MUSCAT : The Municipal Council of the Governorate of Muscat held its tenth meeting for 2025 today, chaired by His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat and Chairman of the Municipal Council, in the presence of His Excellency the Chairman of Muscat Municipality.

The month-long festival, scheduled from January 1 to 31, 2026, is aligned with Muscat’s direction to stimulate tourism and cultural activity, create development and community opportunities, and activate public spaces across the governorate.

According to the statement, events will be spread across several major locations in Muscat to ensure wider community access and diverse experiences. The programme will feature modern and innovative events, including entertainment, cultural and community shows, interactive activities, quality tournaments and accompanying events, forming an integrated offering aimed at enhancing the vitality of public spaces. The initiative is also expected to attract visitors, stimulate economic activity, support small and medium enterprises, and reinforce Muscat’s position as a leading destination for national events.

As part of efforts to improve the business environment and investor journey, the Council reviewed Muscat Municipality’s move to change the inspection methodology for commercial activities from pre-inspection to post-inspection. The shift is intended to simplify procedures and enhance regulatory efficiency, addressing challenges related to lengthy processes and multiple field visits.

The Municipality noted that the new approach will enhance transparency, standardise procedures, reduce operating costs for both public and private sectors, support SMEs, and improve the quality of oversight. The changes are expected to raise compliance levels and contribute to a more attractive and competitive investment environment.

The Council also approved the minutes and recommendations of its previous meeting, including those related to connecting buildings to broadband services and the regulatory and legislative principles governing service delivery. Emphasis was placed on strengthening institutional integration among relevant authorities to unify technical specifications for residential and commercial buildings and ensure readiness for modern communication services, in line with digital transformation goals.

On social and organisational matters, the Council reviewed outcomes of the Social Affairs Committee regarding the regulation of housing for single expatriate workers in residential neighbourhoods. Members stressed the importance of continued follow-up and coordination with concerned authorities to manage housing arrangements and limit their impact on residential areas.

In addition, the Council examined recommendations from the Governorate Development and Improvement Committee on issues raised in Wilayat of Bousher at the request of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. The meeting also reviewed several communications from relevant authorities on planning and organisational matters, aimed at enhancing urban harmony and improving the overall quality of urban planning in the Governorate of Muscat.

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