Oman’s Sultan Haitham Issues New Royal Decrees Amending Council Law
MUSCAT: The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, has officially issued two major royal decrees aimed at amending key statutory provisions governing the Council of Oman and enhancing institutional frameworks across the Sultanate. The legislative updates, promulgated through official state media, represent a continuous effort by the monarchical leadership to modernize the country’s legal apparatus and streamline legislative procedures within the Gulf nation.
Under the new executive orders, Royal Decree No. 97/2026 introduces specific amendments to select articles of the Council of Oman Law, which was originally instituted under Royal Decree No. 7/2021. The updated regulations directly affect the structural operations and internal mechanics of the Council of Oman, a bicameral legislative institution consisting of the elected Consultative Assembly (Majlis A’Shura) and the appointed State Council (Majlis A’Dawla). Furthermore, the accompanying second decree addresses specific administrative alignments to strengthen state governance and public administrative oversight.
Political observers and regional analysts note that these legislative reforms closely mirror the state’s broader institutional reform policy envisioned under Oman Vision 2040. Since assuming power, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq has systematically reformed state administrative structures, reduced fiscal deficits, and implemented structural legislative changes aimed at ensuring greater operational transparency and governance efficiency. The latest decrees reinforce the administration’s commitment to dynamic legal modernizations while maintaining institutional stability within the Sultanate.
Following the formal signing of the royal orders, state departments and administrative legal authorities in Muscat have been tasked with implementing the revised rules without delay. The complete legal texts and specific clause-by-clause amendments are scheduled to be published in the forthcoming edition of the Official Gazette, after which the updated statutes will officially enter into full legal effect across all legislative branches.