The Bureau of the Shura Council commended the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik allocating eleven additional seats for women in the Shura Council, with one seat designated for each governorate. The Bureau affirmed that these directives represent an important step toward strengthening women’s effective participation in the national development process and ensuring their permanent representation from all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. It further noted that the directives constitute a continuation of the Sultanate’s efforts to support and empower Omani women across various sectors, which will positively contribute to enhancing the future roles of the Shura Council through broader female representation and participation at both the domestic and international levels.
The remarks were made during the Bureau’s sixteenth meeting, during which it reviewed a number of reports submitted by the Council’s standing committees concerning proposals under consideration during the current annual sitting. These included the report of the Economic and Financial Committee on the proposal concerning the enhancement of the knowledge economy in the Sultanate of Oman, which contained observations and recommendations aimed at supporting a knowledge- and innovation-based economy and strengthening its contribution to sustainable economic development.
The Bureau also reviewed the report of the Health and Social Committee on the proposal to establish a National Centre for Family, Women and Child Studies, including the justifications and objectives supporting specialised studies and research related to family, women and child issues in the Sultanate of Oman.
The meeting was held as part of the Bureau’s Sixteenth Meeting of the Third Annual Sitting (2025–2026) of the Tenth Term (2023–2027), convened today (Wednesday) under the chairmanship of H.E. Said bin Hamad Al Saadi, Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council, in the presence of Their Excellencies members of the Bureau and H.E. Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council.
The Bureau further reviewed a proposed draft law regulating the prohibition of disconnection of essential services from low-income families, dismissed employees and humanitarian cases. The 


meeting examined the rationale behind the proposal, its social and humanitarian objectives, and the procedures undertaken in this regard.
In addition, the Bureau reviewed the opinion of the Legislative and Legal Committee concerning the proposal on the independence of medical error assessments. It also examined the report of the Media, Tourism and Culture Committee on evaluating Omanisation policies and programmes in the tourism sector. The report addressed the current status of Omanisation, major initiatives and programmes implemented in the sector, related challenges, and proposals aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for Omani citizens across various tourism activities.
The Bureau further reviewed the report of the Services and Public Utilities Committee concerning the proposal to exempt families benefiting from the Family Income Support Benefit from paying electricity and water bills.
During the meeting, the Bureau considered a number of annual reports for 2025 received from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economy. The reports were referred to the relevant committees for review and follow-up of the indicators, programmes and projects contained therein in accordance with their respective mandates.
As part of its review of government responses, the Bureau examined a report submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on economic diplomacy, outlining the Ministry’s diplomatic efforts in promoting investment, mechanisms linking diplomatic missions, commercial offices and the “Invest Oman” platform, as well as efforts to address geopolitical developments and strengthen regional and international partnerships.
In the same context, the Bureau reviewed the response of H.E. the Minister of Health regarding the evaluation of the discussion session on the Ministry’s statement before the Shura Council. The response affirmed that the observations and views expressed by Their Excellencies Council members are receiving the Ministry’s full attention and consideration and will be addressed, examined and acted upon as appropriate in the Ministry’s next statement.
The Bureau also reviewed the Government’s response to the Shura Council’s observations on the draft Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan and the State General Budget for the Fiscal Year 2026.
The meeting also included the review and discussion of a number of parliamentary oversight instruments submitted by Their Excellencies Council members on various economic, social and service-related matters, reflecting the Council’s active role in monitoring performance and strengthening the national governance framework.
The Bureau further approved the agenda of the Council’s Eighteenth Sitting, scheduled to be held on 29 June 2026.