Latest news with #Sultanate
Times of Oman
11 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman streamlines business governance with key amendments to commercial companies regulations
In a significant move to enhance Oman's business regulatory environment, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) has enacted Ministerial Decision 245/2025, amending pivotal provisions within the existing Commercial Companies Regulation (Ministerial Decision 146/2021). These amendments, effective from 11 July 2025, target specific operational and administrative requirements for companies operating within the Sultanate, aiming to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and clarify governance structures. Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, a representative of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm, a leading law office in Oman, explained that 'the first major amendment overhauls the procedure for appointing external company managers in Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). Previously, Article 92 mandated that applications to appoint a non-partner manager, particularly if the manager was non-Omani, required not only the manager's written approval but also written consent from their current employer. The written consent requirement from the Employer has been eliminated entirely.' The revised Article 92 now states that 'the appointment may be registered through the Ministry's electronic system based solely on the written approval of the appointed manager.' In practice, this reflects a shift in procedure: since the employer is the one initiating the appointment, separate employer consent is now deemed inherent and no longer needs to be uploaded as a standalone document. 'This procedural refinement removes redundant documentation and enables LLCs to appoint managerial talent—both Omani and expatriate—with greater efficiency, while still preserving necessary employer oversight through the system itself,' said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, the Founding Partner of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm. He further added that a completely new provision, Article 13bis, has been introduced to explicitly define the scope of individuals authorised to legally represent a company as its 'authorised signatory.' This crucial addition clarifies that valid signatories must fall into one of four defined categories: partners collectively or individually; the owner of the company's capital; any member of its board of directors; or its manager or any of its financial and administrative workers. 'This definition provides much needed certainty regarding corporate representation, reducing ambiguity in contractual and legal dealings. It ensures that only individuals with a demonstrable stake or formal role within the company structure possess the inherent authority to bind the company, thereby enhancing transactional security and mitigating risks associated with unauthorised representations.' Companies subject to the Commercial Companies Regulation are granted a six-month transitional period to align their internal structures and documentation particularly manager appointment records and authorised signatory designations with these updated requirements. Failure to comply after this deadline could expose companies to administrative penalties or challenges regarding the validity of managerial appointments or contractual signatures. These changes underscore Oman's proactive approach to improving its regulatory framework to support business growth and investment, the expert said. (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm ([email protected]), (+968 244 87 600) was established 18 years ago and is serving clients through its offices in Muscat and Sohar, as well as operating on a request basis in other areas. It offers legal representation across a wide range of practice areas that include Labour Law, Corporate, Commercial, Contracts, Banking and Finance, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Insurance, Maritime Law, Construction and Engineering Contracts, International Arbitration, Intellectual Property and more).
Gulf Business
4 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
New job rules in Oman: These roles now require a permit
Image credit: Getty Images The Ministry of Labour has introduced new regulations requiring mandatory professional certification for work permits in both the accounting and engineering sectors in Oman. The move is part of a broader initiative to standardise qualifications, enhance professional competency, and support the Sultanate's national workforce development goals, Read- Effective August 1, 2025, the ministry will no longer issue or renew work permits for individuals working Similarly, starting September 1, 2025, individuals employed or seeking employment in accounting, finance, and auditing positions must obtain a Professional Classification Certificate from the Sector Skills Unit for Accounting, Finance, and Auditing. This certificate will be a mandatory requirement for the issuance and renewal of work permits in the financial sector. The Ministry emphasised that no work permits will be issued or renewed after the respective deadlines without the required certificates. All employers and professionals are urged to initiate the necessary steps to comply with the new regulations ahead of time to avoid disruptions in employment status. The following roles in the accounting and finance sector will require professional certification: Accounts Technician Assistant External Auditor Assistant Internal Auditor Internal Auditor External Auditor Cost Accountant Credit Analyst Financial Analyst Accounts Manager Tax Manager Chief Financial Officer (CFO) External Audit Manager Internal Audit Manager Senior Internal Audit Manager Financial Controller Senior External Audit Manager Head of Internal Audit Department Chief Financial Officer (CFO) External Audit Partner Chief Audit Executive The ministry has made it clear that no exceptions will be made after the enforcement dates. These changes are expected to elevate the standards of professional practice and ensure that only qualified individuals are employed in key technical and financial roles across the Sultanate.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
General Education Diploma results for 2024/2025 to be announced tomorrow
Muscat: The Ministry of Education will announce tomorrow the results of the General Education Diploma (GED) examinations and their equivalent qualifications for the first semester of the 2024/2025 school year. Dr. Madiha Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education, endorsed the general indicators for these results. A total of 54,856 male and female students applied for the General Diploma, with a success rate of 82.83 percent. For private (bilingual) schools, 1,579 students applied for the General Education Diploma, achieving a success rate of 91.58 percent. Additionally, 121 students applied for the General Education Diploma and Islamic Sciences, with a 100 percent success rate. For the General Education Diploma (Special Education), 61 students applied, with a success rate of 86.89 percent. The number of applicants for the Vocational and Technical General Education Diploma reached 138, achieving a 100 percent success rate. The Minister of Education congratulated the students on their success. The results will be available starting from 4:00 PM tomorrow, Thursday 17 July 2025, via SMS through telecom providers by sending a text message containing the seat number to 90200. To ensure adherence to examination management regulations, the Ministry took all necessary measures to guarantee the smooth conduct of exams in a calm and comfortable educational environment. Applicants took their exams this year at 366 examination centers distributed across all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. Furthermore, 16 violations of the regulations for managing General Education Diploma examinations and their equivalent were recorded. Necessary actions were taken in accordance with Ministerial Decision No. (588 / 2015) concerning these regulations. In light of these violations, the Ministry verified all surrounding circumstances to ascertain and confirm each case before applying appropriate penalties in coordination with relevant authorities.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Oman reports busy year for mining sector
In a landmark year for Oman's minerals sector, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals issued 26 new mining licences in 2024 and celebrated the start of commercial copper exports, marking a major step forward in the Sultanate's efforts to diversify its economy under the Vision 2040 framework. According to the Ministry's annual report for 2024, the government granted 14 permanent mining licences and 12 exploration licences, covering several provinces. These licences covered a broad array of resources such as gypsum, limestone, chromite, copper, iron ore, marble, and various construction materials. The Ministry also renewed 10 mining licences and one exploration licence, helping ensure continuity for active operations while opening doors for new investors. The year also saw major developments in copper mining, with two strategic projects beginning production and exports. In Al Khaboura, the Al Ghuzayn Copper Project entered commercial operation in 2024, with an initial investment of 43 million Omani rials ($112 million), according to the report. The project, developed by Mawarid Mining, aims to extract six million tonnes of copper ore over six and a half years. In addition to producing and exporting its first copper shipments, the company issued sales invoices and official export certificates, solidifying Oman's re-entry into the global copper market. The project is also expected to generate 50 direct jobs for Omani nationals and allocate one per cent of its annual output to support local community development, in line with the provisions of Oman's Mineral Wealth Law. Despite facing challenges linked to production reporting delays from several operators, Oman's overall mineral output for 2024 remained substantial. Total mineral ore production stood at 67.7 million tonnes, down 14 per cent compared to the previous year. Of this, 62.5 million tonnes were sold, generating revenues of OMR 114.3 million ($297 million). Exported volumes reached 35.9 million tonnes, with gypsum accounting for the largest share at 12.4 million tonnes, or 35 per cent of total exports. By the end of 2024, ten companies were operating across 21 designated mining concession areas in the Sultanate. These blocks contain commercially viable reserves of copper, chrome, laterite, potash, dolomite, gypsum, limestone, nickel, and cobalt. The Ministry said it is continuing to promote digital transformation in the sector and has launched an online bidding platform to enable transparent access to mineral blocks and facilitate the evaluation of applications by potential investors. (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
NCERT textbook describes Mughal ‘brutalities', says no one should be blamed for past
The National Council of Educational Research and Training's new Class 8 social sciences textbook, which describes Mughal emperor Babur as a ' brutal and ruthless conqueror' and Aurangzeb as the having destroyed temples and gurdwaras, also points to 'many instances of religious intolerance' during the period, The Indian Express reported. The textbook, which has been introduced for the academic year 2025-'26, portrays Mughal rulers Babur, Akbar and Aurangzeb as 'intellectuals' who also ' plundered ' the Indian population, The Hindu reported. The NCERT is an educational body that advises the Union government on school syllabi. The chapter covering history from the 13th century to the 17th century spans the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals, the resistance to them, and the rise of the Sikh empire. It describes the Sultanate period as one marked by military campaigns in which towns were plundered and temples were attacked, and has references to the brutality of some of the rulers. A 'note on history's darker periods' before the history section of the textbook says that it is important to study the events dispassionately without blaming anyone living today for what happened during the Sultanate and Mughal period. 'Understanding the historical origin of cruel violence, abusive misrule or misplaced ambitions of power is the best way to heal the past and build a future where, hopefully, they will have no place,' The Indian Express quoted the note as saying. Babur, Akbar and Aurangzeb were not described in such detail in chapters about the Mughal period in the old NCERT textbook, according to reports. The chapter was part of the Class 7 history textbook at the time. The changes are part of a broader curriculum revamp under the 2020 National Education Policy and the National Curriculum Framework. In response to questions about the references to the attacks on temples and the brutality of some Mughal rulers, the NCERT said that the history section, 'while it does not sanitise history, is balanced and entirely evidence-based', The Indian Express reported. 'Besides, in addition to the 'Note on Some Darker Periods in History', a cautionary note has been inserted in one of the chapters to make it clear that no one should be held responsible today for events of the past,' it added. 'The emphasis is on an honest approach to history with a view to drawing from it important lessons for a better future.' Michel Danino, the head of NCERT's Curricular Area Group for Social Science, told The Hindu that the Mughal emperors cannot be understood 'unless you go into the complexities of their personalities'. 'Akbar himself admits he was brutal in his younger days,' Danino was quoted as saying. 'We are not demonising Akbar or Aurangzeb, but we have to show these rulers had their limitations and committed cruel deeds.'
