The Bureau of Shura reviewed, a number of ministerial responses related to various oversight tools submitted by Their Excellencies members of the Council. These included the response of the Council of Ministers to the Council’s Whise regarding the introduction of a long-term cultural visa valid for ten (10) years. The response indicated that the relevant authorities had benefited from the views presented in the proposal, as the Royal Oman Police issued a decision amending certain provisions of the Executive Regulations of the Law on the Residence of Foreigners, incorporating clauses related to the cultural visa. This step is expected to contribute to enhancing cultural activity in the Sultanate of Oman.

The Bureau also reviewed the response of the Council of Ministers to the whisesubmitted by the Shura Council concerning the enhancement of telecommunications service quality in the Sultanate of Oman. The response affirmed that the government attaches continuous importance to the telecommunications sector through developing telecommunications infrastructure and improving service performance in line with the rapid advancements witnessed in the sector, as it represents a key pillar supporting growth across various sectors.

This took place during the Bureau’s sixth regular meeting of the third ordinary session (2025–2026) of the tenth term (2023–2027), chaired by H.E.Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Council, and attended by Their Excellencies members of the Bureau, the chairpersons of the Council’s standing committees, and H.E. Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Council.

The Bureau also reviewed the response of H.E. the Engineer, Chairman of the Authority for Projects and Local Content, to the briefing request submitted regarding the mechanisms and regulations related to allocating no less than 10% of the total value of government purchases and tenders to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The response stated that the Authority has raised the ceiling for contracts allocated to SMEs to OMR 25,000, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, with the aim of expanding their participation and enabling them to compete in the implementation of government projects. The Authority also includes a mandatory condition in tender documents requiring the main contractor to subcontract no less than 10% of the value of the works to these enterprises.

During its meeting, the Bureau further reviewed a number of oversight tools submitted by Their Excellencies members of the Council, including an Whise regarding Omanization in cybersecurity jobs in the Sultanate of Oman. It also reviewed a briefing request submitted to H.E. Dr. the Minister of Social Development concerning the availability of an integrated social protection system for families of those laid off from work and insolvent individuals, as well as a briefing request submitted to His Excellency Dr. the Minister of Health and Her Excellency Dr. the Minister of Education regarding proposed preventive measures to curb the spread of seasonal viruses in community and educational environments.