Muscat – The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) has issued a warning to companies and social media influencers against advertising or promoting charitable and humanitarian activities without obtaining the required official approvals.

The ministry said that establishments licensed for activities such as water well drilling, construction, building maintenance and digital commercial brokerage are strictly prohibited from promoting, advertising or soliciting donations for charitable projects unless they have secured the necessary permits from the relevant authorities.

According to the ministry, the restriction applies to the collection of both monetary and in-kind donations for humanitarian initiatives, including water well drilling projects, whether carried out inside or outside Oman.

MoCIIP stressed that engaging in such activities without proper authorisation constitutes a violation of applicable regulations and may expose offenders to legal action.

The ministry also called on social media influencers, advertisers and digital content creators to exercise due diligence before promoting any charitable or humanitarian initiative. It urged them to verify that the companies, institutions or organisations involved possess valid licences and official approvals to conduct such activities.

MoCIIP emphasised that advertisers and influencers share responsibility for ensuring that the entities they promote are legally authorised to undertake charitable work, warning that failure to do so could result in legal consequences.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to regulating commercial activities and safeguarding public trust, while ensuring that charitable and humanitarian efforts are conducted through approved channels and in accordance with the laws.