Kanoun Al Sejin
Problem	Mushkila
Prosecutor	Niyaba
Release	Efraj
Security	Amn
Sentence	Oukouba
Sentence	Al Hokom
Sharia’a Court	Al Mahkama Al Shariaa
Sick	Mareed
Soap	Saboon
Telephone call	Moukalamat telephone
The accused	Al Mutaham
To buy	Ashtary
Tomorrow	Boukra
Visit	Zieyara
Ward number	Rakam Al Anbar
Water	Maa
Witness	Shahed