Wednesday 01 / April / 2026
Muscat: The Ministry of Social Development on Wednesday held a media briefing under the theme “Empowerment That Makes an Impact,” during which it presented its most notable achievements, key performance indicators and future plans and strategic aspirations across the various sectors under its mandate.
Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development, reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to advancing the social sector and strengthening the comprehensive protection and care system.
She noted that this commitment has brought about a qualitative transformation in social protection policies, evidenced by the continued disbursement of social security pensions to over 100,000 citizens at a cost of OMR178 million, as well as the directive to assess the status of families eligible for the Family Income Support benefit within the social protection system.
Additional measures include the establishment of marriage funds across various governorates, the issuance of a Royal Decree regulating premarital medical examinations, the allocation of OMR7 million for the construction of an Autism Spectrum Disorder Care and Rehabilitation Center, the enforcement of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, and the creation of a new sector at the level of Undersecretary within the Ministry’s structure to oversee services provided to persons with.
She stated that the Ministry achieved 100 percent of its 2025 performance targets as outlined in Oman Vision 2040, reflecting the progress made in implementing social programs and enhancing their developmental impact.
These targets included the percentage of families benefiting from the Family Income Support benefit within economic empowerment pathways, the percentage of productive families economically empowered out of the total families benefiting from the Family Income Support benefit, the percentage of satisfied patients with the services provided, the percentage of employed Omani persons with in decent work out of the total job-seeking persons with disabilities capable of work, the percentage of early beneficiaries of intervention services for persons under the age of eight, the growth rate in total annual donations collected through “Jood” donation platform, and the percentage of family reconciliation out of total cases handled—reflecting the integrated efforts aimed at reinforcing social stability.
The minister pointed out that the Ministry of Social Development, within its 2026 plan, aims to implement a package of developmental projects and initiatives, most notably the issuance of the executive regulations for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, the laying of the foundation stone for the Autism Spectrum Disorder Care and Rehabilitation Center, the establishment of a number of specialized rehabilitation centres and units, the completion of the National Registry for Persons with Disabilities project, the review of several legislations related to children and juveniles, as well as the enhancement of women's leadership empowerment, the implementation of developmental programmes for the elderly sector, and the launch of qualitative initiatives such as "Rafaqat Hayah" (Life Companion) program. These efforts, she affirmed, reflect a sustained commitment to developing the social sector and enhancing the quality of life in society.
For his part, Dr. Abdullah Hamoud Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Persons with Disabilities Affairs, explained that the Ministry intensified its efforts to enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in economic and social life through the launch and implementation of qualitative initiatives aimed at their rehabilitation and integration into the labor market. The second cohort of "Be With Us for Them" initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Human Construction Centre, graduated 60 individuals, 39 of whom have so far entered the labour market—an indicator of the effectiveness of training programs in achieving professional integration.
He stated that the Ministry launched the second edition of "Mawhoob" (Talented) initiative to empower persons with disabilities in the tourism sector, in collaboration with Omran Group, which included 11 trainees, five of whom have actively entered the labour market, thereby strengthening the presence of this group in vital sectors.
Additionally, a number of protected production workshops were established in the wilayats of Salalah, Al Mudhaibi, Nizwa, and A’Rustaq, benefiting 163 persons with disabilities—a step that supports economic independence and provides a suitable work environment, while also nurturing talents and showcasing creative abilities.
He noted that the "South Al Batinah: Friendly to Persons with Disabilities" initiative, launched in collaboration with the Office of the Governor of South Al Batinah, aimed to enhance the inclusive environment and facilitate access to services and programmes for persons with disabilities.
It included the training of 29 trainees from various government entities as sign language interpreters.
Meanwhile, the "Mu'in" (Aide) initiative sought to develop services for persons with disabilities in Al Dhahirah Governorate. Additionally, the National Guide for Licensing, Classification, and Quality Standards for Private and Civil Institutions Providing Services to Persons with Disabilities was issued, which sets forth the requirements for issuing licenses to institutions, classification criteria, specifications for the construction of centers and their facilities, and qualifications for technical staff.
He added that the Persons with Disabilities Affairs sector achieved tangible results during 2025, including the expansion of rehabilitation services through the issuance of licenses for 20 new centers for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities across various governorates.
The National Autism Centre also achieved notable international accomplishments, including its admission to the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis (QABA) Credentialing Board as the first full member from the Arab region within the network, in addition to the renewal of its accreditation as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Furthermore, 358 persons with disabilities were integrated into public and private schools.
In a related context, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Al Shamsi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Family and Community Development Affairs, stated that the sector continued to strengthen the care and social protection system for target groups, develop family empowerment programmes, and establish a culture of volunteer work and community participation in line with the objectives of comprehensive and sustainable development.
These efforts, he said, materialised in the provision of a wide range of social assistance, benefiting more than 23,000 recipients by the end of 2025, with total amounts exceeding OMR17 million. This assistance varied to include cash and in-kind support, temporary and emergency aid, as well as special assistance and disaster allocations.
He added that the Ministry is steadily advancing toward ensuring the upbringing of children in a safe and healthy environment by developing and improving the quality of services provided to them, thereby enhancing opportunities for their proper development and positive integration into society.
The year 2025 witnessed a notable expansion in early childhood services, with the addition of 32 new nurseries, bringing the total number of nurseries across the Sultanate of Oman to 364, accommodating approximately 9,548 children—an indicator of growing institutional attention to childcare.
He explained that the "Child Protection Guide" serves as a comprehensive practical reference aimed at supporting workers in the child protection sector to ensure swift and effective intervention to safeguard children and build a safe and supportive environment for them. Meanwhile, the "National Guide for Foster Family Child Care" regulates mechanisms for caring for children deprived of family care.
He pointed out that the Ministry worked to enhance the economic independence of families by providing employment opportunities and supporting home-based projects.
A total of 82 job opportunities were provided for family members of low-income families in the government and private sectors through joint efforts between the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Labour.
Additionally, 108 cases were supported to launch home-based projects with non-refundable financial support totaling more than OMR54,000. As many as 57 exhibitions for productive family projects were also organized, with the participation of 1,577 productive families, contributing to the marketing of their products and enhancing their productive capacities.
