66 Zakat Committees, 65 Volunteer Teams Benefit from Land Grants

‘Extended Giving’ Initiative Allocates Investment Lands to Zakat Committees

Muscat: A ceremony titled “Extended Giving” (Ata’a Mumtad) was held today to mark the allocation of residential and commercial investment lands in prime locations across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman for the benefit of Zakat committees and volunteer teams.

The event was held under the auspices of Sultan Salem Al Habsi, Minister of Finance.

The initiative stems from institutional cooperation between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development. It reflects integrated government efforts to support sustainable charitable initiatives and enhance social impact, reinforcing values of social solidarity and the role of community institutions in national development.

A total of 66 Zakat committees and 65 volunteer teams will benefit from the initiative in recognition of their role in supporting eligible families and providing social assistance. The allocation aims to enable these entities to generate sustainable financial resources through the development and investment of the granted lands, thereby strengthening family stability and social cohesion.

Haban Mohammed Al Balushi, Director General of Lands at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, said the initiative seeks to empower Zakat committees and charitable teams to sustain their voluntary and community work. He noted that utilizing real estate assets to support community initiatives represents a strategic approach to maximizing the economic and social value of land in service of the public interest.

He added that strategic locations were selected across various wilayats to enhance sustainable investment opportunities, allowing beneficiary entities to establish projects capable of generating continuous returns to finance their humanitarian activities.

Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Kharousi, Director of the Zakat Department at the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, described the move as a qualitative step toward strengthening the financial sustainability of Zakat committees and ensuring the continuity of their services to eligible groups with efficiency and stability.

Meanwhile, Hamoud Mardad Al Shabibi, Advisor to the Minister of Social Development for Planning and Acting Director General of Voluntary Work and Civil Society Institutions, said allocating commercially designated lands to volunteer teams would create a qualitative shift in their operations. He noted that the strategic sites would provide sustainable income sources to support larger initiatives and enable teams without permanent headquarters to establish operational bases.