Strategic Direction
A Leading Legislative and Judicial System Based on Fairness, Efficiency and Transparency
Strategic Direction
A Leading Legislative and Judicial System Based on Fairness, Efficiency and Transparency.
The legislative priority provides the rule-of-law infrastructure that underpins all other Vision 2040 priorities. No FDI target is achievable without legal predictability. No private sector growth is sustainable without contract enforcement. No anti-corruption commitment is credible without independent oversight.
Performance Indicators
| Indicator | Baseline | 2040 Target |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Quality, World Governance Indicators | 0.42 / Rank 67 (2017) | >1.44 / Top 30 |
| Government Effectiveness, WGI | ~0.8 (2018) | >1.8 / Top 10 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index | ~Rank 70 | Top 30 countries |
2025 Progress
Corruption Perceptions Index: The landmark achievement of this priority in 2024 was a 20-place improvement in the Transparency International CPI, advancing to rank 50th globally. This is one of the largest single-year improvements among any country and reflects sustained attention to institutional integrity.
Investment and Commercial Court (Royal Decree 35/2025): A dedicated commercial court with trained business law judges, designed to provide faster, more predictable resolution of commercial disputes. This directly responds to investor feedback that commercial dispute resolution was inadequate.
State Audit Institution: Strengthened oversight of public expenditure and procurement.
Public Prosecution: Modernised procedures and digitalised case management.
The Legal Reform Agenda
Vision 2040’s legislative agenda goes beyond anti-corruption to comprehensive legal modernisation:
Commercial law: Updating company law, insolvency frameworks, and commercial contracts to international standards that sophisticated investors expect.
Arbitration: Strengthening Oman’s position as a regional arbitration centre, providing an alternative to litigation for commercial disputes.
Labour law: Modernising labour law to balance worker protection with private sector flexibility — currently one of the most contentious regulatory domains.
Environmental law: Developing regulatory frameworks for new industries including green hydrogen, offshore wind, and carbon markets.
Key Institutions
Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, Court of Appeal, Investment and Commercial Court, State Audit Institution, Public Prosecution, Anti-Corruption Authority.