Muscat: On Tuesday, the State Council held its eighth session of the second ordinary term of its eighth period, during which it considered the Real Estate Registry Law, the Draft Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes (Royal Decree No. 47/97), and the Civil Society Organisations Law.
The session also considered the Special Committee's study on Mechanisms for Diversifying Income Sources in Oman, as well as the General Secretariat's report on the Council's activities.
The meeting, chaired by Sheikh Abdulmalik Abdullah Al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council, examined the Legal Committee's assessment on the Real Estate Registry Law, which was submitted by the Council of Ministers. The proposed legislation addresses various important elements, including: Enhancing legal safeguards for property owners and beneficiaries; Regulating registration processes and real estate transactions; and allowing digital documentation and the issuance of electronic title deeds connected to pertinent government systems, in line with Oman’s national digital transformation plan.
The Council also looked at the Social and Cultural Committee's opinion on the Civil Society Organisations Law, which contains significant provisions governing the activities and goals of civil society organizations. The draft law intends to expand their function in serving society through groups, NGOs, professional organizations, volunteer teams, and expatriate clubs, while also addressing issues with the existing legal framework.
Furthermore, the Council reviewed the Draft Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes, evaluating its influence on arbitration parties and local/international arbitration centres. The amendments are in line with recent trends in comparative arbitration legislation, bolstering Oman's status as an attractive center for commercial disagreement resolution. The modifications are intended to strengthen confidence in arbitration mechanisms, foster an investment-friendly legal environment, and support Oman’s adoption of best practices in justice and litigation, in keeping with Oman Vision 2040 aims.
The session ended with talks on the Special Committee's study on income diversification mechanisms, which examines challenges to financial sustainability, inefficiencies in revenue streams, and proposed ways to improve fiscal resilience. The study suggests legislative and governance changes to stabilize public finances during the 11th Five-Year Plan.
The Council also considered reports presented by its committees and members, as well as the General Secretariat's activity report.
