The Supreme Judicial Council recently published on its website the Common Manual of Litigation Procedures Before the Court of Investment and Commerce. It provides a step-by-step guide to the procedures set by the Law of the Court of Investment and Commerce. The issuance of such a manual is a positive initiative by the Court of Investment and Commerce as it provides practical information for investors and businesses in Oman on the formalities relating to the Court of Investment and Commerce.
The Court of Investment and Commerce was established in 2025 to provide an expedited and specialised path for hearing investment and commercial disputes where at least one party is a trader and the dispute relates to their business, as well as disputes arising from investment contracts. This includes disputes between partners and shareholders, banking, construction, transport, intellectual property, and bankruptcy. Notwithstanding the advantages offered by the Court of Investment and Commerce, the court’s judgments can still be contested before the Supreme Court.
The Law of the Court of Investment and Commerce sets out the court’s jurisdiction, composition, and appeal periods, but it leaves much of the day-to-day procedure unexplained. The manual attempts to fill that gap by explaining step by step how to register a claim on the court’s online portal, which documents are needed for each type of claim, and how fees are calculated. It also describes the role of the Lawsuit Preparation Office and sets out the deadlines for exchanging pleadings and for the court to schedule hearings and issue judgments. The manual makes clear that it does not replace the legislation and must be read alongside the court’s law and the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law.
Three provisions from the manual stand out. First, all proceedings start electronically through the court’s portal, where the claimant submits the statement of claim, supporting documents, and court fees. If a request included in the statement of claim is left out of the portal entry, the filing is deemed not to have been made and must be resubmitted. The Lawsuit Preparation Office then reviews the filing. If anything is missing, the claimant has 10 days to correct it. Once the fees are paid, the case is registered and the defendant is notified within three working days.
Second, some claims must be filed through an advocate. This applies to individuals claiming more than 30,000 Rial Omani and to companies claiming more than 10,000 Rial Omani.
Third, the parties exchange their pleadings within fixed periods: 15 days for the defendant’s defence, 15 days for the claimant’s reply, and 10 days for the defendant’s final response. After that, the court has 15 days to schedule a hearing and 90 days to issue its judgment. The court may extend the 90-day period by 45 days.
For businesses and investors, understanding these procedures can help avoid errors and delays when bringing or defending a claim. Although the manual was published in Arabic, an English version is available in full on Decree at the link below.