ROYAL DECREES SET RECORD AS REFORMS GATHER MOMENTUM
Within a short span of just one year, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has succeeded in improving the efficiency of the government’s performance and laying down the foundations for financial sustainability in the Sultanate.
After his ascension to the throne, His Majesty the Sultan issued 131 Royal Decrees in 2020 alone – a record compared to any time in the history of Oman when the average number of Royal Decrees was 50 in a year – in addition to royal directives and orders.
The highest number of decrees followed the Royal Speech by His Majesty in February 2020 about the need to restructure and streamline government to align with the Oman Vision 2040.
Even as the first Royal Decree issued in 2020 was by late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos on the ratification of the General Budget of the State, the first Royal Decree by His Majesty Sultan Haitham was issued in February amending the Annexure No 3 of the Law of the state flag, logo and national anthem.
Most of these decrees dealt with appointments, including Royal Decree No 14/2020 appointing a Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs. Other decrees included appointments of Special Envoy to His Majesty the Sultan, the Minister of Heritage and Culture, the Under-secretary for the Ministry of Art Affairs, Adviser at the Diwan of the Royal Court, Adviser to the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Secretary-general of the National Museum, and appointments of diplomats.
A Royal Decree in the same month granted minister’s rank to the Secretary-general of the National Day Celebrations Committee, issued the law of the internal security service.
March also witnessed six Royal Decrees on ratification of a number of international agreements and treaties, six more related to oil agreements, and a Royal Decree on issuance of the taxation authority system.
On March 31, 2020, His Majesty issued two Royal Decrees 42/2020 promulgating the Organisational Structure of the Tax Authority and 43/2020 ratified the Multilateral Convention, signed by the Sultanate on November 26, 2019, to implement tax treaty measures for the prevention of Base Erosion and Profit Shifting.
Royal Decree No 44/2020 in April endorsed the Sultanate joining the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) scripted in New York on December 20, 2006.
April saw issuance of Royal Decrees on appointments in the administrative units of the State, Royal Decrees granting Omani nationality, a decree on official holidays, Royal Decrees on international agreements and treaties, and another amending the provisions of the Royal Decree on the members of Oman Human Rights Commission, among other decrees.
May saw issuance of two Royal Decrees on Sultanate joining international agreements, while June witnessed issuance of six Royal Decrees including establishment of the Private Office, the ratification of an agreement between the Sultanate and Slovakia on avoidance of double taxation, and prevention of tax evasion.
The same month witnessed His Majesty the Sultan issuing a Royal Decree, No 61/2020, on the establishment of Oman Investment Authority.
In July, Royal Decree No 65/2020 appointed a Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. The month also saw more decrees on appointments, including the appointment of the UnderSecretary for Fisheries at the same ministry, the Under-secretary for
Heritage at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, and the Under-secretary of the Ministry of Finance, among other appointments.
A mammoth 28 new Royal Decrees were announced on August 18, 2020 which signalled a step in reducing the number of ministries (from 26 to 19) and the overall size of the government, and decentralising power by devolving authority from His Majesty to a number of these ministries.
A total of 10 ministries have effectively merged.
Royal Decree 94/2020 established the Ministry of Economy. The most notable focus seems to be on the economy, with the new post of Minister of Finance.
His Majesty has for the first time appointed a Foreign Minister ,a Minister of Finance and a Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Oman.
Royal Decree 111/2020 named the new Council of Ministers, with notable changes at the top of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
In support of the reference made to the key role of women in his Royal Speech in February this year, two new female ministers and four new female under-secretaries have been appointed by His Majesty. There are also notable appointments in the form of younger ministers, including his own 31-year-old son, His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, as the new Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth.
The efficiency drive translates into these new laws which merge or expand a number of ministries to include other portfolios under their particular administration, including:
Royal Decree 88/2020 merges the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Legal Affairs into the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs.
Royal Decree 89/2020 establishes the Ministry of Labour, which will include the former Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Civil Service, National Training Fund and the National Employment Centre.
Royal Decree 90/2020 establishes the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
Royal Decree 93/2020 amends the name of the Ministry of Housing to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.
Royal Decree 96/2020 amends the name of the Ministry of Oil and Gas to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.
Royal Decree 97/2020 amends the name of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
Royal Decree 98/2020 amends the name of the Ministry of Higher Education to the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation.
Royal Decree 100/2020, which establishes the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit.
Royal Decree 105/2020, which establishes the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (the previous Minister of Commerce and Industry is the chairman).
Royal Decree 106/2020, which establishes the Environment Authority.
Royal Decree 107/2020, which establishes the Authority of Small and Medium Enterprises.
In September, Royal Decree No114/2020 ratified the Government joining the “Convention on the Contract for International
Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR)”, done at Geneva on May 19,1956, and its Additional Protocol Concerning the Electronic Consignment Note, done at Geneva on February 20, 2008.
In the same month, His Majesty issued a Royal Decree No 118/2020, amending some provisions of the Income Tax Law.
In October, Royal Decree No 120/2020 amended some provisions of the Law on Penal Procedures and Royal Decree No 121/2020 promulgated the Value Added Tax Law.
In November, Royal Decree No 125/2020 was issued on the “Law on Streamlining Litigation Procedures in Settlement of Some Disputes” and Royal Decree No 126/2020 on the promulgation of Municipal Councils Law.
In December, His Majesty issued a Royal Decree to establish Energy Development Oman Company (EDO) as a closed joint-stock company, under which Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) became a subsidiary of the new entity.
In the same month, he issued Royal Decree No 127/2020 to transfer an adviser from the Ministry of Health to the Private Office and Decree No 129/2020 effected transfers and placements in the diplomatic corps. Royal Decree No 131/2020 was issued on the water and wastewater sector.
On January 1, 2021, His Majesty issued two decrees -- Royal Decree No 1/2021 approves the 10th Five Year Development Plan 20212025 and Royal Decree No 2/2021 ratifying the State’s General Budget for Fiscal Year 2021.
Royal Decree No 4/2021 granted a Class A licence to the Omani Company for Future Communications to provide basic mobile public telecommunications services.
On January 5, 2021, His Majesty the Sultan issued a Royal Decree regarding the transfer of the Muscat Securities Market to a closed Omani joint stock company.
June 4 Oman Investment Authority established
State’s General Reserve Fund, Oman Investment Fund, all government companies except Petroleum Development Oman Company come under the Oman Investment Authority. The Authority shall have a legal identity, enjoy financial and administrative autonomy and report to the the Council Council of of Ministers. Ministers.