HM issues Royal Decree to establish Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones and define its competences

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik issued a number of Royal Decrees on August 18, 2020, including   Royal Decree No. (105/ 2020) to establish the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, promulgate its regulation and define its competences, 

The Royal Decree No. 112/2020 appointed HE Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy as Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, and the Royal Decree No. 113/ 2020 appointed HE Eng. Ahmed bin Hassan Alawi Al Dheeb as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors.  

The Royal Decree establishing the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones reads as follows: 

Royal Decree No (105/2020)

We, Haitham bin TariK, Sultan of Oman

After perusal of the Statute of the State,Royal Decree No. 56/2002 issuing the Free Zones Law

Royal Decree  No. 103/2005 establishing a free zone in Al Mazuna,

Royal Decree No. 62/2006 establishing the free zone of Salalah,

Royal Decree No. 123/2010 establishing the free zone of Sohar,

Royal Decree No. 119/2011 establishing the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm and issuing its Regulation,

Royal Decree No. 79/2013 issuing the regulation of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm,

and Royal Decree No. 75/2020 on the State's Administrative Apparatus, and in pursuance of the public interest,

We have decreed the following:

Article One: 

A public authority under the name “The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones” shall be established. The Authority is a government entity reporting to the Council of Ministers and enjoys financial and administrative autonomy. 

Article Two: 

The headquarter of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones shall be located in the Governorate of Muscat and by virtue of a decision to be passed by its Board of Directors, it may establish branches in other governorates or offices outside the Sultanate.

Article Three: 

The competences of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones shall be defined in accordance with the Annex attached to this decree.

Article Four: 

The Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones shall be the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Article Five: 

All financial allocations, assets, rights, obligations and inventories of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm shall be transferred to the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.

Article Six: 

Employees of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm shall be transferred, with the same financial grades to the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones. 

Article Seven: 

The Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones shall exercise the prescribed competences of Free Zones Committee as stated in the Law of Free Zones and the Royal Decrees establishing the Free Zones of Al Mazuna, Salalah and Sohar.

Article Eight: 

The phrases “the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm”, “Board of Directors of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm”, “Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm”, “Chief Executive Officer of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm”, wherever they might occur in the laws and Royal Decrees, shall be replaced with the phrases “the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones”, “the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones”, “the Chairman of the Board of Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones” and “the Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones”. The phrases “Free Zones Committee”, wherever it may occur in the Law of Free Zones and the Royal Decrees establishing the free zones of Al Mazuna, Salalah and Sohar, referred to above, shall be replaced with the phrase “Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones”.

Article Nine: 

The advantages, incentives and exemptions stipulated in the Laws and Royal Decrees establishing both: The Special Economic Zone at Duqm and Free Zones shall apply to the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones until specific Royal Decree is issued on this matter.   

Article Ten: 

All that is contrary to this Decree or contradicts with the provisions hereof is hereby repealed. 

Article Eleven: 

This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force from the date of issuance.

Issued on: 28th of Thu Al Hija 1441  

Corresponding to: 18th of August 2020