Tuesday 24 / June / 2025
Muscat: The Shura Council held its twelfth regular session for the second annual sitting (2024–2025) of the Tenth Term (2023–2027) on Tuesday, under the chairmanship of Tahir Mabkhout Al-Junaibi, Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council, in the presence of their Excellencies members of the Shura.
During the session, the Council concluded its deliberations on the draft amendments to the Cultural Heritage Law and the Cybercrime Law, and referred both to the State Council to complete their legislative process.
At the beginning of the session, Al-Junaibi expressed the Council’s solidarity with the brotherly people of Qatar, condemning any violations of the sovereignty of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
He reaffirmed Oman’s unwavering stance on promoting peace and respect for international law, calling for wisdom and self-restraint from all parties involved in regional conflicts to preserve peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Cultural Heritage Law Amendments
Abdullah Hamad Al-Harthy, Chairman of the Media, Tourism, and Culture Committee, presented the Committee’s report on the proposed amendments to the Cultural Heritage Law.
He stressed the importance of preserving Omani national identity and cultural legacy, stating that the amendments aim to strengthen protection and management of archaeological and historic sites in line with international standards—particularly those of UNESCO and other global heritage institutions.
The proposed amendments include harsher penalties for violations such as damage to heritage sites and illegal trafficking of artifacts, as well as new mechanisms for managing, registering, and safeguarding cultural landmarks.
They also encouraged private sector involvement through well-planned investment projects that balance heritage preservation with economic development.
Dr. Talal Said Al-Mahabai, Deputy Chairman of the Legal Committee, also provided legal insights on the compatibility of the amendments with existing laws.
Council members engaged in extensive debate, emphasising the need for updated legislation that responds to contemporary developments in cultural preservation.
Cybercrime Law amendments
The session also reviewed the Legislative and Legal Committee’s report on the draft Cybercrime Law, presented by Dr. Ahmed Said Al-Saadi, head of the Committee.
The law is designed to address the growing complexities and threats of cybercrime amid the widespread use of digital technologies in Oman. The law include provisions against financial fraud, data breaches, hacking, cyber sabotage, and online hate speech, among others.
The updated draft expands the scope of criminalisation, increases penalties, and balances the protection of public order and cybersecurity with individual rights and freedoms.
Members praised the law’s role in strengthening Oman’s digital security framework and emphasised the need for strong public awareness to combat such crimes.
Bilateral air services agreement with the Netherlands
The Council approved the Public Services and Utilities Committee’s report on the draft air services agreement between Oman and the Netherlands concerning the territory of Curaçao.
The agreement aims to boost cooperation in civil aviation, facilitate passenger and cargo movement, and enhance investment opportunities in aviation-related sectors, reinforcing Oman’s position as a regional and global logistics hub.
Committee reports on telecommunications quality
The Council adopted the Public Services and Utilities Committee’s report on improving telecommunications services.
The report, delivered by Dr. Hamoud Ahmed Al-Yahyai, highlighted the importance of infrastructure development, closing the digital divide in rural areas, and ensuring fair service pricing.
Investment in private healthcare
A report by the Health and Social Committee, presented by
Mansour Zaher Al-Hajri, emphasised the need to attract local and foreign investment into private healthcare through regulatory incentives. Members stressed ensuring equitable distribution of services and balancing public-private healthcare interests.
Research, innovation, and economic impact
The Education, Research, and Innovation Committee’s report, presented by Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al-Mahrouqi, focused on translating scientific research into viable economic projects.
Recommendations included strengthening university-industry collaboration and supporting entrepreneurship for national economic diversification.
Digital economy
The Council approved the Digital Economy Taskforce’s report, presented by Abdullah Zaher Al-Hinai.
It called for a national digital economy governance charter, legal frameworks for startups, and investment in advanced technologies like semiconductors.
Other proposals included creating a sovereign registry of digital assets, e-commerce legislation, and regional digital business environments.
The Social Protection Taskforce, through Dr Hamoud Mohammed Al-Yahyai, outlined key challenges in the current system, such as funding limitations and benefit distribution.
Recommendations included, accelerating formation of a social benefit entitlements committee, revising benefit values based on economic indicators, developing a national income database aligned with household spending and inflation data, ensuring continued support for low-income groups, including school-related allowances and shifting administrative responsibilities from various ministries to the Social Protection Fund.
Wage Protection System
The Youth and Human Resources Committee report, presented by Younis Ali Al-Mandhari, emphasised stable and timely wage disbursement in the private sector.
The report addressed regulatory gaps, enforcement challenges,
and proposed legal reforms, education initiatives, and technical support to ensure transparency and fairness in labor practices.
The Council will convene its thirteenth regular session on Wednesday to discuss the statement of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion.
