Oman, located in a strategically important part of the Arabian Peninsula, is paying increasing attention to civil protection, emergency management and preparedness for CBRN threats. CBRN refers to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. Although the probability of each type of incident varies, their potential consequences for the population and critical infrastructure can be severe.
Oman’s Strategic Location
The Sultanate of Oman lies at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, directly adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most important maritime routes. The region contains major ports, industrial facilities, energy terminals and strategically important infrastructure.
From a civil protection perspective, this means that Oman must prepare not only for natural disasters but also for industrial accidents, releases of hazardous substances, chemical or radiological contamination and other CBRN-related emergencies.
Civil Defence as Part of Oman’s Security System
One of the key institutions responsible for public safety is the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA). Oman’s emergency management system also includes the National Committee for Emergency Management and cooperation between civilian, military and medical institutions.
An important part of this system is the sector responsible for responding to incidents involving hazardous materials. Its responsibilities include emergency planning and preparedness, developing national response capabilities, coordinating the activities of different services and limiting the consequences of contamination.
A serious CBRN incident may require the simultaneous involvement of numerous organisations – fire and rescue services, emergency medical teams, the military, police, government authorities and institutions responsible for environmental protection and critical infrastructure.
Oman Is Developing Its CBRN Capabilities
A practical example of these efforts was the National Workshop on Medical Response to CBRNE Hazardous Materials Incidents, held in Muscat in November 2025. The four-day workshop was organised by Oman’s Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority and the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
The programme covered responses to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats. Particular attention was paid to hazardous-material detection, decontamination, medical assistance and coordination between different emergency services.
Oman is also strengthening its preparedness for radiological and nuclear emergencies. In June 2025, the National Emergency Management Center participated in ConvEx-3, an international emergency exercise conducted in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The scenario involved a serious nuclear power plant accident resulting in the release of radioactive material.
Exercises of this kind allow authorities to test communication systems, information flows and emergency procedures before a real crisis occurs.
Radiation Monitoring and Early Warning
CBRN protection does not begin only after a disaster has occurred. Early detection of a threat is equally important.
Oman’s Environment Authority is developing radiation monitoring capabilities and a network of early-warning stations located in different parts of the country. Regular measurements of environmental radiation levels and controls of radioactive sources are also carried out.
During a radiological emergency, the time between detecting contamination and implementing protective measures can be crucial.
Why Is Shelter Important During CBRN Emergencies?
In some emergencies, immediately leaving the affected area is not necessarily the safest option. Depending on the nature of the incident, authorities may order an evacuation or recommend shelter-in-place, meaning that people remain inside an appropriately protected building.
This is why modern civil protection should include not only warning systems and emergency services, but also appropriately designed protective infrastructure.
For facilities intended to provide protection against specific CBRN threats, important features may include airtight spaces, controlled air exchange, specialised filtration systems, appropriately designed protective entrances and doors, and the ability to temporarily isolate occupants from a contaminated external environment.
The exact technical requirements always depend on the type of threat, the intended purpose of the facility and the applicable technical standards.
From Emergency Response to Resilience
Oman’s experience illustrates a broader transformation taking place in modern civil protection systems. Security cannot rely exclusively on responding after a disaster has already occurred.
Increasing importance is being placed on national and infrastructural resilience – identifying threats in advance, developing warning systems, conducting regular exercises, training emergency services, protecting critical infrastructure and creating facilities capable of providing effective shelter for the population.
This is particularly important in the context of CBRN threats. Effective protection depends on an entire system: from detecting the threat and issuing an alert, through an effective emergency response, to providing people with appropriate protective shelter.
Oman is therefore an interesting example of a Middle Eastern country gradually developing a multi-layered approach to security that combines civil defence, emergency management, monitoring, medical preparedness and protection against CBRN threats.