The Bureau of the Shura Council, during its meeting today (Tuesday), reviewed the communication received from the Council of Ministers regarding the 2025 annual reports of several service ministries, namely the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
The Council Bureau referred the reports to the relevant committees for review and assessment of their compliance with Article (55) of the Oman Council Law, which stipulates that:
“Service ministers shall provide the Shura Council with an annual report on the stages of implementation of projects related to the ministries they head. The Council may invite any minister to deliver a statement on matters falling within the ministry’s competencies and discuss them accordingly.”
This came during the 14th Regular Meeting of the Council Bureau for the Third Ordinary Session of the Tenth Term (2023–2027), chaired by H.E. Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Shura Council, in the presence of Their Excellencies the Members of the Bureau and H.E. Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council.
The Bureau also reviewed the response of H.E. the Governor of the Central Bank of Oman regarding the request for briefing submitted on postponing bank loan instalments for those affected by climatic conditions. The response stated that the Central Bank had issued directives allowing the postponement of personal and business loan instalments for individuals and micro and small enterprises classified under the first and second categories of SMEs and proven to have been affected by climatic conditions, without imposing any interest or profit charges during the postponement period.
During the meeting, members of the Council Bureau also reviewed the response of H.E. the Minister of Heritage and Tourism regarding the request for briefing on tourism licences for single-unit tourism establishments, commonly known as holiday homes. The response outlined the data, procedures, and technical and legal requirements governing the issuance of tourism licences for operating guest house activities.
The Bureau further reviewed the response of H.E. Dr. the Minister of Education regarding the request for briefing on schools planned to be established by the Ministry in partnership with the private sector. The response stated that, following a detailed study of the project, the Ministry 


concluded that implementing such schools under a partnership model was not economically feasible due to the high financial cost.
The response added that the Ministry had coordinated with relevant entities and tendered 22 schools, some of which were implemented in 2024, with completion expected during the 2026–2027 academic year. In addition, three schools were tendered in 2025 and are expected to commence operations during the 2027–2028 academic year.
The Council Bureau also considered the response of H.E. Dr. the Minister of Education to a question regarding the future of school curricula and homework assignments in light of artificial intelligence applications.
The Bureau additionally reviewed the Minister’s response to the request for briefing concerning the inclusion of awareness lessons on the dangers of narcotics within school curricula. The response affirmed that the Ministry is committed to continuously developing curricula in line with emerging concepts and public principles, including those related to the harmful effects of narcotics.
The Ministry explained that such concepts have already been integrated into educational curricula across different educational stages, while awareness and preventive programmes are being implemented in cooperation with relevant authorities concerned with combating narcotics and psychotropic substances, targeting students, school staff, and parents.
During the meeting, the Bureau also reviewed the response of H.E. Dr. the Minister of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources regarding the request for briefing on the suspension of issuing and renewing licences for practising marine fishing activities.
The response noted that the Ministry has undertaken several regulatory and developmental measures related to the marine fishing profession, including the launch of electronic licensing services through the “Tharawat” digital platform as part of the digital transformation project. Through the platform, applications for licences are submitted after passing a test covering provisions of the Law on Living Aquatic Resources and its Executive Regulations.
The meeting further reviewed the response of H.E. Dr. the Chairman of the Environment Authority regarding the request for briefing on environmental permit fees for economic activities.
The response stated that the Authority has initiated a package of procedural and regulatory reforms aimed at simplifying services and reducing financial and administrative burdens on institutions and companies. These measures include re-engineering procedures related to obtaining environmental permits, cancelling permit requirements for simple activities, exempting 


companies from delayed fines for 2021, and reducing environmental permit fees by up to 40 percent in 2023.
The response further indicated that a maximum cap has been set for fines so that they do not exceed the value of the environmental permit itself, while a number of permits and licences have been merged or cancelled to reduce duplication. The Authority also affirmed that it continues to modernise its systems and digital services as part of its ongoing development approach.