Muscat: Oman’s Shura Council on Sunday opened the third annual session of its tenth term (2023–2027) at the behest of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, marking the beginning of a new legislative year focused on national development and governance reforms.

In his opening address, Khalid bin Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Shura Council, underscored the importance of strengthening the Council’s role in advancing national priorities. He said the legislative body bears “great responsibilities” in supporting the country’s ongoing reform and development efforts in line with the Basic Statute of the State and the Council of Oman Law.

Al Maawali praised the Council members for their contributions over the past two sessions, noting that their work through various committees had produced “numerous legislative recommendations and decisions” that supported Oman’s policy objectives.

During the session, members held elections for supplementary members of the Council Office for the second half of the tenth term. The Bureau — which includes the Chairman, two deputies, and six elected members — saw the following members chosen: Hassan bin Ahmed Al Nabhani (Al Jabal Al Akhdar), Badr bin Nasser Al Jabri (Nakhl), Said bin Mohammed Al Saadi (Ja’lan Bani Bu Ali), Dr. Talal bin Said Al Maharbi (Bidbid), Abdullah bin Al Waleed Al Hinai (Bahla), and Mohammed bin Hassan Al Ansi Al Yaf’ei (Salalah).

Council members were also briefed on the State’s General Budget Draft for 2026 and the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan (2026–2030), alongside several draft laws and agreements referred by the Council of Ministers.

Key items under discussion included proposed amendments to the Unified Customs System for GCC States, a revised double taxation agreement with Austria, and Oman’s potential accession to the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (Singapore Convention on Mediation).