Muscat – Women leaders and civil society representatives have welcomed the Royal Directive reserving one seat for women from each governorate in Majlis A’Shura, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening women’s participation in legislative affairs and broadening representation in Oman’s consultative process.

Announced during Monday’s Council of Ministers meeting chaired by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the directive will allocate 11 additional seats for women, one from each governorate, alongside the existing seats contested through elections.

For many, the directive represents a new phase in Oman’s efforts to enhance public participation and ensure that women’s voices are reflected more strongly in national decision-making.

Rabaa bint Saif Suleiman Al Jabriya, Chairperson of the Omani Women’s Association in Samail, said the decision was received with “deep appreciation and pride”.

She said the move reflects the leadership’s confidence in Omani women and their ability to contribute to national development.

“Women in every governorate contribute significantly to development, and their representation will help convey local priorities and enrich parliamentary discussions with diverse experiences and viewpoints,” she said.

According to Rabaa, the initiative is also likely to encourage more women to contest elections in the future, reinforcing confidence in their ability to serve in public office and leadership positions.

Dr Fatema Yousuf Hamdan Al Balushi, CEO of Oman Women’s Academy, described the directive as an important national milestone that recognises the role women have played in Oman’s development.

She said guaranteed representation from all governorates would bring broader expertise and perspectives to the Majlis A’Shura while supporting the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which seeks greater community participation and empowerment of national talent.

“The directive creates greater opportunities for qualified women across the sultanate to participate in policymaking and legislative work,” she said.

Dr Aisha bint Said Al Ghabshi, Member of the State Council, said the measure demonstrates the importance attached by Oman’s leadership to women’s role in shaping the country’s future.

She said the directive acknowledges the experience, qualifications and capabilities of Omani women and reinforces their role as partners in addressing national priorities and proposing solutions to development challenges.

Dr Jinan bint Mahdi Al Issa, Head of the Media Department at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, said the directive would strengthen links between local communities and the legislative process.

“It will enable women to represent their governorates more effectively and bring forward the concerns, aspirations and perspectives of their communities,” she said.

Jinan added that greater female participation in the shura would enrich discussions through diverse experiences and viewpoints while enhancing women’s contribution to legislative and oversight responsibilities.

The directive has been widely viewed as one of the most significant developments in women’s political participation, opening the door for greater representation and a stronger role for women in shaping Oman’s legislative agenda.