Shura Council issues report on outcomes of its legislative work

Times of Oman

a day ago

Muscat: The Shura Council has issued its comprehensive media report highlighting the outcomes of its legislative and oversight work.
The report reflects the Council's unwavering commitment to enhancing public engagement by publishing detailed statistics and key indicators of its activities, including legislative performance, oversight tools, council sessions, and the work of the Council's Bureau and standing committees.
These efforts reflect the Council's effective implementation of the powers and responsibilities granted to it under the Law of the Council of Oman.
According to the report, the Council convened 14 regular sessions, four of which were dedicated to the presentation of ministerial statements by the ministers.
These included statements from the Minister of Education, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, in addition to the statement by the Minister of Finance on the draft State Budget for the fiscal year 2025.
One session also focused on a discussion request submitted to the Minister of Labour concerning temporary employment initiatives.
Coinciding with the conclusion of the second annual sitting (2024–2025) of the Tenth Term (2023–2027), and pursuant to the Royal Orders of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Shura Council adjourned the session on 13 July 2025 in accordance with Article (41) of the Law of the Council of Oman (7/2021).
Legislative output
The report details the Council's legislative role during the sitting, which included the review of 16 draft laws and 7 international agreements referred by the government.
Key legislations included the 2025 State Budget, the Real Estate Regulation Law, the Anti- Trafficking Law, the Telecommunications and Information Technology Law, the State Revenue Collection Law, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, amendments to the Arbitration Law, the Civil Society Institutions Law, the Land Registry Law, and the Cybercrime Law.
Furthermore, the Council proposed three legislative initiatives: the Draft Law for the Sports, Culture and Youth Activities Support Fund; amendments to the Law on Private Sports Institutions (Royal Decree 81/2007); and the Draft Law on Tobacco and Derivatives Control.
Oversight tools and committee work
During the second annual sitting, the Council activated 169 oversight tools, including 19 parliamentary questions, 121 requests for briefing, and 10 urgent statements addressing a range of national concerns.
Additionally, the Bureau of the Council held 12 meetings, and the standing committees held 92 meetings, resulting in the conclusion of 98 topics including legislative reviews, field visits, stakeholder hearings, and studies on various national issues.
Among the Council's key oversight outcomes were reports on the evaluation of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology's annual report, as well as findings by two dedicated working teams: one reviewing the benefits of the Social Protection System, and the other studying Oman's digital economy strategy.
Government and state Council engagement
The report highlights enhanced cooperation between the Shura Council and the Council of Ministers, including two joint coordination meetings held during the session. These meetings underscored the Council's role as a legislative partner in the national development process.
In line with Article (49) of the Law of the Council of Oman, the Council also worked closely with the State Council.
Two joint sessions were held to resolve differences on draft legislation, leading to consensus on 11 draft laws including the Electronic Transactions Law, Public Health Law, Law on Organ and Tissue Transplantation, Financial Law, Income Tax Law, Economic and Free Zones Law, Anti-Human Trafficking Law, Telecommunications and IT Law, Real Estate Regulation Law, Public Revenue Collection Law, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law.
Parliamentary diplomacy and international participation
The report also documents the Council's active engagement in parliamentary diplomacy through participation in 22 international and regional parliamentary events, including those organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Arab Parliamentary Union, and Gulf legislative assemblies.
Half-Term summary of the tenth term
The Council concluded 47 legislative outputs and activated more than 300 oversight tools over the course of the first two annual sittings of the current term, reflecting its dynamic role in advancing legislative performance and responding to national priorities.
In conclusion, the annual media report on the Shura Council's performance, issued by the Council's Secretariat General, reflects a firm commitment to enhancing public engagement by making comprehensive data and information related to the Council's legislative and oversight roles publicly accessible.
The report embodies the Council's dedication to the powers and responsibilities outlined in the Law of the Council of Oman, and aligns—both in content and in scope—with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the national five-year development plans.
The Council continues to share this information across its social media platforms and through various media outlets, affirming its active role in advancing national priorities and meeting public aspirations.
In doing so, the Council remains guided by the wise leadership and far- sighted directives of His Majesty the Sultan in advancing the Shura process and fulfilling its national mandate.