Royal Decrees

This month, ten royal decrees were issued, including significant ones Establishing the National Records Centre and Determining its Competences, Promulgating the National Records Law, Promulgating the Media Law, and Promulgating the System of Signing Contracts and Financial Commitments of the State. Other notable decrees ratified international agreements, such as the Agreement with Venezuela on the Exemption of Visa Requirements for Diplomatic, Special, and Service Passports, the agreements with Suriname and Bulgaria on Mutual Visa Exemptions, and the Agreement with Ireland for the Elimination of Double Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion. Additionally, royal decrees appointed a Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and appointed Judges to the Supreme Court.

Ministerial Decisions

This month, eight ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette. Key decisions include Issuing MOSD’s Governance Regulation of Licences for Money Collection from the Public, MAFW Determining the Fees for Services and Prices Collected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, MOSD’s Governance Regulation for Day Care Centres for the Elderly, MAFW Banning the Import of Live Birds from Some States, and SJC’s Controls and Procedures for the Use of Remote Audio and Video Communication in the Proceedings of the Public Notary. Other decisions include MOHT Amending Some Provisions of Ministerial Decision 136/2021 Forming the Government Committee for Licensing Integrated Tourism Complexes and Its Working System, and SMEDA Determining the Fees and Financial Consideration for the Services Provided by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority.

Blog Updates

Our blog featured articles by Riyadh Al-Balushi titled “New Data Sharing Requirements Under the National Records Law“, “New Omani Media Law Issued“, and “New System for Signing Omani Government Contracts“. Aram Al-Bahri wrote about “MOSD’s New Elderly Day Care Centres Regulation“.

Intel

Decree Intel was updated with an overview of the Ministry of Labour and an overview of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, along with Fatwa Summary: MJLA Fatwa 222770524 (Application of VAT Prior to Entry into Force of VAT Law or VAT Registration) and Fatwa Summary: MJLA Fatwa 222768811 (Continuation of Process for Allocating Land After the Legal Entitlement Basis Is Repealed).

Royal Decrees

Ten royal decrees were issued this month with the most significant ones promulgating the Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Law, the Law Regulating Wildlife Trade, and the Bank Deposit Protection Law. There were also royal decrees that ratified international agreements such as the agreement on the headquarters of different GCC entities, the agreement to amend the protocol attached to the agreement between Oman and the IAEA for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the Oman-Uzbekistan Mutual Visa Exemption for Diplomatic, Special, and Service Passports agreement. The remaining Royal Decrees granted Omani Nationality, reinstated Omani Nationality, appointed to some positions, and approved a petroleum agreement.

Ministerial Decisions

Fourteen ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette this month, with the most significant being MOL’s decisions regarding the System of Complaints and Grievances, Issuing the Form and Rules of the Regulation for Penalties for Private Sector Workers and the Conditions for Imposing Them, and Issuing the Guidance Form for the Regulation of the Work System in Private Sector Establishments; TRA’s decision Issuing the Executive Regulation of the Law Regulating Postal Services; and ROP’s decision Issuing the Executive Regulation of the Biometrics Law. Other important sector-specific decisions were issued, such as FSA’s decision Issuing the Regulation Governing the Activity of Participating in Health Insurance. There were two decisions issued by MAFW, Banning the Import of Certain Species of Mollusks from Northland Region in New Zealand and Banning the Import of Certain Species of Fish from Cluj County in the Republic of Romania. SPF also issued two decisions, one regarding the Rules for the Purchase of Nominal Service Periods and the other Amending Some Provisions of the Executive Regulation of the Social Protection Law

Blog Updates

Our blog featured an article by Riyadh Al-Balushi titled “New Omani Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Law Issued“, an article by Abdulrahman Al-Farsi titled: “Company Forms: Oman vs UK“, and a Law Updates titled: “MOL Introduces System for Grievances and Complaints” and “The New Law Regulating Wildlife Trade“.

Royal Decrees

Seven royal decrees were issued last month with the most significant being the one ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. The remaining royal decrees relating to the ratification of air service agreements with Tunisia, Tanzania, and Georgia, the appointment of ambassadors, and a change to the mandates of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy.

Ministerial Decisions

23 ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette during this month, with the most significant being MOCIIP’s Decision on the List of Activities That Are Prohibited to Be Practised by Foreign Investment, MOL’s Decision Governing the Practice of Some Professions, TRA’s Dispute Resolution Regulation and the Regulation Governing Cloud Computing and Date Centre Services, and CAA’s Regulation on the Protection of Passenger Rights.

Decree Intel

Decree Intel was updated with an overview of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority and an overview of Alternative Dispute Resolution, along with Case Summary: Supreme Court (Criminal Circuit): Contestation 210/2017 (Reliability of Translation Used in Trial) and Case Summary: Supreme Court (Labour Circuit) Contestation: 210/2017 (Consequences of Delaying Employee Disciplinary Measure).

Blog Updates

Our blog featured a post by Riyadh Al-Balushi titled “Global AI Regulation: The New European AI Convention“.

Royal Decrees

No royal decrees were issued last month.

Ministerial Decisions

Seven ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette during this month, with the most significant being MOL’s Decision on the Procedures and Controls for Dealing with Private Sector Establishments That Violate the Provisions of the Labour Law and the Decisions Implementing It, Decision on the Rules for Settlement and Abandonment of Lawsuits for Crimes Punishable under the Labour Law, and Decision on Suspension of the Issuance of Trading Permits for the Temporary Employment of Non-Omani Workers in Certain Professions, as well as the EA’s Decision Amending Some Provisions of the Regulation Governing Environmental Permits.

Decree Intel

Decree Intel was updated with overviews of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and National Centre for Statistics and Information, along with Case Summary: Supreme Court (Commercial Circuit) Contestation 380/2016 (Invalidation of Trade Mark Registration).

Blog Updates

Our blog featured a post by Riyadh Al-Balushi titled “Oman’s National Artificial Intelligence Policy”.

Royal Decrees

The month of July was slow, and no royal decrees were issued.

Ministerial Decisions

Thirteen ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette during this month, with the most significant being MOSD’s Governance Regulation for the Care of the Elderly in Foster Families and the Regulation for the Work of Social Development Committees and Volunteer Teams, and TRA’s Regulation on the Governance and Approval of Telecommunications Devices, and EA’s Regulation Governing the Possession of Domesticated Wild Animals.

Decree Intel

Decree Intel was updated with overviews of the Royal Academy of Management and the National Museum, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences along with Case Summary: Supreme Court (Criminal Circuit) 19/2017 (Criminal Liability for Failure to Compensate for Official Holidays)

Blog Updates

Our blog featured posts by Abdulrahman Al-Farsi titled “Five Duties of the Sultan under Oman’s Constitution”, “Five Duties of the Legal Advisor of an SAOG” and, “Why Do Companies Liquidate?” and posts by Maraam Al-Mughairy titled “Five Rights Guaranteed by the Omani Constitution”, “Forms of Procurement under the Tender Law” and “The Process for Liquidating a Company”

Royal Decrees

Six royal decrees were issued in the month of June, with the most significant being Royal Decree 28/2024 Establishing the Omani Waqf Establishment and Royal Decree 31/2024 Approving the Nomination of a Percentage of the Rights and Obligations in the Petroleum Agreement for Block 65.

Ministerial Decisions

Seven ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette during this month, with the most significant being MOF’s Final Account of the State for Fiscal Year 2023, MOCIIP’s Regulation Governing the Practice of Filling and Selling Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cylinders, ROP’s Controls for Providing Vehicle Technical Inspection Service, and SPF’s Decision Determining the Categories of Non-Omani Workers Subject to the Branch of Maternity Leave Insurance.

Intel

Decree Intel was updated with overviews of the Ministry of Social Development and the Consumer Protection Authority, and with the summary of Supreme Court (Labour Circuit) Contestation 427/2017 (Equal Treatment of Employees) and MJLA Fatwa 212743438 (Contract Succession between Government Entities).

Blog Updates

Our blog featured a post by Riyadh Al-Balushi titled “New EU AI Act: Implications for Oman“, and short law updates on the New Waqf Establishment, ROP’s Vehicle Inspection Controls, and SPF’s Decision on the Categories of Non-Omani Workers Subject to Maternity Leave Insurance Branch.

Royal Decrees

The month of May was a slow month for royal decrees as only two royal decrees were issued. The first related to the grant of Omani nationality, and the other related to the Oman Centre for Traditional Music transfer from the Diwan of Royal Court to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth.

Ministerial Decisions

Seven ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette during this month, with the most significant being the Ministry of Interior Regulation Governing Cemeteries, Tax Authority’s decision forming the Tax Grievance Committee, and the MOH’s decisions on the Social Protection Law Medical Committee and Medical Grievance Committee. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Labour also issued Ministerial Decision 320/2024 Forming the Committee for Arbitration of Collective Labour Disputes, which was not published in the Official Gazette.

Intel

Decree Intel was updated with overviews of the Ministry of Education and the Environment Authority, and with MJLA Fatwa 212746193 (Applying Civil Transactions Law to Contractual Rights) and MJLA Fatwa 212743851 (Contract Value Revision).

Blog Updates

Our blog featured a guest post by Wadhah Al-Hinai titled “Safeguarding Trust and Privacy: The Crucial Role of Confidentiality Clauses in Contracts” along with short updates on the cemeteries regulation and MOH’s decisions on the SPL medical committees.

Royal Decrees

Four royal decrees were issued in April, three of which established nature reserves: Buraimi Oasis Natural Reserve, Dhahirah Natural Reserve, and Al-Jabal Al-Gharbi Natural Reserve. The other royal decree ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Swiss Federal Council concerning the Employment Authorization of Accompanying Persons of Official Employees.

Ministerial Decisions

Twelve ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette during this month, with the most significant being CBO’s Money Services Business Regulation, ROP’s amendments to the Executive Regulation of the Traffic Law relating to bike riding schools, FSA’s Governance Regulation for the Account for the Treatment of Visitors in Emergencies, and TA’s amendments to the Rules for Automated Exchange of Financial Accounts Information relating to controlling persons.

Intel

Decree Intel was updated with overviews of the Financial Services Authority and of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, and with Case Summary: Supreme Court (Labour Circuit: Contestation) 548/2017 (Failure to Terminate a Definite Period Contract) and Fatwa Summary: MJLA Fatwa 212744737 (Oman Housing Bank VAT Exemption).

Blog Updates

Our blog featured posts on the new Biometrics Law, MTCIT’s Personal Data Protection Policy for Government Entities, nature reserves under Omani law, ROP’s decision on bike riding schools, and FSA’s decision on emergency treatment funding for visitors.

Royal Decrees

Nine royal decrees were issued in March, with the most significant ones being those establishing the Financial Services Authority, promulgating the Biometric Law, and amending the Law of the State of Emergency and the Criminal Procedure Law.

Ministerial Decisions

Ten ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette during this month, with the most significant ones being MHUP’s Form of the System of Real Estate Owners Associations, MHUP’s Decision Governing Addressing, and CMA’s Regulation Governing Bonds and Sukuk.

Decree Intel

Decree Intel was updated with overviews of the Ministry of Interior and of Sultan Qaboos University and summaries of Supreme Court (Labour Circuit) Contestation 766/2017 (Calculation of Rest in Overtime Work) and Supreme Court (Commercial Circuit) Contestation 137/2017 (Grounds for Setting Aside Arbitral Award).

Royal Decrees

Six royal decrees were issued in February, with the most significant being those related to the restructuring of the health sector in Oman, which are Royal Decree 10/2024 Determining the Competences of the Ministry of Health and Adopting Its Organisational Structure and Royal Decree 11/2024 Establishing the University Medical City and Promulgating Its System. Also for the first time since October 2022, the government awarded concessions over new oil blocks through Royal Decrees 8/2024 and 9/2024.

Ministerial Decisions

Seven ministerial decisions were published in the Official Gazette during this month, with the most significant being MJLA’s Decision Regulating Financial Transfers for Advocacy Works and MTCIT’s long-awaited Decision Issuing the Executive Regulation of the Personal Data Protection Law.

Decree Intel

Decree Intel was updated with a summary of MJLA Fatwa 192721181 (SAI Confidential Emails) and Supreme Court (Labour Circuit) Contestation 717/2016 (Verbal Insult to Employer), as well as an overview of the Secretariat General for National Celebrations and the Ministry of Health.

Blog Updates

Our blog featured a series of posts focused on personal data protection starting with an article by Dr Riyadh Al-Balushi titled “The Wait Is Finally Over: The Executive Regulation of the Personal Data Protection Law Issued“, a post by Rayan Al-Habsi titled “Data Breach Obligations under the Personal Data Protection Law and Its Executive Regulation“, a post by Mohammed Al-Farsi titled “Data Subjects Rights under the Data Protection Law and Its Executive Regulation“, a post by Iman Al-Lawati titled “Processing of Sensitive Data under the Personal Data Protection Law“, and ending with a post by Aram Al-Bahri titled “Data Protection Officers under the Data Protection Law and Regulation“.