69 royal decrees were issued in the year 2024 that had a transformational impact on the economy and the Omani legal system at large, from the promulgation of a new Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Law and a new System for Signing Government Contracts, to the creation of a new Financial Services Authority and the appointment of a new Chairman for the Tax Authority. This blog post reviews the most significant royal decrees that came out this year.
Laws & Amendments
8 Royal Decrees
The year 2024 did not disappoint when it comes to laws as several major new laws came out including the Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Law, the Bank Deposit Protection Law, the Media Law, the Biometric Law, the Law Regulating Wildlife Trade, and the National Records Law along with amendments to the Law of State Emergency and the Criminal Procedure Law. You can read more about the new Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Law in our overview blog post here.
Systems & Amendments
3 Royal Decrees
In Oman, the term “system” refers to a legal instrument that governs the operation of a government entity or the operation of a government legal process. The most significant new system that came out in 2024 was the System of Signing Contracts and Financial Commitments of the State. There were also amendments to the System of the Tax Authority and a new System of Sultan Qaboos University was issued as well. You can read more about the new System of Signing Contracts and Financial Commitments of the State in our overview blog post here.
Gov Restructuring
11 Royal Decrees
The most significant government restructuring of 2024 was the creation of the Financial Services Authority as a replacement for the Capital Market Authority. The National Fund for Emergency Cases, the National Records Centre, and the Omani Waqf Establishment were also created this past year.
Treaties
25 Royal Decrees
Oman ratified a substantial number of treaties this year, with the majority being air service agreements (14 in total) along with some double taxation agreements, visa exemption agreements, and work authorisation agreements. One of the more noteworthy conventions that Oman joined this year is the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which is an international agreement to gradually reduce the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons.
Concessions
4 Royal Decrees
Pursuant to the Oil and Gas Law, petroleum concessions were given this year for Block 15, Block 38, and Block 74. A royal decree also approved the nomination of rights in connection with Block 65.
Nationality
3 Royal Decrees
Omani nationality is granted, revoked, and re-instated by royal decree and this category had 3 royal decrees in this area.
Appointments
11 Royal Decrees
The most significant appointments made by royal decree this year were the appointment of Nasser Al-Jashmi as the Chairman of the Tax Authority, the appointment of Khalid Al-Ghammari as the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour for Labour, the appointment of Zahra Al-Lawatiya as the Deputy Chairman of SAI, and the appointment of Mahmood Al-Owaini as the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance.
Misc
4 Royal Decrees
In addition to the categories detailed above, there were 4 royal decrees regarding miscellaneous, yet important, topics such as approving the General Budget of the State for 2024 and establishing the Al-Jabal Al-Gharbi Natural Reserve, the Dhahirah Natural Reserve, and the Buraimi Oasis Natural Reserve.
2024 Wrapped
This post outlined the royal decrees issued this year, but this is merely a portion of the Omani legislation that was issued this year which includes ministerial decisions and regulations, all of which are available on Decree.
Make sure to check out Decree Team Picks of the Year 2024 to see what our team members thought were the most significant legal developments for each one of them.
The year 2025 is expected to have even bigger legal developments. To stay up to date with new laws as they come out, make sure that you follow Decree on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter.