MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has issued two Royal Decrees that bring significant administrative changes and support national infrastructure development. Royal Decree No. 57/2025 renames the “Secretariat General of the Tender Board” to the “Authority of Projects, Tenders and Local Content,” granting it legal personality and administrative and fiscal independence. This authority will operate under the Council of Ministers, with its Chairman appointed by Royal Decree and vested with full powers to manage administrative and financial affairs, represent the authority, and ensure proper implementation of related policies.
The new Authority’s core mandate includes supporting the Tender Board and the executive committee in implementing local content strategies, offering technical and administrative support, and managing logistics to facilitate effective oversight. Its competencies and organizational structure have been formally detailed in two annexes accompanying the decree, ensuring clarity in roles and responsibilities. This restructuring aims to modernize project management and procurement processes, strengthen governance, and promote greater efficiency and transparency in tendering activities across Oman’s public sector.
The decree also ensures that the new Authority’s formation does not undermine the existing powers of the Tender Board as defined in other laws and decrees. It replaces all legal references to the old Secretariat General with the updated Authority designation and cancels prior decrees that conflict with this new arrangement, including Decree No. 84/2020 and Decree No. 73/2023. These comprehensive changes align with Oman’s ongoing administrative reforms to enhance institutional performance and better serve the country’s developmental goals.
Royal Decree No. 58/2025, meanwhile, designates the Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road Project (Diba-Lima-Khasab) in Musandam as a public utility project. This designation enables the necessary expropriation of land and properties along the route, ensuring smooth execution in line with the Public Utility Expropriation Law. The project underscores the government’s commitment to improving connectivity and infrastructure in Musandam Governorate, supporting economic growth and enhancing access for residents and businesses alike. The decree takes immediate effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.
