Latest news with #RealEstateRegistryLaw
Muscat Daily
09-07-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
State Council discusses draft laws and income diversification study
Muscat – The State Council convened on Tuesday for its eighth session of the second ordinary term of the eighth period, during which it reviewed several key legislative proposals and strategic studies aimed at enhancing Oman's legal and economic frameworks. The session, chaired by H.E. Sheikh Abdulmalik Abdullah Al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council, discussed the Real Estate Registry Law, the Draft Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes (Royal Decree No. 47/97), and the Civil Society Organisations Law. The Council examined the opinion of the Legal Committee regarding the Real Estate Registry Law, as referred by the Council of Ministers. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen legal safeguards for property owners and beneficiaries, simplify property registration procedures and real estate transactions, and introduce digital documentation, including electronic title deeds integrated with government systems. These measures are aligned with the sultanate's national digital transformation strategy. The session also considered the opinion of the Social and Cultural Committee on the Civil Society Organisations Law. The draft law provides a comprehensive framework for the regulation and operation of civil society entities, including associations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), professional societies, volunteer groups, and expatriate clubs. It aims to enhance their role in community development while addressing regulatory challenges posed by the current legal framework. Additionally, the Council reviewed proposed amendments to the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes. The changes are intended to align national legislation with international standards in arbitration, thereby improving the credibility and efficiency of dispute resolution mechanisms. The amendments are expected to boost investor confidence and support Oman's aspirations to become a regional centre for commercial arbitration, in line with Oman Vision 2040. Beyond legislative matters, the Council reviewed a study conducted by the Special Committee on Mechanisms for Diversifying Income Sources in Oman . The study highlights challenges to fiscal sustainability, pinpoints inefficiencies in current revenue streams, and proposes strategic solutions to enhance economic resilience. It also recommends legislative and governance reforms aligned with the objectives of the 11th Five-Year Development Plan. The session concluded with the presentation of a report by the General Secretariat outlining the Council's recent activities.
Times of Oman
08-07-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
State Council discusses three draft laws
Muscat: The State Council on Tuesday held its eighth session of the second ordinary term of its eighth period, during which it discussed the 'Real Estate Registry Law," the 'Draft Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes (Royal Decree No. 47/97)," and the 'Civil Society Organisations Law." The session also reviewed the Special Committee's study on "Mechanisms for Diversifying Income Sources in Oman" and examined the General Secretariat's report on the Council's activities. Held under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdulmalik Abdullah Al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council, the session discussed the Legal Committee's opinion on the Real Estate Registry Law, referred by the Council of Ministers. The draft law focuses on several key aspects, including: Strengthening legal protections for property owners and beneficiaries; Regulating registration procedures and real estate transactions and enabling digital documentation and issuing electronic title deeds linked to relevant government systems, aligning with Oman's national digital transformation strategy. The Council also reviewed the Social and Cultural Committee's opinion on the Civil Society Organisations Law, which includes substantive provisions regulating the work and objectives of civil society institutions. The draft law aims to enhance their role in serving society through associations, NGOs, professional societies, volunteer teams, and expatriate clubs, while addressing challenges under the current legal framework. Additionally, the Council examined the Draft Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes, assessing its impact on arbitration parties and local/international arbitration centres. The amendments align with modern trends in comparative arbitration laws, reinforcing Oman's position as an attractive hub for commercial dispute resolution. The revisions are expected to boost confidence in arbitration mechanisms, create an investment-friendly legal environment and support Oman's adoption of best practices in justice and litigation, in line with Oman Vision 2040 objectives. The session concluded with discussions on the Special Committee's study on income diversification mechanisms, which identifies challenges to financial sustainability, inefficiencies in revenue streams, and potential solutions to enhance fiscal resilience. The study proposes measures to stabilize public finances in the 11th Five-Year Plan including legislative and governance reforms.
Muscat Daily
20-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Majlis A'Shura calls for review of SME hiring policy
Muscat – The Ministry of Labour directive requiring commercial establishments operating for more than a year to employ at least one Omani citizen within 30 days of notification came under scrutiny in Majlis A'Shura on Tuesday. The issue was raised in an urgent statement by Mohammed Nasser al Mahrouqi, representative of the wilayat of Sinaw, during a session chaired by H E Khalid bin Hilal al Maawali on Tuesday. Mahrouqi said the directive caught many micro, small and medium-sized businesses by surprise, noting that the mandatory hiring requirement, coupled with a minimum monthly salary of RO325, poses a heavy financial burden particularly on firms in rural areas. While expressing support for Omanisation, Mahrouqi called for a more comprehensive and evidence-based national employment strategy. He urged exemption for micro and small enterprises and phased implementation of the directive in medium-sized enterprises. In another urgent statement, Mohammed Khamis al Husseini, representative from Samail, highlighted the poor performance of several food security projects despite significant state investment. He attributed the failure to flawed feasibility studies, bureaucratic inefficiencies and weak management. Husseini called for a full review of government-supported food security initiatives and recommended restructuring, partnerships with strategic investors or liquidation of underperforming entities. He noted the increasing importance of domestic food production amid rising global supply constraints and export restrictions. Mohammed Nasser al Mahrouqi, Majlis A'Shura representative of the wilayat of Sinaw The session approved two key draft laws with amendments – the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes and the draft Real Estate Registry Law – both referred by the government. Dr Ahmed Ali al Saadi, Chairman of the Legislative and Legal Committee, said the amendments to the arbitration law aim to streamline procedures, enhance fairness and align Oman's legal framework with international standards. He added that the Real Estate Registry Law will modernise the sector by introducing electronic documentation and ownership systems to ensure transparency and efficiency, while integrating the sector with Oman's broader digital infrastructure. The session also approved a report by the Public Services and Utilities Committee regarding a draft air transport agreement between Oman and the Kyrgyz Republic. Hamoud Ahmed al Yahyai, chairman of the committee, said the agreement would enhance civil aviation cooperation and support trade and tourism links. Other draft laws reviewed included the National Spatial Data Law, Unified Industrial Regulation for GCC Countries and the draft Sports Bodies Law. The shura is scheduled to reconvene on Wednesday to review the draft Civil Society Institutions Law.
Observer
20-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Shura council approves draft real estate registry law
MUSCAT: The Majlis Ash'shura approved the amendments of the Law of Arbitration in Civil and Commercial Disputes and the draft Real Estate Registry Law and referred them to the State Council, at its tenth regular meeting held under the chairmanship of Khalid bin Hilal al Maawali, Chairman of Majlis Ash'shura, on Tuesday. The council discussed the amendments to some provisions of the Law of Arbitration in Civil and Commercial Disputes, which was referred by the government. Dr Ahmed bin Ali al Saadi, Chairman of the Legislative and Legal Committee, explained that the amendments aim to enhance the effectiveness of arbitration procedures to support the Sultanate of Oman's efforts to adopt international best practices in the field of dispute resolution. The council also discussed the draft real estate registry law referred by the government. Dr Ahmed bin Ali al Saadi, Chairman of the Legislative and Legal Committee, reviewed the committee's report on the draft law, which includes 40 articles distributed across five chapters. Al Saadi explained that the current real estate registry system no longer keeps pace with the technological boom the Sultanate of Oman has witnessed over the past decades in terms of real estate documentation and registration particularly after the introduction of digital registry systems, electronic title deeds and remote documentation services. The meeting also approved the vision of the Public Services and Utilities Committee regarding the draft air transport agreement between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kyrgyz Republic, referred by the government. The council is holding its eleventh regular meeting today (Wednesday), during which the draft civil society institutions law, referred by the government, will be discussed. The meeting saw the presentation of two urgent statements, the first of which was related to the Ministry of Labour's decision requiring commercial establishments that have completed one year since to employ at least one Omani citizen. The second addressed the failed food security projects and recommended taking decisive decisions to avoid financial waste. In the statement delivered by Mohammed bin Nasser al Mahrouqi, representative of the Wilayat of Sinaw, regarding the Ministry of Labour's decision, he called for exempting micro and small enterprises from implementing the decision. He also called for supporting medium-sized enterprises financially to enable them to employ national job-seekers. Mohammed bin Khamis al Hussaini, a representative of the Wilayat of Samayil, delivered an urgent statement regarding the failed food security projects. He recommended decisive decisions to avoid financial waste, noting that some food security companies have turned into a heavy burden on the state's general budget.
Observer
19-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Majlis Ash'shura to debate draft laws this week
MUSCAT: The Majlis Ash'shura will hold its 10th and 11th regular meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20-21, during which a number of draft laws referred by the government will be discussed in addition to a number of draft economic and social agreements, Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al Nadabi, Secretary-General of Majlis Ash'shura, announced on Monday. Al Nadabi stated that the two meetings will discuss draft amendments to the Law on Arbitration in Civil and Commercial Disputes and the draft Real Estate Registry Law. The meeting will also discuss and approve the draft Civil Society Organisations Law referred by the government. The agenda of the two meetings also includes reviewing a number of draft laws referred by the Council of Ministers, most notably the draft law on national geospatial data and information, the draft law on unified industrial regulation for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the draft law on sports authorities, Al Nadabi said. The members of the Majlis Ash'shura will be briefed on the draft air services agreement between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. — ONA
