The consultative experience in the Sultanate of Oman has passed through many stages of diligent work. It began in the early years of the second decade of the modern Omani Renaissance led by The late Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur - may his soul rest in peace- with the establishment of the State Consultative Council in 1981, followed by the creation of the Shura Council in 1991. Over the years the process witnessed continuous, successive developments. Today, its institutional framework operates on a bicameral basis: the appointed State Council and the elected Shura Council convene together under the umbrella of the Council of Oman, each enjoying legal personality as well as financial and administrative independence.
The Royal Decree No. 6/2021, issuing the Basic Statute of the State on 11 January 2021, opened a new chapter for parliamentary action in the Sultanate of Oman. The Statute contains many provisions aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and with the current phase of the renewed Renaissance led by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik - may Allah protect and preserve him.
The Law of the Council of Oman, promulgated by the Royal Decree No. 7/2021, continues this parliamentary journey, strengthening the Council’s work through expanded legislative and oversight powers and introducing further measures in step with the historical development of parliamentary life in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Basic Statute allocates eight articles that form the general framework for the Council of Oman. On this basis, the Law of the Council of Oman was enacted, comprising 78 articles distributed across seven chapters: General Provisions; a chapter for the State Council; a chapter for the Shura Council; a chapter on joint provisions for both councils; a chapter on sessions and competencies; a chapter detailing the oversight tools available to the Shura Council; and a chapter on final and transitional provisions.
Article 12 of the Basic Statute sets out the unifying values and fundamental pillars of governance in the Sultanate of Oman, stipulating that the State is founded upon justice, consultation (shura) and equality. It grants citizens, under the conditions specified by law, the right to participate in public affairs. Article 76 declares the rule of law to be the basis of governance. Article 68 (Part V) states that the Council of Oman consists of the State Council and the Shura Council, while Articles 69 to 75 regulate the appointment of State Council members, the election of Shura Council members and the conduct of direct, secret balloting, in addition to defining the Council of Oman’s legislative and oversight powers. These powers include approving or amending draft laws referred by the Government, discussing and making recommendations on development plans and the State’s general budget, and returning them to the Council of Ministers. The latter must inform both chambers of any recommendations not adopted, giving the reasons.
The establishment of the Council of Oman under Royal Decree No. 86/97, issued on 16 December 1997, marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the consultative process in the Sultanate of Oman. It broadened the base of public participation, allowed the nation to benefit from the expertise of scholars and specialists, and supported the implementation of the comprehensive development strategy in service of the common good.
The promulgation of the Council of Oman Law by Royal Decree No. 7/2021 on 11 January 2021 represents one of the key steps toward achieving the objectives set out in Oman Vision 2040, notably the creation of flexible legislation and an independent legislative authority vested with full powers.
As stipulated in Article 68 of the Basic Statute of the State and Article 1 of the Council of Oman Law, the Council comprises the State Council, whose members His Majesty the Sultan appoints from among the finest Omani expertise, and the Shura Council, whose members Omani citizens elect to represent their wilayats. The Council convenes at the invitation of His Majesty the Sultan during the month of November each year. By way of exception to Article 38 of the Council of Oman Law, “the Sultan shall summon the Council of Oman for its first meeting following the general elections for the Shura Council within one month of the announcement of those election results.” His Majesty may also call the Council of Oman to meet outside its ordinary session whenever he deems it necessary, and convening or adjourning the Council in ordinary or extraordinary sessions is effected by Royal Order.
The State Council plays a pioneering role in national action within the Sultanate of Oman, exercising the legislative and financial powers granted to it by the Basic Statute of the State, the Council of Oman Law and its Rules of Procedure. It does so through meetings of the Council Bureau, its regular sessions, its six permanent committees, and the sub-committees and working groups stemming from them. The Council enjoys legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and its membership comprises a select group of experienced and competent figures, as stipulated in the Council of Oman Law issued by Royal Decree 7/2021.
Council Responsibilities
Article 72 of the Basic Statute specifies the Council of Oman’s powers, which the State Council shares, namely: approving or amending draft laws; discussing development plans and the State’s general budget and making recommendations thereon; and proposing new draft laws, all in the manner prescribed by law. In addition, the State Council studies and discusses matters related to the implementation of development plans, submits proposals to the Government aimed at reinforcing development programmes, and presents studies that help entrench the authentic values of Omani society, preserve its achievements and devise suitable solutions to many economic and social issues. The Council’s term lasts four years and comprises four annual sessions, each of which must extend for no less than eight months starting with the yearly opening of the Council of Oman.
Organs of the State Council
Article 31 of the Council of Oman Law identifies the main organs of the State Council as the President of the Council, the Council Bureau, the Committees and the General Secretariat. The Law sets out the powers of the President and provides that the Council’s Rules of Procedure shall lay down the mechanisms for forming the Bureau and the committees and define their mandates, while also detailing the responsibilities of the General Secretariat, its Secretary-General and its staff.
President of the Council: The President represents the State Council in its dealings with others and before the courts. In financial, administrative and personnel matters he holds the powers accorded to the head of a unit under the pertinent laws and Royal Decrees. He presides over plenary sessions and joint sessions with the Shura Council, chairs the Council Bureau, oversees the overall conduct of Council business and ensures that it conforms to the Basic Statute, the Law and the Rules of Procedure.
Council Bureau: The Rules of Procedure lay down how the Bureau is formed and what it may do. The Bureau consists of the President, the two Vice-Presidents and four members elected by the Council, and it performs the functions assigned to it in the Rules of Procedure.
Standing Committees: The Rules of Procedure likewise govern the formation and mandates of the Council’s permanent committees. At the start of every term, the Council forms standing committees, which must include at least a Legal Committee and an Economic Committee. In its seventh term the Council formed, among others, the Legal Committee, the Economic Committee, the Social Committee, the Culture, Media and Tourism Committee, the Education and Research Committee, and the Technology and Innovation Committee. Each committee discharges the Council’s powers within its field, such as studying draft laws referred to the Council, proposing draft laws, reviewing and proposing amendments to existing legislation, discussing development plans and the State budget, and submitting proposals and studies that fall within the Council’s remit.
General Secretariat: The State Council has a General Secretariat comprising a Secretary-General, two Assistant Secretaries-General and an adequate number of staff. The Secretary-General is appointed by Royal Decree. The Secretariat carries out all tasks required to assist the Council and its organs in performing their functions and responsibilities, in line with the general administrative rules laid down by the President. The Secretary-General supervises the Secretariat and its staff, monitors their performance, prepares Council sessions, draws up agendas approved by the Bureau in coordination with the President, and oversees the preparation of minutes of Council sessions and Bureau meetings.
The consultative journey in the Sultanate of Oman has passed through many stages of persistent effort. It began in the early years of the second decade of the modern Omani Renaissance with the establishment of the State Consultative Council in 1981, followed by the creation of the Shura Council in 1991. Over the years, this process has witnessed successive and continuous developments.
The Shura Council plays a pioneering role in national action within the Sultanate of Oman, keeping pace with various national aspirations through active partnership and an influential contribution to advancing comprehensive development. In doing so, it translates the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, achieves complementarity with other state institutions, and activates societal participation in national decision-making through its legislative functions and its use of oversight tools.
Since the launch of Oman Vision 2040, the Shura Council has worked to align with each of its stages, translating its objectives through the programs and plans implemented by the Council and its General Secretariat. The Secretariat now operates along vital sectors that correspond to the Vision’s aims and guide the work of the standing committees: the Legislation and Law sector, the Economy and Development sector, the Education, Youth and Culture sector, and the Public Services sector. In its work, the Council also gives priority to legislation, judiciary and oversight, as well as to the governance of the State’s administrative apparatus, resources and projects. The Council and its Secretariat seek to realize these priorities through active participation in the legislative system, making full use of the powers accorded to the Council under the Council of Oman Law issued by Royal Decree 7/2021 and the range of oversight instruments that Law provides, all for the public good.
Organs of the Shura Council
The Shura Council’s term lasts four years, beginning on the date the official results of the Shura Council elections are announced and ending on 30 September of the Council’s fourth year. The Council exercises its powers and competences through its four principal organs: the President of the Council, the Council Bureau, the standing committees and the General Secretariat.
President of the Council: The President supervises the Council’s work and manages its sessions, represents it in relations with other bodies and speaks on its behalf. He may call an extraordinary session whenever necessary. The President and the two Vice-Presidents are elected in an extraordinary session convened by His Majesty the Sultan in accordance with Article 17 of the Council of Oman Law issued by Royal Decree 7/2021.
Council Bureau: The Bureau sets the Council’s work plan, fixes the dates and agendas of ordinary sessions in the light of the activities of the various committees and the matters referred to them or placed before the Council, and conducts Council business between sessions. It also follows up ministers’ replies to written questions submitted during the session.
Standing Committees: In its ninth term, the Council Bureau approved the formation of the main committees: the Legislative and Legal Committee; the Economic and Financial Committee; the Health and Environment Committee; the Education, Culture and Scientific Research Committee; the Services and Social Development Committee; the Youth and Human Resources Committee; the Food and Water Security Committee; and the Media and Culture Committee.
General Secretariat: The General Secretariat of the Shura Council consists of the Secretary-General, appointed by Royal Decree, together with a number of staff and specialists. The Secretariat assists the Council and its organs in carrying out their functions and facilitates all related organizational and administrative matters. It plays a vital role in the Council’s success.
Tenth Term of the Council
The Shura Council continues its national service in its tenth term with generous support and great attention from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, may Allah protect and preserve him. This support is grounded in the clear powers defined by the Basic Statute of the State and the Council of Oman Law, powers that align with Oman Vision 2040 and the national orientations of the Sultanate of Oman, and build on the Council’s record of legislative work in its previous terms. The elections for the Council’s tenth term were highly successful in their procedures, mechanisms and voter participation, achieving a turnout of 65.88 per cent of the 753,690 registered voters. The experience of electronic voting demonstrated notable flexibility and accuracy in data and indicators, providing an important foundation for future development of the process.
The Council’s tenth term comes amid many significant changes as the Sultanate of Oman moves into broader implementation of Oman Vision 2040. During this term, the country is completing its Tenth Five-Year Plan and charting the course for the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, in which the Council will participate within its competences and roles, thereby strengthening joint national action and complementarity between the Council and the Government.
The electoral process for the tenth term marked a qualitative leap forward with the Ministry of Interior’s launch of the second version of the “Intakhib” application, enhanced with new features such as voice guidance for voters with visual impairments (the blind) throughout the voting stages and candidate selection, and an optional sign-language mode for voters who are deaf or mute. The application offers a simple, user-friendly interface and a high level of security, employing the latest encryption technologies. Voter data are verified in three basic steps: photographing both sides of the original identity card, reading the card data via near-field communication (NFC), and capturing the voter’s personal photograph. Voting itself is straightforward: the voter photographs both sides of the identity card, places the card’s chip against the phone to read the data, takes a personal photograph, views the list of candidate images, selects a candidate and then presses the “Confirm Vote” button.
The renewed Omani Renaissance led by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, may Allah protect and preserve him, has attached special importance to development across all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and to broadening community participation in that development, most notably through the election of municipal-council members.
The legislation and regulations issued to enhance the work of municipal councils (such as the Municipal Councils Law and the Governorates and Municipal Affairs System) figure among the achievements of Oman Vision 2040 in the national priority area of governorate development. In this context, His Majesty’s royal directives, given during his meetings with sheikhs throughout the Sultanate of Oman, doubled the allocations for the Governorates Development Programme from 10 million Omani Rials to 20 million Omani Rials for each governorate during the years of the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2021 to 2025), starting in 2022. Additional development projects exceeding 650 million Omani Rials were added to those already approved in that plan for implementation during its remaining years across various sectors, and liquidity for the current year’s development budget was increased by 200 million Omani rials, bringing total authorized expenditure to 1.1 billion Omani rials. These measures stimulate the governorates’ comparative advantages, reinforce their economies and expand the scope of the programs and projects they intend to carry out.
Recognizing municipal councils as partners in development and in formulating construction plans within the scope of each governorate (and placing those plans correctly according to local needs), the Royal will granted the councils broader powers, activated their role and modernized their governing legislation to move them toward greater partnership with the Government in municipal affairs. In this way, they reinforce the drive to build and develop the governorates and serve as a tributary of national action in realizing the fundamentals and objectives of Oman Vision 2040. The new Municipal Councils Law, issued by Royal Decree 126/2020 and amended by Royal Decree 38/2022, sets out the councils’ competences. It includes giving opinions on development plans within the governorate, on its development projects and on the performance of local branches of service-providing government units; commenting on proposed sites for development, service and economic projects; examining urban plans; and assessing the governorate’s needs for public facilities, government services and related projects.
The councils are also responsible for issuing recommendations related to public health, proposing health-requirement regulations for activities linked to public health, and cooperating with the competent authorities in declaring public benefit for development projects and for structural, general and special urban plans in residential, commercial, industrial and tourist areas of the governorate. They organize cultural, recreational and tourist festivals follow up the implementation of service and development projects and comment on them.
Their remit likewise covers approving programs to assist entitled groups and to care for orphans and persons with disabilities in coordination with the relevant bodies; proposing programs to help those affected by natural disasters and adverse climatic conditions, again in coordination with the competent authorities; and projects aimed at developing tourist waterfronts in the governorate.
Municipal councils also perform a social role by examining social issues and negative phenomena in the governorate, proposing appropriate solutions in cooperation with the competent authorities and working to raise local awareness of the importance of preserving nature reserves and wildlife.
A municipal council’s four-year term in each governorate is headed by the governor and includes ex-officio members, elected members representing each wilayat, at a rate of two per wilayat, and two knowledgeable and respected citizens of the governorate who are not employees of any unit of the State’s administrative apparatus.
Pursuant to the Municipal Councils Law, its Executive Regulations and the regulatory rules for municipal-council elections, elections for the third term of municipal councils and for representatives of the wilayats in these councils for every governorate of the Sultanate of Oman were held on 25 December 2022 through an electronic-voting system that used the “Intakhib” application. The electoral tools and procedures were developed and updated to align with the various dimensions of Oman Vision 2040 and its drive toward digital transformation by automating all stages of the electoral process (from applications for inclusion in the electoral register and for candidature through to voting and counting) via new, highly accurate applications that guarantee complete confidentiality and cyber-security. The system relies entirely on artificial-intelligence technology and smart phones for voters both inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman, saving time, effort and financial cost and simplifying procedures for voters, candidates and the committees supervising the elections.