MUSCAT : Under the chairmanship of His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat, the Municipal Council held its first meeting of the year, with discussions focusing on prominent contemporary societal issues – the impact of social media, digital platforms, and electronic games on mental and behavioural health.

The Council reviewed the challenges posed by the rapid expansion of digital technologies, particularly their effects on children, adolescents, and families amid increasing excessive use.

A specialised presentation was delivered by a consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry, highlighting the key psychological and behavioural effects associated with excessive use of electronic games and social media. These included signs of addiction, attention deficit disorders, declining academic performance, and the influence of violent content on young people’s behaviour. The Council underscored the importance of developing an integrated response system encompassing preventive, awareness, and therapeutic programmes to protect youth, support families, and address societal needs in the context of accelerated digital development. It emphasised the need to move beyond theoretical approaches toward sustainable institutional solutions.

The Council also reviewed its 2026 work programme, which includes a range of collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening the Council’s role in monitoring local affairs through specialised programmes and initiatives. The programme aligns with the Council’s mandate to support development efforts, oversee priority projects, and enhance communication with the community and stakeholders, thereby improving institutional performance and service quality.

In addition, the Council approved the minutes of its final meeting of 2025, including recommendations related to Muscat Municipality’s shift in its inspection methodology for commercial activities from pre-inspection to post-inspection. The Council commended the efforts to develop the inspection system, stressing the importance of aligning these changes with existing legislative and regulatory frameworks. It also emphasised the need for continued coordination between Muscat Municipality and relevant authorities to strengthen the business environment and improve procedural efficiency.

The meeting further reviewed several communications received from relevant authorities concerning organisational and service-related matters. In this regard, the Council stressed the importance of follow-up to ensure effective responses that meet current requirements and align with local development priorities.

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