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
    ✖ State-enforced
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✔ Legal
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    Ambiguous
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    Ambiguous
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    N/A
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

Public Opinion

Muscat is missing public opinion data.

Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Muscat by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Have you lived in or visited Muscat?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in Muscat.

Take Survey

History

Homosexual activity in Muscat

?

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

Current status
Since Feb 16, 1974
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
According to Article 33 of the Omani Penal Code: "The following are deemed as disgracing crimes: [...] Homosexual and lesbian intercourses."

Article 223, "Homosexual and Lesbian Intercourses" states: "Any one who commits erotic acts with a person of the same sex shall be sentenced to imprisonment from six months to three years. The suspects of homosexual or lesbian intercourse shall be prosecuted without a prior complaint, if the act results in a public scandal. The suspects of lesbian intercourse among ascendants, descendants or sisters shall only be prosecuted upon a complaint from a relative or a relative by marriage forth-degree removed."
Details
Sources:
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
unodc.org/tldb/showDocument…
Added by theFahad  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Muscat

?

Same-sex marriage in Muscat is banned.

Current status
Banned
Homosexuality is not legal in Oman.
Details
Sources:
unodc.org/tldb/showDocument…
Added by theFahad  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Muscat

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Muscat is state-enforced.

Current status
State-enforced
The country has very strict media censorship and a very influential religious sect, so any obvious/open acts of homosexuality will likely get you into trouble as was the case with The Week newspaper.
Details
Sources:
nomadicboys.com/gay-friendl…
Added by equaldex  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Muscat

?

Right to change legal gender in Muscat is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Details
Added by theFahad  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Gender-Affirming Care in Muscat

?

Gender-Affirming Care in Muscat is legal.

Current status
Since 2009
Legal
In 2009, Oman adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
Added by JuliaB  ·  Report error  ·  Log

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
There is no legal recognition for non-binary identities.
Details
Sources:
es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Div…
Added by Humarezft  ·  Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Muscat

?

LGBT discrimination in Muscat is no protections.

Current status
Since Nov 6, 1996
No protections
Homosexuality is illegal and as such not covered as a ground to have protection against discrimination.
Details
Sources:
servat.unibe.ch/icl/mu00000_.html
Added by vviet93  ·  Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Muscat

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Muscat is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Nov 6, 1996
Ambiguous
Some protection under gender based discrimination under Article 17 of Basic Law. According to the World Report 2018.
Details
Sources:
hrw.org/sites/default/files…
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Muscat

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Muscat is no protections.

Current status
Since Nov 6, 1996
No protections
Details
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Muscat

?

Same-sex adoption in Muscat is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Details
Added by theFahad  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Muscat

?

Intersex infant surgery in Muscat is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Muscat

?

Serving openly in military in Muscat is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
Unknown.
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/
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Muscat

?

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

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Not legal.
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/
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Muscat

?

Conversion therapy in Muscat is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Oman.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 328)
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Muscat

?

Equal age of consent in Muscat is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Homosexuality 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/
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log
Equality Index ?
N/A
There is not enough information on Muscat for an Equality Index to be assigned. Please contribute LGBTQ+ rights information or survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Muscat to help improve its accuracy.

Top Contributors

Muscat LGBT Organizations

There are no organizations listed in Muscat. Suggest one

Share Region

Compare Muscat

40
Oman Flag

Compare with
Al Wustá, Oman

0
Oman Flag

Compare with
Z̧ufār, Oman

0
Oman Flag

Compare with
Al Buraymi, Oman

0
Oman Flag

Compare with
Musandam, Oman

33
Oman Flag

Compare with
Ash Sharqiyah, Oman

38
Oman Flag

Compare with
Az̧ Z̧āhirah, Oman

31
Oman Flag

Compare with
Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman

37
Oman Flag

Compare with
Al Batinah, Oman

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

LGBT Rights in

40
Al Wustá Flag

LGBT Rights in
Al Wustá

0
Z̧ufār Flag

LGBT Rights in
Z̧ufār

0
Al Buraymi Flag

LGBT Rights in
Al Buraymi

0
Musandam Flag

LGBT Rights in
Musandam

33
Ash Sharqiyah Flag

LGBT Rights in
Ash Sharqiyah

38
Az̧ Z̧āhirah Flag

LGBT Rights in
Az̧ Z̧āhirah

31
Ad Dakhiliyah Flag

LGBT Rights in
Ad Dakhiliyah

37
Al Batinah Flag

LGBT Rights in
Al Batinah