On 12 November 2020, Sultani Decree 125/2020 was issued, with the aim of simplifying the litigation process in Oman in certain dispute areas through the introduction of a summary trial process to streamline the resolution of cases and avoid prolonged, expensive court processes.
The decree comes into force in February 2021 and the changes will have a significant impact on how disputes are dealt with through the courts.
Fast-track cases
The recent decree only applies to certain types of disputes. The core areas dealt with under the new law are commercial disputes involving investment projects subject to Oman’s foreign capital investment law (FCIL), construction cases, disputes arising out of debt-creating instruments, tenancy disputes relating to both residential and commercial leases, individual employment disputes and criminal cases related to cheques that are not related to any other criminal act.