Oman: Shura Council Urges Tighter Regulation of Private Healthcare Pricing

The Arabian Stories, 27 April 2026: Oman’s Shura Council has called for stricter regulation of private healthcare pricing and stronger oversight of medical services, pressing for reforms to improve affordability, medicine availability, and the sustainability of the health system.

The recommendations were made during the Council’s 17th regular sitting, chaired by Khalid Al Maawali, following the statement of Health Minister Dr Hilal Ali Al Sabti. Members highlighted the need for tighter supervision of private hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies to prevent exploitative pricing and ensure fair access to treatment, as rising healthcare costs continue to burden households.

Council members also urged stronger pharmaceutical oversight, including stricter standards for medicine safety and effectiveness, and the establishment of specialised medical storage facilities at the governorate level to reduce shortages. Workforce concerns were raised, with calls to improve Omanisation rates in medical specialisations, attract and retain Omani professionals, and regularise employment conditions for ambulance drivers and contract staff.

Infrastructure proposals included expanding intensive care units, creating specialised clinics for chronic diseases, and considering dedicated hospitals for women and children. Preventive health programmes were also recommended to address strokes, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health conditions among youth.

Members further stressed the importance of digital transformation, advocating for AI‑supported appointment systems, telemedicine, electronic prescriptions, and smart healthcare applications to reduce waiting times and ease pressure on facilities.

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Oman: Health Ministry Sets Deadline for Medical Device Compliance

The Arabian Stories, 20 April 2026: The Ministry of Health has announced that medical device companies must comply with new certification and registration requirements within six months, warning that non‑compliant shipments will be suspended.

Oman’s Ministry of Health issued a directive requiring medical device manufacturers and importers to regularise their status under the country’s updated regulatory framework.

Key provisions include:

• Deadline: Six months from 22 April 2026 to complete certification and registration.
• Scope: Applies to all medical devices imported into Oman, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical equipment.
• Enforcement: Shipments from non‑compliant firms will be suspended at entry points.
• Legal basis: Regulations issued under the law and executive decisions of the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry emphasised that the measure is designed to strengthen patient safety, ensure product quality, and align Oman’s medical device market with international standards. Importers were reminded that the government will not assume responsibility for contractual or financial losses arising from non‑compliance.

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Oman: Ministry Enacts Unified IT Risk‑Management Policy for Government

The Arabian Stories, 8 April 2026: Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has issued a mandatory IT Risk Management Policy applicable to all government agencies, aimed at strengthening cyber resilience and protecting public digital assets.

The policy was introduced after the Ministry identified inconsistent IT risk oversight across government units. Previously, entities operated under fragmented practices, leading to varied levels of preparedness and potential vulnerabilities.

Under the new framework, all units of the State’s administrative apparatus—including contractors and IT service providers—must integrate IT risk management into their core operations. The policy requires entities to maintain documented risk registers, regularly conduct risk assessments, establish incident‑response and risk‑treatment plans, escalate high‑impact risks to senior leadership, and embed risk clauses in IT contracts.

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Oman: New Rules Tighten Proof of Loss for Insured Persons

The Arabian Stories, 5 April 2026: Oman’s Social Protection Fund issues new rules clarifying how the loss of insured persons and pensioners is formally established, reshaping access to allowances and pension entitlements.

Oman’s Social Protection Fund has issued Oman Decision No. C/4/2026, setting out updated procedures for proving the loss of insured persons or pensioners whose whereabouts are unknown and whose life or death cannot be verified. The decision was approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors and issued under the Oman Sultani Decree No. 52/2023 on the Issuance of the Social Protection Law.

Under the new framework, a disappearance must be reported to the competent police authority, which will issue an official report and certificate detailing the individual’s identity, date of disappearance and circumstances. Employers are required to notify the Fund immediately once a disappearance is confirmed, after which eligible beneficiaries or legal representatives may apply for a monthly allowance upon submission of the police documentation.

The decision further provides that if the missing person’s status remains unresolved for four years, or if death is later confirmed judicially or factually, the date of disappearance will be treated as the date of service termination for pension calculation purposes. The new rules replace earlier provisions issued in 2010 and will enter into force following publication in the Official Gazette.

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Oman: Drone spraying halted as farm and water safety rules tighten

4 April 2026: Authorities in Oman have banned drone‑based pesticide spraying and have launched a nationwide well safety inspections as they tighten controls to protect public health and the environment.

Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has confirmed that the use of drones for pesticide spraying is currently prohibited, with only ground‑based spraying permitted under existing regulations. The ministry has said the ban is intended to ensure proper oversight, environmental protection, and operational safety in pesticide use.

The measures were announced during a briefing on the ministry’s recent performance and priorities, signalling a stricter regulatory stance on agricultural practices and environmental safeguards. Authorities have indicated that compliance monitoring and inspections will continue under existing agricultural and water resource regulations.

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Oman: Central bank sets rules for replacing damaged bank notes

5 April 2026: The Omani Central Bank has clarified formal procedures for replacing damaged banknotes, outlining conditions and documentation required for exchange.

The Central Bank has issued guidance setting out how members of the public can exchange damaged Omani banknotes, confirming that torn, burned and physically damaged currency may be replaced if specific conditions are met. Replacements will be made with notes fit for circulation once eligibility requirements are satisfied.

In the case of burnt banknotes, applicants must present the damaged currency in person alongside a police report or official certificate which has been issued by the Royal Oman Police or the relevant wali confirming the fire incident, in addition to a valid national ID or resident card.

In cases involving torn banknotes, the Central Bank requires that more than half of the note remains intact, including at least one complete serial number and a visible signature. Where damaged currency does not meet these criteria, the Central Bank has said exceptions may be considered if supported by an official letter from the Ministry of Social Development or the wali, explaining the individual’s circumstances and requesting the exchange.

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Oman: State Council Reviews Amendments to Personal Data Protection Law

Oman Observer, 30 March 2026: Oman’s State Council examined proposed amendments to Oman Sultani Decree No. 6/2022 Promulgating the Personal Data Protection Law aimed at clarifying scope, automated processing, and data‑retention obligations.

Oman’s State Council discussed draft amendments to Oman Sultani Decree No. 6/2022 during its seventh session of the third regular convening of the eighth term, as part of a package of legislative proposals referred by the Council of Ministers. The review was undertaken pursuant to Article 50 of the Council of Oman Law.

The proposed amendments introduce an explicit definition of “automated processing” and clarify the scope of the law to apply to the processing of personal data of natural persons both within the Sultanate of Oman and abroad, where such processing relates to individuals in Oman. The amendments seek to align the legal framework with evolving technological practices and cross‑border data‑processing activities.

Under the draft provisions, data controllers and processors would be required to delete personal data once the purpose of processing has been fulfilled. However, the law allows for retention of personal data where necessary to resolve disputes between the data controller and the data subject, or to comply with legal obligations arising from legislation, court rulings, orders, or judicial decisions.

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