The Supreme Judicial Council has hailed the establishment of the Investment and Commercial Court, pursuant to Royal Decree 35/2025, as a significant step in modernising Oman’s legal framework, while also enhancing the country’s competitiveness and investment appeal.
The initiative, the Council affirmed, reflects the continuous efforts of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to advance Oman’s judicial system, uphold legal sovereignty and ensure the protection of citizens’ and investors’ rights.
The new court aims to introduce a specialised judicial framework that provides a safe and trusted environment for both local and international investors, directly supporting economic development and reinforcing Oman’s global competitiveness. This aligns with the aspirations of Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to build a sustainable and diversified economy supported by robust legal institutions.
The new court is designed to meet several key objectives. Among these are enhancing judicial specialisation, accelerating litigation procedures, developing investment-friendly legislation and strengthening the confidence of both foreign and domestic investors in Oman’s legal system. By doing so, the court contributes to creating a secure, transparent and efficient judicial ecosystem.
The Supreme Judicial Council expects the court to work in full coordination with other government entities to drive sustainable development and reduce litigation timelines through clear and efficient legal rulings. It will also foster an environment of legal and procedural innovation, supported by qualified judicial and legal professionals.
Procedurally, the court stands out through several innovations, including the creation of a dedicated electronic system for managing cases and a specialised case preparation office. This office is composed of judges and legal assistants responsible for reviewing case files and ensuring all legal procedures are met before they reach the court. The preparation process includes reviewing documents, statements, parties’ data, witness information and legal fees. Notably, the system introduces a qualitative leap by enabling the exchange of pleadings and supporting documents electronically before submission to the presiding judge, once all documentation is completed between the parties.
The jurisdiction of the Investment and Commercial Court covers a wide range of legal areas. These include disputes related to commercial assets, maritime sales, investment in foreign capital and economic activity, insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings and partnership contracts between public and private sectors. The court also handles cases involving arbitration-related requests, digital commercial transactions, shareholder conflicts and intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents, industrial designs and trade secrets. It further addresses disputes related to monopolistic practices, unfair competition and damage to both local and international products, in addition to financial matters involving banking, securities, insurance, finance companies and transport-related incidents.
In terms of ongoing cases, the Supreme Judicial Council has clarified that commercial and investment disputes already filed before the date of the court’s establishment will continue to be heard by the previously competent courts. These cases will remain under their jurisdiction until the Investment and Commercial Court begins operating under its full legal mandate.
The launch of this court marks a significant step in modernising Oman’s legal framework and signals the nation’s resolve to provide a more efficient, specialised and transparent judicial environment, one that both protects rights and supports the national vision of economic diversification and global integration.
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