The Muscat Governorate Municipal Council held its 10th meeting for 2025 on Sunday under the chairmanship of  Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat and Ahmed bin Mohammed al Humaidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality. The Council reviewed a presentation by Muscat Municipality on the general programme of Muscat Nights 2026, highlighting its role […]

The Muscat Governorate Municipal Council held its 10th meeting for 2025 on Sunday under the chairmanship of  Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat and Ahmed bin Mohammed al Humaidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality.

The Council reviewed a presentation by Muscat Municipality on the general programme of Muscat Nights 2026, highlighting its role in enhancing the capital’s urban and economic landscape. The festival is expected to support tourism and cultural activity, create community and development opportunities, and activate public spaces across the governorate.

According to the presentation, Muscat Nights 2026 will be held from January 1 to 31, 2026, at several locations across the governorate to ensure broader public access and a diversity of experiences. The programme will feature entertainment, cultural and community activities, interactive programmes, specialised championships and accompanying events, delivered through an integrated framework aimed at attracting visitors and stimulating economic activity. The festival will also provide platforms to support small and medium enterprises, reinforcing Muscat’s position as a venue for major national events.

As part of efforts to improve the business environment, the Council reviewed a proposal by Muscat Municipality to shift inspections of commercial activities from a pre-licensing to a post-licensing system. The move aims to simplify procedures, enhance regulatory efficiency and support a more competitive economy.

The municipality said the new approach addresses challenges linked to lengthy procedures and multiple field inspections. It is expected to improve transparency, standardise processes and reduce operational costs for both public and private sectors, while supporting SMEs and improving inspection quality. The change is also expected to raise compliance levels and strengthen an investment-friendly environment.

The Council approved the minutes of its previous meeting, including recommendations related to connecting buildings to broadband services and the regulatory and legislative frameworks governing service delivery.

Members stressed the importance of strengthening coordination among relevant authorities to unify technical specifications for residential and commercial buildings and ensure readiness for modern telecommunications services, in line with digital transformation requirements.

On social and regulatory issues, the Council reviewed outcomes of the Social Affairs Committee meeting on regulating housing for unaccompanied expatriate workers in residential neighbourhoods. Emphasis was placed on following up on approved procedures and strengthening coordination with concerned authorities to mitigate the impact on residential areas.

The council also reviewed recommendations from the Governorate Development and Advancement Committee on issues identified during field assessments in Bausher Wilayat, following a request from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. A number of official correspondences received by the Council were also discussed.