Timeline of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s year in office

The last one year has been a remarkable period for Oman. With the focus on restructuring the government apparatus and setting the foundations for the next 20 years – Oman Vision 2040 – as many as 135 Royal Decrees and several Royal Orders and Directives have been issued in the last one year.

 

January 11, 2020

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik takes oath and delivers his first Royal Speech promising to continue the Late Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s legacy. 

January 1, 2021

Issues two Royal Decrees approving the 10th Five-Year Development Plan 2021-2025 and the state budget. 

January 5, 2021

Issues a Royal Decree granting first class licence to Oman Future Telecommunications Company. 

January 6, 2021

Issues a Royal Decree converting Muscat Securities Market into a closed joint stock company under the name Muscat Bourse Company.

February 23, 2020

His Majesty Sultan Haitham delivers Royal Speech calling the youth “the wealth of a nation; its inexhaustible resource and the arms that build it”. 

He outlines the restructuring of the state’s administrative apparatus, and modernising a set of laws and legislations. “We will fully revise the work of government companies, with a view to upgrading their performance and efficiency, and enabling them to strongly contribute to the economic system.”

March 3, 2020

After swearing in the members of the Council of Ministers, His Majesty Sultan Haitham presides over Council of Ministers meeting. He also gives directives for the foundation of a Job Security Fund and grants RO10mn as a personal contribution to the fund. 

March 9, 2020

Issues ten Royal Decrees, the most important among these being the appointment of Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik bin Taimour al Said as Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs.

March 10, 2020

Issues Royal Order to form a supreme committee to handle developments resulting from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

March 25, 2020

Issues seven Royal Decrees mostly endorsing several petroleum agreements. 

March 26, 2020 

In a personal gesture to support the efforts to stem the pandemic, His Majesty the Sultan donates RO10mn 

March 31, 2020

Issues three Royal Decrees, chief among them being the promulgation of the Tax Institution System (law) and approval of its organisational structure.

April 7, 2020

Issues five Royal Decrees mostly endorsing and ratifying international conventions. 

April 9, 2020

Issues two Royal Decrees appointing a deputy chairman for the Tax Institution and undersecretary for administration and financial affairs in the Foreign Ministry.

April 20, 2020

Issues a Royal Decree setting the days for official holidays.

May 17, 2020

Approves decision to postpone municipal council elections 2020.

May 28, 2020

Issues two Royal Decrees ratifying Oman joining the Nagoya Protocol and Minamata Convention on Mercury.

June 2, 2020

Chairs Supreme Committee tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and orders establishment of a new central laboratory for public health. 

June 3, 2020

Issues two Royal Decrees, establishing the Private Office and appointing Dr Hamad bin Said bin Sulaiman al Aufi as Head of the Private Office. 

June 4, 2020

Issues a Royal Decree establishing Oman Investment Authority which brings the State General Reserve Fund, Oman Investment Fund and the Directorate General of Investments in the Ministry of Finance under its ambit. Ownership of all state-owned companies and investments is also transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the Oman Investment Authority, with the exception of PDO. 

June 9, 2020

Issues Royal Directive to execute developmental projects to the tune of RO300mn.

June 10, 2020

Issues a Royal Decree establishing the Cyber Defence Centre and promulgating its system.

June 14, 2020

Forms committee to address economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

June 23, 2020

Issues Royal Order for interest-free emergency loans to assist businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

July 2, 2020

Issues three Royal Decrees appointing Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, two undersecretaries and a vice-chancellor for Sultan Qaboos University.

July 5, 2020 

Issues three Royal Decrees appointing Supreme Court chairman, Administrative Judicature Court chairman and Finance Ministry undersecretary.

July 6, 2020 

Issues Royal Order approving formation of the Board of Directors of Oman Investment Authority under the chairmanship of Sultan bin Salim bin Said al Habsi. 

August 12, 2020

Issues seven Royal Decrees establishing the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, renaming two authorities as Consumer Protection Authority and Public Services Regulatory Authority, and appointing undersecretaries and officials. 

August 12, 2020

Issues Royal Directive to establish Job Security Fund and donate RO10mn to it.

August 17, 2020

Issues four Royal Decrees chief among them being promulgating the System of Job Security.

August 18, 2020

Issues 28 Royal Decrees reconstituting the Council of Ministers and restructuring the government apparatus.

August 25, 2020

Issues Royal Directive to provide laptops to students of higher education belonging to Social Security and low income families.

August 26, 2020

Presides over Council of Ministers meeting, following a ceremony during which new ministers took the oath of office.

August 26, 2020

Confers Royal Order of Commendation, First Class, on Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah.

August 27, 2020

Meets Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State. 

September 10, 2020

Issues a Royal Decree forming the Board of Governors of Central Bank of Oman.

September 14, 2020

Issues Royal Directive to operate relief flights to Sudan. 

September 14, 2020

Issues a Royal Decree amending some provisions of the Income Tax Law.

September 15, 2020

Meets a number of sheikhs of wilayats of the Governorate of Dhofar in Salalah.

September 17, 2020

Presides over Supreme Committee meeting at Bait al Ma’amourah in Salalah.

October 1, 2020

Travels to Kuwait to offer condolences on the death of Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al Ahmed al Jabir al Sabah.

October 12, 2020

Issues two Royal Decrees amending some provisions of the Law on Penal Procedures and promulgates the Value Added Tax Law. 

October 13, 2020

With the blessings of His Majesty the Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Central Bank of Oman launches a programme for the repayment of loans of retirees. 

October 14, 2020

Upon His Majesty Sultan Haitham’s directives, Oman secures release of American citizens held in Yemen.

October 17, 2020

Confers the Order of Royal Commendation on a number of Omani women.

October22, 2020

Approves Medium-Term Fiscal Plan (2020-2024) and orders the implementation of a number of developmental projects, to the tune of RO371mn, in different governorates.

November 1, 2020

Issues Royal Directive to fund the construction of six priority schools to the tune of RO8.85mn. 

November 3, 2020

Presides over Council of Ministers meeting, issues  directive to provide laptops to students belonging to Social Security Scheme families, and announces a Social Security Scheme to shield people from the impact of the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan (2020-2024).

November 16, 2020

Confers the Order of Royal Commendation, Third Class, on three media personnel.

November 18, 2020

Gives a speech on the occasion of 50th National Day.

November 30, 2020

Confers the Order of Merit, First Class, and the Order of Commendation for Distinguished Civil Service, Second Class, on a number of citizens.

December 3, 2020

Issues two Royal Decrees implementing transfers and placements in the diplomatic corps and appoints a permanent representative to Unesco. 

December 9, 2020

Issues a Royal Decree restructuring water and wastewater sectors.

December 11, 2020

Hosts a dinner on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day, gives his blessings to set up As-Sumood Radio. 

December 14, 2020

Endorses results of Census 2020 of Population, Residences and Establishments.

December 15, 2020

Presides over Council of Ministers meeting. Approves the launching of Oman Future Vision 2040 from 2021, orders the establishment of two pension funds and amends the minimum service for entitlement to 30 years of service. 

December 22, 2020

Confers Al Nuoman Order, Second Class, on Leonardo B de Ocampo, the sultanate’s Honorary Consul in the Philippines. 

December 31, 2020

Following a Royal Order, the Ministry of Finance announces a set of incentives to be offered to citizens and the private sector exempting loan interests for government borrowers during 2021 and exempting SMEs from all licence fees for three years.