MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik presided over a meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al Barakah Palace on Monday.
During the meeting, His Majesty directed the establishment of the “Economic Coordination Council”, to be chaired by His Highness the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs. The council aims to create harmony between government policies and the requirements of the private sector, and to anticipate global economic trends.
His Majesty also directed the allocation of one additional seat for women in each governorate, with a total of 11 seats to be added to the general seats available for competition. This comes as part of His Majesty’s continued interest in consolidating the principle of Shura and building on the development witnessed by the Shura Council, with the aim of enhancing the active participation of Omani women in various fields.
His Majesty commended the government entities that achieved the highest performance in the 2025 Government Institutional Performance Evaluation, as well as the entities that recorded the highest improvement in performance. His Majesty stressed the importance of reflecting this progress in improved satisfaction levels among citizens and residents, the business environment, and the growth of Oman Vision 2040 indicators.
In light of the rapid spread of digital social media platforms and their widespread use among children, His Majesty directed the concerned authorities to assess the issue from various aspects, diagnose it, and prepare the necessary controls and mechanisms to regulate children’s use of these platforms. The move aims to help families guide their children and control the optimal use of such platforms, while benefiting from leading international experiences in this field.
The Council of Ministers affirmed the importance of all government units giving due priority to cybersecurity projects in their plans and programmes, and addressing related challenges in coordination with the concerned authorities, in view of the rapid developments in technologies used in this sector.
The Council of Ministers also approved the establishment of the “Government Assets Authority”, which will manage and invest the state’s fixed assets according to the highest standards of transparency. The authority aims to maximise investment returns and turn these assets into a sustainable economic resource that supports the state’s general budget.
His Majesty praised the launch of Oman’s “Muscat Plan” in cooperation with the United Nations, describing it as a practical embodiment of Oman’s firm principles. The initiative reflects Oman’s approach based on dialogue, understanding and building humanitarian partnerships. The Council of Ministers reaffirmed Oman’s firm position of respecting the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and its continued commitment to good-neighbourly relations and constructive cooperation with all countries. It also reiterated Oman’s call to resort to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve differences in a way that preserves lives and the resources of the region.
The Council of Ministers welcomed the understanding reached between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It expressed appreciation for the regional and international efforts made in this regard, especially the constructive role played by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to spare the region threats to its security and stability.
In this context, His Majesty valued the swift response of the military and security services and their efforts in defending the homeland. His Majesty stressed the importance of continuous vigilance to protect security and stability, as well as Oman’s balanced and neutral role in supporting the principles of truth and law. His Majesty also reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to the safety and security of maritime navigation and freedom of passage in its territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law.
In view of the global economic impacts of recent events, His Majesty praised the efforts and measures taken by the concerned authorities in the public and private sectors to secure the supply of goods and facilitate transport procedures and the movement of individuals and trucks. His Majesty stressed the importance of continuing these efforts and strengthening the integration of national and regional work systems, including joint Gulf action among GCC countries, to limit the negative impacts of events and ensure high readiness for response and coordination.
His Majesty directed the provision of a package of facilities for sectors of the national economy, especially small and medium enterprises directly affected, with the aim of easing the impact of these developments.
His Majesty praised the Omani character reflected in the views expressed by citizens, which represent the balance that distinguishes the Omani personality in dealing with various issues. His Majesty also valued the role of Omani media in expressing the positions of the Sultanate of Oman towards different events and issues with rationality, balance and priority to the national interest.
His Majesty stressed the importance of investing in Oman’s good relations with various countries and translating them into initiatives that enhance common benefits, strengthen economic relations, serve the shared interests of all, and support lasting prosperity and stability for the region and all peoples of the world.
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