MUSCAT: The Ministry of Interior is reviewing candidate submissions for the fourth-term Municipal Council elections after receiving digital applications from eligible Omani citizens earlier this year.
The ministry accepted candidacy applications from April 5 to 23, 2026, through the official Elections portal, while candidates have until October 29, 2026, to formally withdraw their applications.
"The exact number of candidates contesting the October 2026 elections is not publicly available because the Ministry of Interior is currently reviewing the submissions. All nominations and subsequent polling are conducted digitally through the official elections.om portal or the Intikhab mobile application," said Malik al Hinai of the Ministry's Elections Department.
In the previous Municipal Council elections, held in December 2022, 727 candidates contested 126 seats across Oman's wilayats.
Municipal Councils provide Omani citizens with representation on local issues, including infrastructure, healthcare, the environment and the economy.
Article (10) of the Municipal Councils Law sets out the eligibility criteria for candidates. They must be Omani citizens by origin, at least 30 years old at the opening of nominations, and hold a minimum qualification of a General Education Diploma.
The law also stipulates that candidates must not have been convicted by a final judgment of a felony or a crime involving dishonour or breach of trust, even if rehabilitated. They must be registered in the electoral roll of the constituency they seek to represent.
Candidates must not be affiliated with any security or military entity, be under legal guardianship by court order, or suffer from a mental illness affecting their legal capacity.
The law further requires that candidates must not be employed by any security or military entity, hold membership in the State Council or the Majlis Ash’shura, or reside or work outside Oman.
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