Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Monday issued 16 Royal decrees reading as follows:
Royal Decree (No 7/2026) establishes the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, defines its specializations and endorses its organizational structure.
Article (1) establishes the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
Article (2) defines the specializations of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs in accordance with Annex No (1) attached to this decree.
Article (3) endorses the organizational structure of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs in accordance with Annex No (2) attached to this decree.
Article (4) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 8/2026) establishes Oman Global Financial Centre and promulgates its bylaw.
Article (1) establishes “Oman Global Financial Centre”. The Centre shall have legal personality, enjoy financial and administrative autonomy and report to the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
Article (2) stipulates that Oman Global Financial Centre’s bylaw attached to this decree shall be enforced.
Article (3) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 9/2026) abolishes the Higher Committee for Conferences.
Article (1) states that the Higher Committee for Conferences shall be abolished.
Article (2) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 10/2026) defines the specializations of the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers and endorses its organizational structure.
Article (1) states that the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers shall have legal personality and enjoy financial and administrative autonomy. Its specializations shall be defined in accordance with Annex No (1) attached to this decree.
Article (2) stipulates that the organizational structure of the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers shall be endorsed in accordance with Annex No (2) attached to this decree.
Article (3) transfers to the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers all the allocations, origins, rights, obligations and assets of the Government Communication Centre at the Ministry of Information and the Directorate General of Quality and Government Excellence Management at Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit.
Article (4) transfers to the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers the employees of the Government Communication Centre at the Ministry of Information and the Directorate General of Quality and Government Excellence Management at Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, along with their financial grades.
Article (5) cancels Royal decree No 31/2014 on endorsing the organizational structure of the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers. It also cancels clauses No (24, 25 and 27) from Annex No (1) attached to Royal Decree No 95/2020 on defining the specializations of the Ministry of Information and endorsing its organizational structure, and cancels clauses No (5, 6, 7 and 8) from Annex No (1) of Royal Decree No 100/2020 on establishing Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, defining its specializations and endorsing its organizational structure. It also cancels all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions.
Article (6) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 11/2026) establishes the Research and Innovation Authority, defines its specializations and endorses its organizational structure.
Article (1) stipulates that a public authority named the “Research and Innovation Authority” shall be established. It shall have legal personality, financial and administrative autonomy and report to the Council of Ministers.
Article (2) states that the headquarters of the Research and Innovation Authority shall be in the Governorate of Muscat. It may establish branches in other governorates as per a decision from the Authority’s board of directors.
Article (3) stipulates that the specializations of the Research and Innovation Authority shall be defined in accordance with Annex No (1) attached to this decree.
Article (4) endorses the organizational structure of the Research and Innovation Authority in accordance with Annex No (2) attached to this decree.
Article (5) stipulates that all allocations, origins, rights, obligations and assets of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation relevant to research and innovation shall be transferred to the Research and Innovation Authority. Employees of this ministry that are concerned with research and innovation shall be transferred to the Research and Innovation Authority, along with their financial grades.
Article (6) states that the phrases “Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation” and “Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation”—wherever quoted in laws and Royal decrees relevant to research and innovation—shall be replaced with the phrases “Research and Innovation Authority” and “Chairman of the Research and Innovation Authority”.
Article (7) cancels all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions.
Article (8) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal decree (NO 12/2026) amends the name of “Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education” to “Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education”, defines its specializations and endorses its organizational structure.
Article (1) amends the name of “Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education” to “Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education”, defining its specializations in accordance with Annex No (1) attached to this decree.
Article (2) endorses the organizational structure of Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education in accordance with Annex No (2) attached to this decree.
Article (3) stipulates that all allocations, origins, rights, obligations and assets relevant to professional licenses, national studies and international studies from the Ministry of Education shall be transferred to Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education.
Article (4) stipulates that employees from divisions related to professional licenses, national studies and international studies at the Ministry of Education shall be transferred to Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education, along with their financial grades, in accordance with coordination between the heads of the two units.
Article (5) replaces the phrases “Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education” and “Chief Executive Officer”—wherever quoted in laws and Royal decree—with the phrases “Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education” and “Chairman of the Authority”.
Article (6) cancels all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions.
Article (7) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal decree (No 13/2026) defines the specializations of the Ministry of Economy and endorses its organizational structure.
Article (1) defines the specializations of the Ministry of Economy in accordance with Annex No (1) attached to this decree.
Article (2) endorses the organizational structure of the Ministry of Economy in accordance with Annex No (2) attached to this decree.
Article (3) merges Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit in the Ministry of Economy. All allocations, origins, rights, obligations and assets of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit shall be transferred to the Ministry of Economy. Employees of the Unit shall be transferred to the Ministry of Economy, along with their financial grades.
Article (4) stipulates that subject to the provisions of Royal Decree No 10/2026 on defining the specializations of the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers and endorsing its organizations structure, the phrases "Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit" and "Head of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit"— wherever quoted in laws and Royal decrees—shall be replaced by the phrases "Ministry of Economy" and "Minister of Economy."
Article (5) cancels all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions.
Article (6) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal decree (No 14/2026) merges the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in one Ministry to be named “Ministry of Education”, defines its specializations and endorses its organizational structure.
Article (1) merges the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in one ministry to be named “Ministry of Education” and defines its specializations in accordance with Annex No (1) attached to this decree.
Article (2) endorses the organizational structure of the Ministry of Education in accordance with Annex No (2) attached to this decree.
Article (3) states that the following shall come under the purview of the Ministry of Education: All allocations, origins, rights, obligations and assets of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. Employees of the two ministries shall be transferred to the Ministry of Education, along with their financial grades.
Article (4) stipulates that subject to the provisions of Royal decree No 11/2026 on establishing the Research and Innovation Authority, defining its specializations and endorsing its organizational structure and Royal decree No 12/2026 on amending the name of Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education to Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education, defining its specializations and endorsing its organizational structure, the phrases “Ministry of Education”, “Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation”, “Minister of Education” and “Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation”—wherever quoted in laws and Royal decrees—shall be replaced by the phrases “Ministry of Education” and “Minister of Education”.
Article (5) cancels all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions.
Article (6) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 15/2026) defines the specializations of the Ministry of Social Development and endorses its organizational structure.
Article (1) defines the specializations of the Ministry of Social Development in accordance with Annex No (1) attached to this decree.
Article (2) endorses the organizational structure of the Ministry of Social Development in accordance with Annex No (2) attached to this decree.
Article (3) cancels Royal decree No 14/2024 on defining the specializations of the Ministry of Social Development and endorsing its organizational structure. It also cancels all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions.
Article (4) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 16/2026) amends the System of Oman Investment Authority.
Article (1) replaces the text of Article (12) of Royal Decree No 57/2021 on the System of Oman Investment Authority with the following text: “The Chairman shall have two deputies who shall be appointed by a Royal decree. They shall enjoy all administrative and financial powers within the limits specified by the regulations of the Authority”.
Article (2) cancels all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions
Article (3) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 17/2026) restructures the Council of Ministers.
Article (1) restructures the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of His Majesty the Sultan as follows:
-HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers
-HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik bin Taimour al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs
-HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs
-HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham bin Tarik al Said, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat
-Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court
-General Sultan bin Mohammed al Nuamani, Minister of the Royal Office
-Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal bin Said al Busaidi, Minister of Interior
-Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud al Busaidi, Foreign Minister
-Sultan bin Salim bin Said al Habsi, Minister of Finance
-Dr Madiha bint Ahmed bin Nasser al Shaibani, Minister of Education
-Sayyid Saud bin Hilal bin Hamad al Busaidi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth.
-Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Said al Saeedi, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs
-Dr Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Harrasi, Minister of Information
-Dr Khamis bin Saif bin Hamoud al Jabri, Minister of Economy
-Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said bin Ibrahim al Busaidi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism
-Dr Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources
-Dr Khalfan bin Said bin Mubarak al Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning
-Eng Said bin Hamoud bin Said al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology
-Dr Laila bint Ahmed bin Awadh al Najjar, Minister of Social Development
-Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali BaOwain, Minister of Labour
-Eng Salim bin Nasser bin Said al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals
-Dr Mohammed bin Said bin Khalfan al Maamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs
-Dr Hilal bin Ali bin Hilal al Sabti, Minister of Health
-Anwar bin Hilal bin Hamdoon al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion
Article (2) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 18/2026) conducts placements in some posts.
Article (1) appoints Qais bin Mohammed bin Moosa al Yousef as Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones with the same rank and financial allocations.
Article (2) appoints Sayyid Faisal bin Hamoud bin Nasr al Busaidi as Governor of Musandam with the rank of minister.
Article (3) says that this Royal decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 19/2026) appoints two advisors.
Article (1) appoints Shaikh Dr Ali bin Masoud bin Ali al Sunaidi as Advisor at the Diwan of Royal Court with the same rank and financial allocations.
Article (2) appoints Dr Said bin Mohammed bin Ahmed al Saqri as Economic Advisor at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs with the same rank and financial allocations.
Article (3) says that this Royal decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 20/2026) grants the rank of minister.
Article (1) grants Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Zahir al Hinai, Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry the rank of minister.
Article (2) says that this Royal decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 21/2022) conducts placements in some positions.
Article (1) appoints the following as stated below:
- Sayyid Harib bin Thuwaini bin Shihab al Said as Advisor at the Diwan of Royal Court with the same grade and financial allocations.
-Majid bin Said bin Sulaiman al Bahri as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Administrative and Financial Affairs with the same grade and financial allocations.
-Dr Saif bin Abdullah bin Sulaiman al Hadabi as Chairman of the Research and Innovation Authority with the same grade and financial allocations.
-Shaikh Rashid bin Ahmed bin Rashid al Shamsi as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Family Affairs and Community Development with the same grade and financial allocations.
- Dr Jokha bint Abdullah bin Hamoud al Shukaili as Chairperson of Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education with the same grade and financial allocations.
-Sayyid Dr Munthir bin Hilal bin Badr al Busaidi as Head of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow up Unit at the Ministry of Economy with the same grade and financial allocations.
-Dr Badr bin Hamoud bin Rashid al Kharousi as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education.
-Dr Abdullah bin Ali bin Said al Shibli as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Higher Education.
-Dr Intisar bint Abdullah bin Sulaiman Ambosaidi as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Supporting Educational Programs.
-Ghalib bin Said bin Majid al Maamari as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry.
-Said bin Abdullah bin Mohammed al Balushi as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour for Human Resources Development.
-Dr Abdullah bin Hamoud bin Abdullah al Harthy as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Persons with Disabilities Affairs.
-Dr Yousef bin Salim bin Mohammed al Hinai as Head of Communications and Government Performance Development Unit at the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers with the special grade.
-Tahir bin Mabkhout bin Ali al Junaibi as Governor of Al Dhahirah with the special grade.
-Eng Ahmed bin Said bin Mohammed al Amri as Chairman of Muscat Municipality with the special grade.
-Zahir bin Sulaiman bin Salim al Salmi as Deputy Chairman of the State Financial and Administrative Audit Authority for Oversight on Government Units with the special grade.
-Sayyid Hamoud bin Sultan bin Hamad al Busaidi as Advisor at the Diwan of Royal Court with the special grade.
Article (2) says that this Royal decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
Royal Decree (No 22/2026) appoints two deputies for the Chairman of Oman Investment Authority.
Article (1) appoints Mulhim bin Bashir bin Abdullah al Jaraf as Deputy Chairman of Oman Investment Authority for Investment.
Article (2) appoints Muneer bin Ali bin Nassir al Muneeri as Deputy Chairman of Oman Investment Authority for Operations.
Article (2) says that this Royal decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from its date of issue.
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