Background:Existing literature is replete of the magnitude of occupational burnout among physicians and the role of emotional intelligence in moderating poor coping among physicians. However, these domains have not been explored in physicians in the Arabian Gulf countries. The study aims to quantify the rate of the presence of occupational burnout and trait emotional intelligence, the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and domains of occupational burnout, and demographic factors associated with occupational burnout.Methods:This was a cross-sectional, observational study conducted between June to August 2018 among first-year residents in Oman. The outcome measure included indices of composite and subscale (emotional exhaustion-EE, depersonalization -DP and personal accomplishment -PA) of Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI) and a composite score of Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEI) and its subscales (Self-control, Sociability, and Emotionality).Results:The overall rate of high burnout was 25.8.%, with 57.5% residents reporting high levels of EE, 50.8% high DP, and 49.2% reporting a low sense of PA. Age was significantly associated with DP and PA (P < 0.003) and (P < 0.0001) respectively. Marital status was the only variable associated with EE (p = 0.001). EE was significantly lower in single residents compared with married (P = 0.001). The global mean (± SD) of the TEI was 4.77. A statistically significant relationship was between PA and EI (r = 0.203, P = 0.026). The role of age and marital status were also significant.Conclusion:Among first-year medical trainees in Oman, the prevalence of burnout was 25.8%. This collaborates the trend in the existing literature that occupational burnout is common among tomorrow’s doctors. From this cross-cultural population, TEI did not impact the variation in aMBI, therefore, suggesting orthogonality of such domains.