90 elected to Oman's 10th Shura Council term

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Interior announced the results of the Shura Council's 10th Term elections on Sunday, following a resounding 65.07 percent voter turnout from across the Sultanate of Oman.

Ninety members were elected to embark on the tenth term, emerging from a large pool of 843 candidates, inclusive of 32 women.

The voting procedure, conducted from the early hours of 8 am until 7 pm, witnessed voters employing the electronic "Intakhib" app to meticulously handpick their preferred representatives.

The winners from various Wilayats are as follows: In the Wilayat of Muscat, Khalil Khalfan Al Wahibi emerged victorious. In the Wilayat of Muttrah, Hussain Mohammed Al Lawati and Najib Saleh Al Zedjali secured their positions.

The Wilayat of Bausher saw Mansoor Khalifa Al Seyabi and Ali Khalfan Al Hassani elected. In the Wilayat of Al Amerat, Mohammed Ramadan Al Balushi and Ibrahim Khalfan Al Hadi were declared winners.

Juma Said Al Wahibi and Salim Hamoud Al Ghamari earned their seats from the Wilayat of Quriyat. From the Wilayat of Seeb, Ali Mansoor Al Harthy and Ahmed Said Al Balushi were elected.

Omani citizens commenced their day with zeal, casting their votes to elect their representatives. According to the Ministry of Interior, a resounding 65.88 percent of the total registered voters took part, comprising 66.26 percent men and 65.48 percent women.

The Ministry of Interior noted a minor revision in the total number of voters, now standing at 753,260, down from 753,573, owing to the unfortunate passing of some voters since the last elections.

The 10th Shura Term elections distinguished themselves by introducing a refined version of the "Intakhib" electronic app, complete with an audio reading feature and sign language support for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The app boasted a user-friendly interface and incorporated high-level security measures, harnessing cutting-edge encryption technologies. The verification of voter data involved a meticulous three-step process: copying both sides of the original ID card, reading personal card data through Near Field Communication (NFC), and capturing a personal photo of the voter.

The commencement of the 10th Shura Council Term signals a pivotal moment in Oman's future plans, visions, and strategic initiatives. It carries substantial domestic importance as a period that will witness heightened endeavors toward the realization of Oman Vision 2040, spanning various economic, investment, and development sectors. Furthermore, it will play an instrumental role in shaping the course of the 10th Five-Year Plan and charting the path for the 11th Five-Year Plan.