Wednesday 29 / October / 2025
Muscat: Oman has emerged as one of the world’s safest countries for walking alone at night, according to the Gallup 2025 Global Safety Report, with an impressive 94% of residents reporting that they feel safe.
The findings place Oman alongside global leaders such as Singapore, China, and Saudi Arabia, highlighting the Sultanate’s strong institutions, reliable infrastructure, and cohesive communities.
The Gallup report surveyed over 145,000 adults across 144 countries, asking participants about their feelings of personal safety, confidence in law enforcement, and experiences of theft or assault in the past year.
The results underscore the key role of local governance, visible law enforcement, and community cohesion in shaping people’s sense of security.
Oman’s top ranking reflects several interlinked factors. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) maintain visible patrols and respond promptly to public safety concerns, fostering high levels of institutional trust among citizens and residents alike.
Urban infrastructure, including well-lit streets, pedestrian-friendly pathways, and secure public transport networks, further reinforces a sense of safety. Equally important is the Sultanate’s strong social fabric, where cultural norms of respect, civility, and collective responsibility create supportive communities across both urban and rural areas.
Oman in global context
Five of the 10 countries with the highest safety perceptions in 2024 were members of the GCC: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Safety ratings in each of these countries exceed 90%.
Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Oman’s performance stands out as it leads with Saudi Arabia (93%), Kuwait (91%), Bahrain (90%), and the United Arab Emirates (90%), close behind.
Globally, Singapore tops the rankings at 98%, followed by Tajikistan (95%) and China (94%).
This marks the 12th time Singapore has topped Gallup’s global list. In contrast, South Africa reported the lowest safety perception in the world, with just 33% of adults feeling safe.
By contrast, countries such as Botswana (34%) and Lesotho (34%) report significantly lower perceptions of safety, illustrating persistent challenges linked to crime, political instability, and urban planning.
While Oman enjoys high overall safety ratings, the Gallup report highlights that gender-based differences remain a global issue.
Worldwide, 67% of women feel safe walking alone at night, compared with 78% of men, underscoring the ongoing need for targeted initiatives to enhance safety for women and girls.
In more than 100 countries and territories, the gender gap in safety perceptions exceeded 10 percentage points. Several high-income countries, including the US, Australia and multiple European Union member states, had some of the largest gender disparities, with gaps of 26 points or more.
In a press statement, Gallup CEO Jon Clifton emphasised: “Safety isn’t only the absence of violence; it’s the presence of trust, institutions, and collective resilience.”
Gallup partnered with the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University to produce this report.
