On 11 September 2025, the Ministry of Information in Oman issued the Executive Regulations for the Media Law pursuant to Ministerial Resolution No. (65) of 2025. The Media Law was previously issued on 10 November 2024, pursuant to Royal Decree No. (58) of 2024.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) published an analysis of the Media Law, with its 60 articles, concluding that it, ”perpetuates the systematic repression that has long been employed by the authorities to stifle dissent. It contains broad and vague terms, granting the Ministry of Information extensive authority to restrict freedom of expression for all citizens, including media professionals. Furthermore, it grants the public prosecutor and the judiciary the power to suspend media activities during both the investigation and trials, with the possibility of continuous renewal.”

The executive regulations of the Media Law, which consist of 144 articles, serve the same purpose sought by the authorities which is to suppress dissenting opinions and restrict media freedom. This is part of the systematic repression the authorities have pursued for many years, especially after the widespread peaceful and popular protests that erupted in the country in February 2011.

The Executive Regulations emphasise all the arbitrary provisions contained in the Media Law, which aim to impose complete control over the media by the authorities, establish collective surveillance over all citizens, including media professionals, media activists and media institutions, and determine the news, reports and statements they circulate.

Article 87 of the Executive Regulations states, “No electronic media website or application may publish media or advertising content that violates the provisions of the law, these regulations, or any regulations or instructions issued by the Ministry.” This vague, general, and interpretive text of this article means that it could be effectively used by the authorities to restrict freedom of expression on the internet.

Article 89 limits the right to request a license to practice media activities via social media platforms to Omani citizens, thereby denying residents and migrant workers the right to create and manage their own websites.

Article 141 grants the Minister of Information, or his delegate, the authority to suspend licensed media activities for a period of 30 days, or to revoke the license entirely. This clearly contradicts Article 16 of the Media Law, which states, “A license may not be revoked or licensed media activities suspended except pursuant to a final judicial ruling issued by the competent court.” This confers arbitrary and illegal powers on the Minister of Information, which will inevitably be used to suppress free media voices.

Oman lacks a constitutional court to which recourse can be had when ministries violate the laws through the executive regulations they issue. This deficiency means that the authorities exploit it to restrict public freedoms, as is clearly evident in the Executive Regulations of the Media Law.

Recommendations

GCHR calls for the repeal of all arbitrary provisions in the executive regulations of the media law, in order to preserve freedom of opinion and expression in the country. It is crucial to protect public freedoms in the country and make free media a tool that contributes to building a prosperous future for all citizens without exception.