The demise of Sultan Qaboos bin Said on January 10, 2020 marked the end of an era. Since the beginning of the “Blessed Renaissance” in 1970, which took place under his stewardship, Oman achieved unprecedented development, growing massively in every socio-economic metric.
For instance, total GDP increased from $256 million in 1970 to almost $77 billion in 2019. In the same timeframe, the sultanate went from having just 10 kilometres of paved roads, to 40,000km. The number of schools grew rapidly, from three to over 2,000.
But Oman’s march towards modernity has not only focused on modern metrics of development. A key part of Sultan Qaboos’s vision was the importance he placed on the preservation of the country’s centuries-old spectacular heritage and culture as well.
Oman’s current leader, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, summed up the nation’s gratitude to Sultan Qaboos in a poignant eulogy delivered the day after his passing, in which he said “no words can express what he had achieved and accomplished”.
He references how the late ruler had set up a nation from scratch, one which is now recognised as a cultural and diplomatic power the world over. He went on to say that Sultan Qaboos’s reforms have led to “the blossoming he had wished for his country”. In this vein, Sultan Haitham pledged to continue the work started by his predecessor.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcoming Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers' Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said to the 41st annual Gulf Cooperation Council Summit. EPA
Sultan Qaboos set up a nation from scratch, one which is now recognised as a cultural and diplomatic power the world over
Oman was still coming to terms with the tragic loss of its legendary former sultan when the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a global pandemic on March 11, of that same year. The pandemic and its fallout led to an unprecedented series of challenges for countries across the globe. While the far-reaching ramifications of the crisis have humbled even the most developed nations, Oman moved with decisiveness, exhibiting remarkable resilience and nimble-footedness in its response.
A Supreme Committee on Covid-19 was formed in early March. Headed by Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidi, the Minister of Interior, the Supreme Committee took a series of measures to safeguard the health of citizens, as well as orchestrating the subsequent re-opening of the economy after the lockdown of July and August.
The successful results are a testimony to the success of these measures. As of January 4, 2021, Oman recorded almost 130,000 cases of Covid-19 and 1,500 deaths. This translates to a recovery rate of almost 95 per cent, with mortalities at just over one per cent.
The government also took a number of measures to stimulate the economy and help businesses. On March 18, the Central Bank of Oman announced a comprehensive incentive package, injecting more than $20bn into the economy.
The central bank also announced a slew of other relief measures, like a five per cent increase in the lending ratio for commercial banks and a six-month deferment of interest on loans for affected borrowers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
Relief initiatives with regards to statutory and regulatory compliance were also unveiled. The corporate sector was given tax relief in the form of a three-month extension for filing deadlines, and tourism and municipal taxes were waived until the end of August.
While confronting the immediate fallout of the pandemic, the government simultaneously put in place a restructured governance apparatus. A new Cabinet was formed in August, with the numbers of ministers being reduced from 26 to 19. A number of government institutions were either dissolved or merged with other ministries.
The new Cabinet reflects a process of continuity and change, bringing in a new generation of ministers with relevant fields of expertise, while retaining a cross-section of ministers from before.
A man receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in the Omani capital, Muscat. AFP
In a major devolution of power, Sultan Haitham gave up the titles of Defence Minister, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister and the Chairman of the Central Bank of Oman to other officials. This marks a significant shift towards a more de-centralised style of governance. Similarly, the 11 governorates of Oman have been assigned more powers, strengthening the federal process.
The restructuring of the state apparatus will help achieve multiple objectives, such as increasing the efficiency of the government, promoting investment and business, achieving more focused development at the level of individual governorates. Overall, these changes will stand the country in good stead as it confronts immediate economic challenges and as it draws up a roadmap for the future.
A series of regulations were introduced to achieve a number of economic objectives. For example, the Medium-Term Fiscal Balance Plan 2020-2024 (MTFP), which was introduced in October 2020, focusses on supporting economic growth, diversifying and enhancing government revenue streams, assessing state expenditure and their efficiency, enhancing the social safety net and strengthening financial management. The MTFP aims to bring the budget deficit down to just below two per cent of GDP by 2024. Oman’s 2021 budget has forecasted a deficit of eight per cent.
In an effort to shore up government revenues, Oman announced the introduction of a five per cent value-added tax from April 2021. Water and electricity subsidies will be phased out, starting from January 2021 until 2025 and an income tax on high earners is also under consideration. While these steps will lead to a period of belt tightening, fiscal prudence will help the government enhance its development expenditure in the years to come.
In one of the landmark decisions of the year Sultan Haitham approved the launch of Vision “Oman 2040” in December 2020. It lays down the roadmap for the country over the next two decades. It aims to build upon the gains made since the beginning of the Blessed Renaissance and to further drive a developed, diversified and sustainable Omani economy.
The 10th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) – the first plan of the Vision 2040 – aims to achieve an average GDP growth of three and a half per cent, creating 135,000 jobs over the duration of the plan’s timeframe. Oman sits on a rich pool of young talent, with 65 per cent of the Sultanate’s population being under the age of 35. Vision 2040 aims to unlock this demographic dividend by modernising the education system, as well as supporting scientific research and innovation.
These measures, along with affirmative action in the form of Omanisation, encouraging more Omanis into jobs previously held by expatriate workers, will create employment opportunities for young citizens, giving businesses access to a dynamic and skilled workforce. The tourism sector, which has long been a major employment generator, is getting a major boost with the exemption of an entry visa for nationals of 103 countries for a 10-day period.
Looking back on the year since the passing of Sultan Qaboos, I can confidently state that Sultan Haitham has ensured a process of continuity and change. Under his visionary leadership, Oman has confronted the immediate challenges with resolve and laid a robust foundation for a glorious future.
Mohammed Mahfoudh Alardhi is the Executive Chairman of Investcorp and Chairman of Sohar International
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister. "We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know. “All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.” It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins. Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement. The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
