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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Muscat Daily
2 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Anti-dumping duties on ceramic tiles to help Omani industry
Muscat – Oman has implemented anti-dumping duties on imports of ceramic and porcelain tiles from India and China. The move, announced by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion on May 29, follows an investigation into complaints from local manufacturers that imported tiles were being sold below production cost, undermining domestic producers. The measure has received broad support from business leaders and industry experts, who view it as essential to protect Oman's manufacturing sector and counter what they describe as predatory pricing by foreign exporters. Dr Ahmed bin Said al Jahwari, legal consultant and expert in trade law, told Muscat Daily that the tariffs are based on the Unified Law on Anti-Dumping, Countervailing and Safeguard Measures for GCC Member States, issued under Royal Decree No. 20/2015. Dr Ahmed bin Said al Jahwari 'The law defines dumping as the export of goods to GCC markets at prices lower than their normal value under standard trading conditions,' Jahwari said. 'Such practices harm domestic industries by creating an uneven playing field.' He added that the decision would help stabilise the local market and protect Omani products from artificially cheap imports. According to him, the move is expected to encourage greater investment in local manufacturing and improve the competitiveness of domestic producers. 'As competition shifts from pricing to product quality, local manufacturers will be motivated to upgrade technologies and improve efficiency,' he said. 'This will enhance the sector's performance and ensure fairer market conditions.' The duties are also expected to support investor confidence, with officials stating that the issuance of this decision reflects Oman's commitment to a transparent and rules-based business environment. 'We wholeheartedly welcome the government's timely intervention,' said investor Hamed al Rawahi. 'It will restore confidence among local producers and support investment in innovation and job creation.' Economic analyst Khalfan al Touqi said the duties do not amount to protectionism. 'Selling products below cost distorts fair competition and threatens local industry,' he said. 'Oman is sending a clear signal that it will defend its manufacturing base.' He noted that domestic tile producers have long struggled to compete with subsidised imports. 'The new duties will give them space to grow and invest. These measures are standard tools in international trade and are fully in line with WTO rules,' Touqi said. The ministry confirmed that the anti-dumping duties will remain in force for five years, subject to periodic reviews based on market conditions and the behaviour of exporters.
Muscat Daily
2 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Grape festival in North Sharqiyah targets farming innovation
Ibra – North Sharqiyah will host a grape festival from June 16, aimed at supporting local agriculture, promoting grape cultivation and encouraging youth-led ventures in the sector. Organised by the Office of the Governor of North Sharqiyah in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the North Sharqiyah Grape Festival forms part of efforts to revitalise Oman's agricultural landscape. Grapes are among the most widely cultivated and commercially promising fruit crops in the sultanate. Organisers are expecting that the event will offer an opportunity to market Omani grapes, raise awareness about their economic potential, and encourage young people to view grape farming as a viable business. 'This festival will give a boost to agricultural projects that contribute to food security and the national economy,' a spokesperson said. 'It will also serve as a platform to inspire Omani youth to venture into agricultural entrepreneurship through investment in the production and marketing of grapes – a crop that is widely cultivated in several wilayats of the governorate.' The event will showcase innovations, highlight success stories of local farmers, and promote the exchange of technical knowledge. Organisers also hope to promote community awareness about the sector's potential, expand grape cultivation areas, and improve annual output over the coming years. The initiative seeks to open new marketing channels, attract private sector participation across the grape value chain, and develop the concept of contract farming in coordination with agricultural associations. These steps are expected to create new jobs for Omanis and strengthen the sector's role in rural development. Festival activities will include exhibitions of grape products and handicrafts, expert-led discussions on farming practices, cultural contests, and entertainment programmes for children. With rising interest in agricultural tourism and food security, the North Sharqiyah Grape Festival is expected to attract visitors from across the country and the wider region.
Observer
3 hours ago
- Observer
Oman oil price rises $1.36 per barrel
MUSCAT: The official price of Oman oil (for August delivery) reached $65.79 per barrel on Monday The price of Oman oil on Monday increased by $1.36 compared to last Friday's price of $64.43 per barrel. The monthly average price of Omani crude oil for June delivery reached $67.87 per barrel, a decrease of $4.64 compared to the price for May delivery. Meanwhile, international oil prices were little changed on Monday as investors awaited US-China trade talks in London in the hope that a deal could boost the global economic outlook and subsequently fuel demand. Brent crude futures gained 4 cents to $66.51 a barrel by 0940 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude lost 1 cent to $64.57. Brent rose 4% last week and WTI 6.2% as the prospect of a US-China trade deal boosted risk appetite for some investors. US President Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping spoke on the telephone on Thursday before US and Chinese officials meet in London on Monday in an effort to calm trade tensions between the two nations. A trade deal between the US and China could support the global economic outlook and in turn boost demand for commodities including oil. Monday's talks could dampen the impact on prices of a slew of Chinese data releases, said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore. Chinese export growth slowed to a three-month low in May as US tariffs curbed shipments while factory gate deflation deepened to its worst in two years, heaping pressure on the world's second-largest economy at home and abroad. "Bad timing for crude oil, which was testing the top of the range and knocking on the door of a technical break above $65," Sycamore said, referring to WTI prices. The data also showed that China's crude oil imports declined in May to the lowest daily rate in four months as state-owned and independent refiners began planned maintenance. The prospect of a potential China-US trade deal outweighed concern over the price impact from increased output by the Opec+ group of oil producers next month. — Agencies
