New rules for duty-free shops in Oman

Muscat: The Ministry of Finance has issued new rules for establishing duty-free shops in Oman as well as purchases and sales made in these shops.

The Ministerial decision includes a list of regulations, conditions and procedures for duty-free shops.

According to the decision, "Departing passengers and transit passengers on international flights and departing aircrew members can purchase items from the duty-free shop by submitting their passports and boarding pass at the duty-free sales counters.

Article 15 of the decision stipulates, "Sales staff are obliged to deliver to the buyer, a receipt containing the number of units sold, their inventory number, the type of item, the name of the airport where the sale was made and the price of the item."

"Sales staff are prohibited from selling in the event of cancellation of the flight or if the passenger retracts from travel and in the case of flight delays where passengers can not stay in the departure lounge," the Ministry added in the decision.

In the event of cancellation of the flight, the staff shall be obliged to cancel the sale which has taken place. In case the traveler forgets his purchases, the goods must be returned to the duty-free shop and the sales staff should cancel the sale and notify the Customs office.