We, Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State issued by Royal Decree 101/96,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The name of the Ministry of Justice, Endowments and Islamic Affairs is hereby amended to the Ministry of Justice.
Article II
The name of the Ministry of Oil and Minerals is hereby amended to the Ministry of Oil and Gas.
Article III
The name of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour is hereby amended to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, and Vocational Training, and the Vocational Training Authority is hereby abolished.
Article IV
A Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs is hereby established and the Ministry of Development is abolished.
Article V
The mandates, assets, and allocations relating to endowments and Islamic affairs are hereby transferred to the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, and all employees of endowments and Islamic affairs are hereby transferred to it with their same employment status.
Article VI
The mandates, assets, and allocations relating to minerals are hereby transferred to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and all employees of minerals are hereby transferred to it with their same employment status.
Article VII
The mandates, assets, and allocations of the Ministry of Development are hereby transferred to the Ministry of National Economy, and all employees of the abolished ministry are hereby transferred to it with their same employment status.
Article 8
The mandates, assets, and allocations of the Vocational Training Authority are hereby transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, and Vocational Training, and all employees of the abolished authority are hereby transferred to it with their same employment status.
Article 9
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force from the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 16 Sha’ban 1418
Corresponding to: 16 December 1997
Qaboos bin Said
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 614 issued on 3 January 1998.