State Council reviews study on diversifying Oman's sources of income
The meeting was chaired by H E Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council.
The study reviewed the current state of the Omani economy and existing sources of national income. It also outlined international experiences in tackling challenges related to income diversification and financial sustainability.
Concluding the discussion, the study stressed the importance of exploring future opportunities and provided recommendations for diversifying income sources across various economic sectors.
The Council also reviewed a report by the Social and Cultural Committee regarding its meeting with officials from the Social Protection Fund to discuss mechanisms for implementing the social protection system.
Additionally, the Council's bureau reviewed reports submitted by members following their participation in regional and international forums, along with updates on ongoing progress reports
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
Pros and cons of extended validity of Omani ID, expat resident card
Muscat – The validity of Omani ID cards has been extended to ten years, while expatriate residence cards will now be of one- to three-year validity. What are the advantages or disadvantages of these changes? Here is what Muscat Daily readers said – Ravi Kumar, Engineer Extending the validity of resident cards to three years is a welcome relief for expatriates like me. It saves us time, reduces paperwork and cuts down on trips to Sanad centres. For families, it's even better because everyone's renewal dates can be managed together. It shows the authorities understand our practical needs. Anita Menon, Private sector employee This change makes life easier, especially for working women and mothers. We no longer have to worry about biennial renewals, which can be stressful if they fall during school terms. Three years is a reasonable period that gives stability to expatriates. The ten-year Omani ID validity is also progressive – it means less hassle for citizens. Mohammed Ashraf, Businessman For entrepreneurs like me, time is valuable. Extending residence card validity means fewer administrative interruptions and more focus on work. The tiered fee structure is also fair. I see it as a step towards making Oman a more attractive place for long-term expatriates. Citizens too benefit from the ten-year validity – it's efficient governance. Ahmed al Harthy, Government employee I welcome the ten-year ID card validity. It's more efficient, saves time for both citizens and the government and reduces crowding at service centres. For expatriates, three years is a fair validity – long enough to reduce hassle and short enough to keep records updated regularly. Overall, it's a smart administrative move. Fatma al Mahrouqi, Entrepreneur The change is sensible. Ten years for our ID cards means less paperwork and more convenience for busy people like me. For expatriates, a three-year residence card validity is a good improvement. It reduces costs and time spent on renewals. It also reflects trust in the residents who contribute to Oman's economy. Muna Basheer al Zadjali, Private sector employee The decision to extend the validity of identity cards marks a significant administrative reform that will likely be welcomed by many. While the benefits of reduced costs, increased convenience and lighter government workloads are clear, the challenges of outdated information and security risks must be carefully managed. Ultimately, the success of this change will depend on how effectively the authorities address these potential drawbacks while ensuring that the system remains secure, accurate and fair for all residents. Huda al Shamsi, Private sector employee Extending the validity of my Omani ID card is very useful for me because now I can worry less about getting it updated at the right time before it expires, which always came with problems, especially with booking appointments and more expenses. Arush Rahman, Chiropractor While I'm aware of the benefits this extension provides me, I also realise that it may cause more problems when I'm renewing my card. I'm concerned that it might take longer to get this information updated because of the longer gap between each renewal date as I can't afford to take long time off in my line of work. Advika Kapoor, Yoga instructor It's nice to have our resident card's shelf life extended, especially in cases like mine where my daughter is in university and cannot get it renewed on time because of her short term breaks. Now, we can get it renewed in a longer vacation and she can travel in and out of Muscat with less stress. Ibrahim al Riyami, Auditor I don't see any issue with the changes made by Royal Oman Police. It will be less difficult to get it renewed for me and my family all together and it will be less expensive to get it done as well. I'm grateful for this particular change.
Muscat Daily
a day ago
- Muscat Daily
Oman to highlight tourism potential in Jaipur roadshow
Muscat – Ministry of Heritage and Tourism will hold a promotional workshop in Jaipur, India, on Monday as part of its efforts to strengthen the country's position in regional and global tourism markets. The workshop aims to highlight Oman's tourism assets, ranging from heritage and culture to adventure and wedding tourism, while promoting the sultanate as a safe and stable destination. Officials said the event will feature face-to-face meetings with leading Indian travel agencies, airlines and specialised media outlets. The sessions will focus on building partnerships and showcasing opportunities in sectors including cruise tourism, hospitality, and meetings and conferences. 'The Indian market is a priority within the ministry's promotional plan,' an official said. 'There is a growing demand for outbound tourism from India, supported by stronger cultural and economic ties between the two countries.' The programme will include visual presentations, publications, and interactive sessions led by Omani tourism representatives. Delegates from Omani tourism institutions will also hold business meetings with their Indian counterparts to present tailored packages designed for different traveller groups. In recent years, Oman has seen steady growth in tourist arrivals from India. Officials attribute this to easier visa procedures, improved air connectivity, and deeper cooperation between Omani and Indian companies in the travel sector. The campaign forms part of the ministry's broader strategy to diversify tourism markets and increase visitor numbers in line with Oman Vision 2040, which emphasises tourism as a driver of economic growth.
Muscat Daily
a day ago
- Muscat Daily
Jabal Akhdar Park to open on Monday as part of tourism push
Jabal Akhdar – A new public park in Jabal Akhdar will open on Monday, adding to the wilayat's tourism and leisure facilities as part of ongoing development projects in Dakhliyah governorate. The Jabal Akhdar Park, built at a cost of more than RO1.1mn, covers 20,000sqm in the Saih Qatna area and is expected to attract both residents and tourists year-round. The project forms part of efforts under Oman Vision 2040 to turn the governorate's natural and cultural assets into sustainable development opportunities. Sultan al Ghafili Sheikh Sultan bin Mansour al Ghafili, wali of Jabal Akhdar, said the park is an important addition to the tourism landscape in the governorate. 'The project includes a 1,000sqm children's play area, sports paths, and investment areas containing a café, a shop and an area for electric games, in addition to prayer rooms and restrooms,' he said. The park also features an open multi-use theatre, green spaces covering 5,000sqm, 150 trees, 400 shrubs, and landscaped vegetation aimed at making the site suitable for family activities and community events. 'The project reflects the keenness of the wilayat, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Dakhliyah, to develop facilities that meet sustainability standards, support small and medium enterprises, provide job opportunities and stimulate commercial activities,' Ghafili said. He added that further initiatives will follow, targeting ecotourism, smart agriculture and community services. 'These projects are part of a comprehensive development drive that considers innovation, sustainability and the promotion of Omani identity,' he said. Mohammed bin Ali al Wardi, Director of the Projects Department at Dakhliyah Municipality, described the park as part of an integrated plan to enhance public spaces and the urban environment. 'The celebration square in Saih Qatna, inaugurated in July, represents a model for cultural and tourism infrastructure in the governorate,' he said. He added that ongoing and upcoming projects aim to position Jabal Akhdar as a sustainable tourism centre, balancing preservation of the natural environment with the development of facilities and services.
