MUSCAT: The Shura Council on Tuesday referred the draft Sports Bodies Law to the State Council to complete the legislative cycle. This took place during the Council’s fourth regular session of the Third Annual sitting (2025–2026) of the Tenth Term (2023–2027), held under the chairmanship of Khalid Hilal Al-Ma’awali, Chairman of the Shura Council, and in the presence of their Excellencies members the Council members and Ahmed Mohammed Al-Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Council.
The referral comes in accordance with Article 49 in exception to the provisions of article 38 of this law, the Sultan shall call Majlis Oman for the first meeting after the general elections for Majlis Al-Shura within a month from the date of the announcement of the results of those elections.
Approval of the Sports Bodies Law
During the session, Sultan Humaid Al-Husani, Deputy Heads of the Youth and Human Resources Committee and Rapporteur for the session, presented the Committee’s report on the draft Sports Bodies Law submitted by the government. He outlined the rationale behind the new legislation and its anticipated impact on the sports sector in the Sultanate of Oman.
He noted that the draft law complements ongoing efforts to modernise the legislative framework governing sports, representing a significant step toward developing the sports system through clear legal provisions defining relations between sports clubs, federations, the Olympic Committee, and relevant government entities. The law aims to enhance institutional performance and strengthen administrative and financial governance within the sports sector.
The Committee hosted a number of club presidents and government specialists during its study of the bill and reviewed sports laws in neighbouring countries to draw from leading international practices and ensure a modern legislative framework suitable for Oman’s sports development needs.
In a related presentation, Mohammed Ali Al-Balushi of the Legislative and Legal Committee shared the Committee’s views on penalty provisions and the alignment of the draft with existing national laws, as well as recommendations for legal refinement.
The new Draft Law comprising nine chapters and sixty-nine articles updates the 2007 law regulating sports bodies. It seeks to reinforce governance, transparency, and administrative and financial independence, encourage sports investment, promote public-private partnerships, and support talent development to strengthen Oman’s athletic base and contribute to social and economic progress.
Council members subsequently offered comments and observations, highlighting challenges faced by sports bodies and emphasising the need to empower these institutions to advance the sports industry in Oman. They also stressed the importance of preserving the social and cultural dimensions of sports, strengthening national identity, and enhancing youth and women’s participation.
The session concluded with the approval of the draft law and its referral to the State Council.
Urgent statement on delayed implementation of Royal Grant
The session included an urgent statement delivered by Hamid Ali Al-Nasri, Member of the Shura Council, regarding delays in implementing the January 2025 Royal Grant concerning the remaining payments of certain borrower categories under former Al-Rafd Fund programmes. The grant aims to support SMEs and young entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic.
He highlighted that despite the passage of nearly a year, implementation particularly for emergency loan recipients has not progressed, resulting in growing financial and legal pressures on SMEs. He pointed out several challenges, including the lack of a clear implementation mechanism, continued payment demands from Oman Development Bank, and the failure to suspend legal actions, including check-related cases.
The delay has led to serious consequences: classification of many SMEs as distressed, declining credit ratings, inability to secure financing or compete in tenders, business closures, job losses among Omani employees, and increased debt burdens.
He called on the government to immediately enforce the Royal Grant, halt all collection and legal measures against eligible SMEs, announce a clear and time-bound implementation mechanism, and submit an urgent report to the Shura Council outlining the causes of the delay. He reiterated the strategic importance of SMEs as drivers of economic diversification and employment.
Urgent statement on incidents during theatrical performances at Al-Dan International Festival
Ali Khalfan Al-Husani, delivered another urgent statement addressing certain incidents observed
during theatrical performances at the Al-Dan International Festival. He emphasised that protecting religious values, moral principles, and national identity is a legislative and societal responsibility.
He noted that widely circulated footage of a public performance attended by families and children contained scenes deemed religiously and ethically inappropriate.
He expressed concern over weak oversight of public events and the negative impact such content could have on public morals and youth upbringing. He stressed that the scenes conflicted with Islamic principles and Omani cultural norms known for preserving religious integrity and moral conduct.
He called for an immediate investigation into the event organisers and the content presented, a review of approval policies for public events, and stricter measures to prevent future violations involving religious symbols or practices inconsistent with national identity. He also highlighted the role of the media in awareness-building rather than normalizing inappropriate content.
Procedure for urgent statements
The press release concludes by noting that urgent statements are one of the oversight tools available to Shura Council members under Article (57) of the Council of Oman Law Each member of Majlis Al-Shura may request in writing to the chairman of the majlis, within a sufficient time prior to the date of the session, to make a statement regarding an urgent and important matter relating to the public interest of the country, and to succinctly explain the particulars of the issue and the justifications for bringing it before the majlis.
The chairman of the majlis shall present to the majlis the requests of the members before starting with the agenda to vote on them without debate. If a majority of those attending agree, the chairman shall permit those who made the requests to make their statements without debate. The urgent statement shall not relate to a matter referred to the committees of the majlis or to a draft law under consideration by the majlis.
