MUSCAT – Under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki bin Mahmoud Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, the event was held on Sunday, 31 August 2025, at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Center for Culture and Recreation in Dhofar Governorate on Sunday, August 31.

The symposium was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Ghuson bin Hilal Al Alawi, Chairman of SAI, alongside ministers, undersecretaries, senior officials, and distinguished guests. The event reflects the Authority’s commitment to fostering integrated institutional efforts aimed at safeguarding the nation’s assets through promoting governance values, integrity, and transparency.

In his opening speech, His Excellency Sheikh Ghuson bin Hilal Al Alawi expressed pride in the patronage of His Highness the Governor and welcomed attendees. He emphasized the high priority placed by His Majesty the Sultan on rule of law, transparency, and public fund protection, highlighting these as shared national responsibilities. He further noted that Oman Vision 2040 prominently features governance as a core pillar, focusing on institutional performance, administrative governance, legislative, judicial, and oversight systems.

His Excellency highlighted governance as essential for protecting public funds and ensuring the effective use of national resources. He reaffirmed the Authority’s dedication to supporting governance through platforms like this symposium, which facilitates knowledge exchange, best practices, and recommendations to advance institutional and financial reforms. This includes efforts under the National Integrity Promotion Plan 2022–2030, aiming for enhanced legislation, transparent private sector practices, community engagement, and strong local and international partnerships.

The symposium featured four major working papers. The first titled ‘The State Financial and Administrative Audit Authority and its Role in Establishing Governance Principles’ was presented by Nasser bin Mohammed Al-Hosni, Consultant at the Authority’s Chairman Office. It underscored Oman’s governance commitments and the Authority’s role in auditing and enforcing governance compliance.

The second paper on ‘Governance and Sustainability as Development Tools’ was presented by governance expert Hamed bin Sultan Al-Busaidi, covering core governance pillars, sustainability, and auditing institutions’ roles in aligning with Oman Vision 2040.

The third – ‘The Experience of Oman Investment Authority in Governing Its Companies’ by Qais bin Said Al Suhi, Director of Governance at Oman Investment Authority – detailed the governance systems implemented since 2020, including the ‘Rawabit’ Programme to enhance integration, risk management, and local value maximisation.

The fourth paper, titled ‘Governance and Investment in the Governorates’, presented by Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Ba’awin, Director General at Dhofar Municipality, highlighted the role of investment in regional development, service enhancement, and fostering entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and social progress.

The symposium concluded with an engaging panel discussion where participants exchanged ideas and clarified points raised in the presentations.

The event exemplifies effective institutional collaboration and reinforces the State Financial and Administrative Audit Authority’s ongoing initiatives to embed governance culture within Oman’s administrative and financial systems, supporting the nation’s goals for transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.