State
Council Discusses Draft State General Budget for 2026, 11th Five-Year Plan

Muscat,
24 Nov 2025 (ONA) — The State Council today reviewed the Draft State General
Budget for 2026 and the 11th Five-Year Development Plan (2026-2030). This took
place during its hosting of Sultan Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance, and Dr.
Said Mohammed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy.

The
Council discussed the latest developments in the global and local economies
during 2025 and reviewed the performance indicators in the various economic
diversification sectors and the growth achieved during the current year across
a number of priority development pathways.

Dr.
Nasser Rashid Al Maawali, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, presented
a visual presentation covering the strategic objectives of the 11th Five-Year
Development Plan. These objectives focus on building a diversified and
sustainable economy, enhancing economic decentralization for the Governorates, raising
the efficiency of social development, and developing the system of governance
and institutional performance.

He
also reviewed the plan’s main themes and their importance, highlighting the
assessment of macroeconomic performance and economic diversification sectors,
and the extent of the plan’s integration with Oman Vision 2040. He addressed
the economic priority sectors and the criteria for their selection, which
include converting industries, the digital economy, and the tourism sector. He
affirmed that the plan aims to achieve balanced, competitive, inclusive, and
sustainable economic growth.

For
his part, Abdullah Salim Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance,
presented a review that included the most anticipated results of the State
General Budget for the fiscal year 2026 and the social and economic priorities
on which the budget focuses. These priorities include education, health, social
security and welfare, employment opportunities, stimulating the private sector,
in addition to housing and roads.

The
presentation also covered the global and local economic outlook, the financial
framework of the 11th Five-Year Development Plan (2026-2030), and the estimates
of the Draft General Budget for 2026, including its financial alternatives and
options, in addition to showcasing the most prominent investment projects
expected to be implemented within that year’s budget, and the adopted financing
and borrowing strategy.

Sheikh
Abdulmalik Abdullah Al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council, affirmed that
what was presented, proposed, and discussed during this meeting constitutes an important
tributary for enhancing legislative principles and strengthening institutional
communication channels between the Council and the Government.

Al
Khalili also indicated that the relevant committees will undertake a thorough
and accurate study of the data and observations presented, leading to the crystallization
of systematic recommendations that support the pathways for preparing the
State’s financial and economic policies.

He
added that the Council will continue to perform its legislative role with high
efficiency and follow up on these pivotal files in a way that enhances the
effectiveness of institutional work and contributes to establishing the
foundations of sustainable development, stressing that the coming phase will
witness greater coordination and integration in serving the national interest.

—Ends/AG