Tuesday 07 / January / 2025
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman will celebrate on Saturday His Majesty the Sultan's Accession Day, which falls on 11 January every year. Oman's Renewed Renaissance has achieved accomplishments whose course was drawn out by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
The accomplishments, made in harmony with the requirements of Oman Vision 2040, were put to shape through administrative, financial, commercial and investment operations that also featured the modernisation of systems of legislation, laws, governance, integrity, accountability and auditing.
During the past five years, His Majesty the Sultan has restructured the State’s Administrative Apparatus and transformed the system of legislation and laws. As a result, the Sultanate of Oman has enjoyed remarkable progress that directly revamped various areas of development, with as many as 470 Royal decrees issued since His Majesty the Sultan assumed the reins of power in the country.
Experts in legal affairs affirmed that the approach of His Majesty the Sultan was consistent with Oman Vision 2040, designed to keep pace with recurrent developments in the global arena.
Jamal Salim Al Nabhani, Spokesman of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, said that the promulgation of modern laws and legislation, since His Majesty’s Accession Day, has shown developments in various aspects of political, social and economic life in the Sultanate of Oman. He added in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that this legislation reflects the developments that countries are going through. The State's Administrative Apparatus has been restructured in an integrated manner, including public legal entities, through the Royal Decrees issued to define the jurisdictions of these units and approve their organizational structures.
Al Nabhani explained that the first Royal Decree issued during the era of the Renewed Renaissance was No. 2/2020 amending (Annex No. 3) attached to the Law on State's Flag, Emblem and National Anthem. It was followed by many Royal Decrees that included the promulgation and updating a large number of laws and legislation in line with the Renewed Renaissance, most notably Royal Decree No. 6/2021 on the promulgation of the Basic Law of the State, which paved the way for a new phase in the stages of building a state of law and institutions in the Sultanate of Oman.
He stressed that the issuance of the Royal Decrees and laws was accompanied by many regulations and decisions of a legislative nature issued by the units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus and other public legal entities. These regulations and decisions stipulate governing and implementing many aspects that were stated in the Royal Decrees and laws. He explained that the laws regulating economic activities in the Sultanate of Oman have received adequate care and attention in updating them in line with the rapid developments witnessed by the country, including the promulgation of the Securities Law, the Labour Law, the Public Debt Law, the Bank Deposit Protection Law, and the Law on the Expropriation for Public Benefit, in addition to restructuring the bodies responsible for regulating economic activities such as the Board of Governors of the Central Bank, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and the Financial Services Authority.
As for the legislation governing social activities in the country, he said that they have passed through a comprehensive modernization phase, as Royal Decree No. 50/2023 on the promulgation of the Bylaw of Social Protection Fund, and Royal Decree No. 52/2023 on the promulgation of the Social Protection Law, come as the general law governing the services and care provided by the state to individuals in the Sultanate of Oman. Pursuant to Royal Decree No. 50/2023, all units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus concerned with retirement and social protection were restructured into one apparatus namely the Social Protection Authority. Pursuant to the Social Protection Law, the legislation related to social protection was unified, in addition to the Social Security Law.
In her turn, Sariya Khalfan Al Hadi, Member of the State Council and Member of the Legal Committee of the Council, said that since His Majesty the Sultan’s Accession Day, the Sultanate of Oman has witnessed an update in existing legislation and the promulgation of new laws aimed at enhancing comprehensive and sustainable development and establishing the necessary legal frameworks to achieve the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
She told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the new laws issued and the updates to the existing legislation have all contributed to the development of many sectors in line with the objectives of the vision and Oman’s Renaissance, which reflect the farsighted vision of the wise leadership of His Majesty the Sultan for the future of Oman.
She added that a set of laws have been issued that reflect the roadmap for Oman’s Renewed Renaissance, and support the strategic goal of promoting sustainable development, maintaining local and international security and peace and achieving prosperity and social wellbeing for the Omani people and residents on this homeland.
She pointed out that these laws included the Foreign Capital Investment Law, which aims to attract foreign investments, enhance the business environment in the Sultanate of Oman, and streamline investment procedures in line with economic development plans. She affirmed that these laws aim to attract more investments, and contribute to diversifying the Omani economy and reducing dependence on oil as a major source of revenue, as well as promoting the Sultanate of Oman as a country attractive to foreign investment.
She also affirmed that the issuance of the new Media Law aims to regulate media activities in the country, promote transparency and democratic values and build a ‘responsible media community’.
She added that the issuance of the Media Law was in implementation of the provisions of the Basic Law of the State. She pointed out that the new law reflects a commitment to enhance media freedom. The new Media Law explicitly stipulates that media freedom is guaranteed in accordance with the Basic Law of the State, she said, noting that this includes the freedom of opinion, the right of individuals to practice media activities and obtain information, as well as the right of media professionals not to disclose their sources, she explained.
She concluded her speech by saying that the laws promulgated and updated during the reign of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik have greatly contributed to enhancing development in the Sultanate of Oman and support the partnership between the government, the private sector and civil society to achieve development goals. These laws function as essential tools for achieving sustainable development and promoting social justice. The Omani citizen is part of this development process through the active participation in various sectors.
On his turn, Dr. Ahmed Ali Al Sa’adi, members of the Shura Council and Head of the Legislative and Legal Committee at the council said that the new economic legislation has played a pivotal role in improving the business environment in the Sultanate of Oman, by providing incentives for foreign and local investments. This, added Al Sa’adi, has contributed to enhancing economic growth opportunities and diversifying sources of income.
He told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the legislation contributed to achieving the goals of economic sustainability by encouraging innovation, developing education, and enhancing the role of oversight to ensure the optimal use of national wealth and resources.
He pointed out that the social legislations also reflect the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to enhancing citizens’ rights, supporting social balance, and empowering eligible groups through social security programs. They also provide a legal framework that enhances transparency and equality, in a manner that maintains national cohesion and achieves social solidarity.
Al Sa’adi affirmed that the new laws are consistent with the themes of Oman Vision 2040, which focus on sustainable development, education, and governance.
He further noted that the laws and legislation have contributed to consolidating the position of the Sultanate of Oman as a stable and attractive destination at the regional and international levels. These legislative efforts, explained Al Sa’adi, reflect a wise and ambitious vision that seeks to build a prosperous and sustainable future for the Sultanate of Oman in light of its renewed renaissance.
Within the same context, Khalifa Marhoun Al Rahbi, Deputy Chairman of the Omani Lawyers Association pointed out to Oman News Agency (ONA) that since His Majesty’s accession day, a comprehensive modernisation process was introduced to various legislative aspects that covered the economic, social and legal areas, in a bid to back march of the renewed renaissance in the Sultanate of Oman.
These laws, said Al Rahbi, came to keep pace with the aspirations of the next stage and enhance the pillars of sustainable development in the country. They contributed to establishing a modern legal structure that supports Oman 2040 vision and ensures the achievement of its strategic goals.
At the economic level, he explained that the new laws play a pivotal role in improving the investment environment and making it more attractive to local and foreign investors. These laws included the Foreign Investment Law, the Public-Private Partnership Law, the Value Added Tax Law, the New Labor Law, the Government Performance Governance Law, the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sustainability Law, in addition to other laws that have helped diversify sources of income and strengthen non-oil sectors such as logistics, industry, and tourism.
At the social level, Al Rahbi noted that the legislation focused on enhancing the quality of life for citizens and residents, through social security laws that strengthen the social safety net, and the new labor law that aims to improve the work environment and guarantees workers’ rights. The new laws, he added, also supported women’s empowerment and the protection of children’s rights.
At the end of his statement, Al Rahbi affirmed that the legislative reforms witnessed by the Sultanate of Oman during its renewed renaissance reflect the wise leadership’s commitment to building a promising future based on solid legal foundations. -ONA
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