Regulatory update – Oman

Ministerial Decision 245/2025
Issued: 13 July 2025 
Effective: 14 July 2025
Compliance Deadline: Mid-January 2026

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) has introduced key amendments to the Commercial Companies Regulation to enhance governance, streamline processes, and ensure greater clarity in company operations.

Under the updated rules, all appointments of non-shareholder managers must now be filed electronically through MOCIIP’s official platform and must include the written consent of the person being appointed. This move reflects Oman’s push toward digital transformation, aiming to make appointments more efficient, transparent, and fully documented.

A new provision, Article 13bis, also defines exactly who may serve as an authorized signatory of a company. Eligible individuals are limited to: 

• One or more of the company’s shareholders, whether individually or collectively;
• The owner(s) of the company’s capital;
• Any member of the board of directors;
• The company’s manager or any financial or administrative employee. 

This clarification strengthens transparency and accountability, while prohibiting the appointment of individuals not directly connected to the company such as external agents or employees of other group entities as signatories.

The new rule raises some important questions that are not yet clear. For example, 

• Can someone who works for the parent company or another group company but not directly for the Omani company be considered a financial or administrative employee? 
• Also, does the authorized signatory have to live in Oman, or can they work from another country? 
• How strictly will the authorities check the employee status, and will the person need a local employment contract?

These points are still uncertain but important for compliance. Companies that use group-level staff or outside agents as signatories may need to review their arrangements. To help companies adjust, there is a six-month grace period from the rule’s start date. During this time, companies should update their records and prepare to follow the new rules. More guidance from MOCIIP is expected soon.