Muscat: The Royal, sound vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in developing the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman represents a strategic step towards achieving comprehensive and sustainable economic and social development, reinforced by the priority of “Developing Governorates and Sustainable Cities” to enable the governorates to optimally make use of their resources.
His Majesty the Sultan’s affirmation of the development of the governorates was stated in his Royal speech on the occasion of the first annual convening of the eighth term of the Council of Oman 2023: “Our emphasis on the development of the governorates and the reinforcement of the decentralisation principle have been realized through the enactment of the System of Governorates and the Law of Municipal Councils. This strategy aligns with our vision for locally administered governance based on decentralization principles. It also dovetails with our objectives to empower local communities in managing their affairs and actively participating in the nation-building process.”
Royal Decree No. 36/2022 on issuing the Governorates System underscores the importance of local administration based on decentralization in the work of governorates and decision-making, thus enabling them to carry out their roles and achieving development in all fields in line with the goals, pillars and priorities of Oman Vision 2040.
The royal directives to increase the financial allocations for the Governorates Development Programme from OMR10 million to OMR20 million for each governorate during the years of the current five-year plan (2021-2025), aim to implement the strategic programmes for the development of governorates and sustainable cities, and to stimulate the comparative competitive advantages of the governorates to be a basic supporter for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
The total expenditure on governorates development during the period (2021-2024) stood at more than OMR81 million and about OMR44 million were allocated for the current year (2025).
Among the prominent projects related to governorates development are the projects to develop seafronts, pave internal roads, develop and maintain public parks, in addition to implementing the projects that won the best proposal for a development project, which are Ibri View in A’Dhahirah Governorate, the Grand Canyon in A’Dakhiliyah Governorate, and the development of the Historical Center in North Al Batinah Governorate.
Eng. Mohammed Saif Al Amri, Director General of Governorate Affairs, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that Royal Decree No. (36/2022) on issuance of the System of the Governorates enhances the desired administrative and economic decentralisation of the governorates.
The system made the governorates administratively and financially independent units, and granted the governors the powers of the unit’s head.
He added that the move will enhance the empowerment of the governorates in the desired manner to enhance the economic and administrative aspects in these governorates, encourage and attract investment, and unify the supervisory authority for all governorates to the Minister of Interior; to ensure the organization of topics of a common nature between the governorates under unified regulations that organize all municipal affairs to contribute to the unification of procedures and streamline them according to a common vision that achieves the desired goals.
He explained that the current strategies for developing the governorates in the Sultanate of Oman represent the national priorities in Oman Vision 2040 and the National Spatial Strategy, the strategies specific to the governorates, as well as the sectoral strategies of government institutions, the strategic programmes in the five-year plans, and the national programmes.
He pointed out that measuring the success of development projects in the various governorates is conducted through periodic opinion polls on service satisfaction in the governorates, annual reports on the role of the governorates in enhancing economic aspects, performance indicators in the targets of Oman Vision 2040 and the governorates’ competitiveness index, in addition to annual reports on the progress of development projects.
He added that there are many available educational and training programmes to enhance local skills in the governorates, including the National Initiative for the Development of Local Administration implemented in cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Academy of Management (RAM) for governors and walis, as well as programmes to qualify and train members of municipal councils, and participation in regional and international conferences, training programmes implemented by the governorates, in addition to workshops and laboratories implemented by government and private entities.
For his part, Sheikh Said Rashid Al Qatabi, Director General of Social Sectors at the Ministry of Economy, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that through Oman Vision 2040, the Sultanate of Oman seeks to accord greater attention to the governorates and give them a kind of independence. The move aims to encourage the governorates to effectively engage in the economic development.
He added that in implementation of this move, the 10th five-year plan paid great attention to the priority of “Developing Governorates and Sustainable Cities”. Real strategic programmes were developed for this priority to achieve comprehensive and balanced development among various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, targeting the optimal use of natural resources according to each relative advantage available in the governorates.
He pointed out that the Royal interest to develop the governorates was represented in the directives of His Majesty the Sultan to adopt the Governorates Development Programme at the beginning of the 10th five-year plan and allocate RO 10 million to each governorate during the years of the 10th five-year plan from 2021 to 2025. The Royal orders were issued at the beginning of 2022 to increase these allocations from RO 10 million to RO 20 million.
He said that the Royal vision is to make this programme possible for the governorates by choosing their priorities, strengthening their economy, and making use of and investing the comparative and competitive advantage available in each governorate. Therefore, after 4 years of implementing this programme, we can see the farsighted vision of His Majesty the Sultan in this field in terms of stimulating economic activity in the governorates, activating tourism, generating job opportunities in many sectors in the governorates, enhancing their local content, and reflecting all of this on the level of satisfaction in society in the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
He pointed out that the number of projects that were implemented from 2021 to 2024 in the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman amounted to approximately 848 projects. He added that there are also many projects that were approved for the governorates during the years of the current five-year plan through the methodology adopted by the Ministry of Economy in approving the priorities of developmental projects.
For his part, Dr. Rajab Ali Al Owaisi, an expert in social and educational studies at the State Council, told Oman News Agency that since His Majesty the Sultan’s Accession Day on 11 January 2020, he has placed a set of pillars among his priorities for building the future of Oman that came within the framework of the priorities of the Oman Vision 2040 including the priority of governorates and sustainable cities.
He added that the Sultanate of Oman’s move towards implementing decentralization in the governorates constituted a strategic shift towards local administration and enabling the governorates to find development opportunities and self-reliance, and activate community participation in comprehensive national development.
He added that Royal Decree No. (36/2022) on the promulgation of the System of the Governorates constituted a qualitative shift in the course of national action.
The decree is an important point for starting administrative development that is geared towards quality, and takes into account the principle of decentralization in the divisions of administrative work. Additionally, the new system of the governorates comes in line with the priorities of the vision, and in a way that takes into account economic, social and technical developments and how to integrate them through their human, material and financial requirements and necessities and the necessary capabilities for the administrative leaderships required to implement this direction.
He explained that Royal Decree No. 38/2022 on amending some provisions of the Municipal Councils Law in Article (21) defined the competencies of the municipal councils within the governorates in relation to presenting opinion on a number of aspects that concern the work of the governorates in terms of means of investing the governorate’s resources, in order to achieve sustainable development and generating job opportunities for citizens.
The current experience of the governorates is proceeding steadily according to the priorities outlined by His Majesty the Sultan who stressed in his royal speech on the occasion of the first annual convening of the eighth term of the Council of Oman 2023:
“Adhering to the principle of gradual progression in our policies and decisions, we remain committed to an ongoing evaluation of the outcomes anticipated from the policy of decentralisation of the governorates. We are determined to continuously reassess and expand this approach, aiming to broaden its scope to encompass various sectors and multiple aspects. This endeavour is focused on significantly enhancing and strengthening the active participation and engagement of local communities in the developmental process, ensuring the local administration initiative is diligently pursued to achieve its specified objectives, thereby contributing effectively to our comprehensive journey of economic and social development.”
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning affirmed that it aims to achieve an integrated and modern lifestyle that is not limited to Muscat Governorate only, but rather in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. With the completion of the works of Sultan Haitham City, other future cities will be launched during the current year (2025) and will be announced in due course.
The ministry added that smart city projects come within the framework of achieving the National Spatial Strategy, which includes structural layouts, regional layouts and agricultural cities to enhance food security, transportation system projects, and renewable energy.
The ministry added that its current and future directions represented in sustainable and balanced elements for urban planning and development in a way that serves people and their decent living, and makes the place more humane and suitable for ease of movement and work. This approach is established by the principle of advanced planning in Sultan Haitham City.
The ministry explained that urban development contributes fundamentally to providing new economic opportunities that benefit and empower citizens. Smart city projects also aim to provide better housing for living that meets citizens’ basic needs and provides well-being and sustainability. The projects also contribute to finding smart solutions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change to overcome natural hazards.
It stressed that the demand for ownership in these cities and integrated residential neighbourhood plans is very high, as residential units have been sold completely in some residential plans and neighbourhoods.
Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit stated that the priority of developing governorates and sustainable cities is one of the main pillars of Oman Vision 2040. The priority aims to achieve comprehensive and balanced development among all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. This priority also receives a Royal attention by emphasizing the need to enhance integration between the center, governorates, and local development.
The unit added that this priority seeks to enable the governorates to benefit from their natural and human resources effectively, with a focus on encouraging local and international investment, and stimulating productive sectors that contribute to generating job opportunities and enhancing economic growth. It also aims to develop infrastructure and public services, and improve the quality of life for citizens, taking into account the environmental and social characteristics of each governorate.
Within the framework of the Royal interest in enhancing the governorates, the Royal Decree on the System of the Governorates came to enhance the modern approach of decentralized local administration within the work of the governorates. This system supports the goals and pillars of Oman Vision 2040, including the sustainable development of the governorates, creating an attractive environment for investments, developing their resources, and upgrading local and municipal services and activities.
The unit launched a set of programmes that aim to build economic leadership in the governorates, including the programmes of the Royal Academy of Management (RAM) within the National Initiative for the Development of Local Administration, which expands at different levels: such as governors, walis, and other national groups working in the governorates. Developing local administration skills is an essential part of efforts to enhance administrative decentralization and achieve sustainable development.
Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, within its communication programme codenamed (All Oman), visits the governorates, focusing on comparative advantage, competitiveness, and empowering the local community, with the aim of instilling a culture of continuous improvement and streamlining procedures with employees of government units in the governorates. A visit to 7 governorates was completed, during which training workshops and meetings were provided with young people to enhance their roles.
Al Tayeb City in the Wilayat of Liwa in North Al Batinah Governorate represents an integrated model for sustainable cities in the Sultanate of Oman. It covers an area ofapproximately 12 million square meters and is located near the Al Batinah Expressway. It accommodates approximately 30,000 people and provides all public services and facilities. It includes 1,300 single and double residential units. The city is planned to accommodate 3,400 residential units and approximately 50,000 residents and visitors in the future. -
