His Majesty Sultan Haitham orders to reduce fees for issuing, renewing expat work permits

Muscat: In pursuance of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s attention to citizens and his Royal keenness to have firsthand knowledge about their needs and aspirations, His Majesty the Sultan held a meeting at Al Alam Palace here today with sheikhs of the Governorates of Muscat, South Al Batinah and Musandam.

At the outset of the meeting, His Majesty the Sultan gave thanks and praise to the Almighty Allah for the bounties He bestowed on Oman and its noble people. He prayed to the Almighty Allah to bless Oman’s comprehensive, sustainable development march, so the people could continue to relish the riches in present and future.

Then, His Majesty the Sultan issued directives to cut down fees charged against the issuance and renewal of non-Omani manpower work permits in a manner that corresponds to the Government Services Pricing Index. This applies to government services aimed at boosting the business climate and upgrading the Sultanate of Oman’s competitiveness in attracting investments and easing burdens on the private sector.

The move also seeks to support firms committed to Omanisation percentages, as well as small and medium enterprises, to help enhance their contribution to the national economy.

His Majesty the Sultan exhorted the private sector to benefit from the fee reduction to provide more room for the employment of Omani jobseekers.

His Majesty the Sultan also affirmed the government’s keenness to follow-up all that relates to the stability of citizens’ livelihood affairs. In this context, His Majesty gave directives to add 25 more food commodities to the list of food items that are 100% exempt from the Value Added Tax (VAT), thereby taking the total number of such items to 513.

Then, His Majesty the Sultan gave audience to the sheikhs of the three governorates, who engaged on fruitful briefings about the affairs of their respective wilayats and the services and projects that the citizens aspire for.

His Majesty the Sultan commanded the immediate start of development projects that are urgently needed by citizens, with other projects to follow suit in future in accordance with the actual needs of those wilayats, depending on available government solvency.

The meeting was attended by HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office, Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior, Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance, Dr. Hamad bin Said Al Aufi, Head of the Private Office, Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat and Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Musandam.