Royal Decree 105/2020 Establishing the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones and Determining Its Competences

Arabic

We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman

after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,

the Law of Free Zones promulgated by Royal Decree 56/2002,

Royal Decree 103/2005 Establishing a Free Zone in Mazyunah,

Royal Decree 62/2006 Establishing the Salalah Free Zone,

Royal Decree 123/2010 Establishing the Sohar Free Zone,

Royal Decree 119/2011 Establishing the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm and Promulgating Its System,

the System of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm promulgated by Royal Decree 79/2013,

and the System of the Administrative Apparatus of the State promulgated by Royal Decree 75/2020,

and in pursuance of public interest,

have decreed as follows

Article I

A public authority named the "Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones" is hereby established. It shall have legal personality, shall enjoy financial and administrative independence, and shall be subordinate to the Council of Ministers.

Article II

The headquarters of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones shall be in the Governorate of Muscat, and it is permitted by a decision of the board of directors to establish branches in other governorates or offices outside the Sultanate.

Article III

The competences of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones are hereby determined in accordance with the attached annex.

Article IV

The President of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones shall undertake the chairmanship of the board of directors.

Article V

All allocations, assets, rights, obligations, and holdings of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm are hereby transferred to the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.

Article VI

The employees of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm are hereby transferred to the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones with their same financial grades.

Article VII

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones shall exercise the competences prescribed to the Free Zones Committee in the aforementioned Law of Free Zones and the aforementioned royal decrees on the establishment of free zones in Mazyunah, Salalah, and Sohar.

Article VIII

The phrases “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”; and “Executive President of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm” wherever they occur in laws and royal decrees are hereby replaced with the phrases “Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones”; “Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones”; “Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones”; and “President of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.” The phrase “Free Zones Committee” wherever it occurs in the aforementioned Law of Free Zones and the aforementioned royal decrees on the establishment of free zones in Mazyunah, Salalah, and Sohar is also hereby replaced with the phrase “Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones.”

Article IX

The benefits, incentives, and exemptions stipulated in laws and royal decrees prescribed to the Special Economic Zone at Duqm and the free zones shall continue to operate until a royal decree is issued in this regard.

Article X

All that is contrary to this decree, or in conflict with its provisions, is hereby repealed.

Article XI

This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.

Issued on: 28 Dhu Al-Hijja 1441
Corresponding to: 18 August 2020

Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman

Published in Official Gazette 1353 issued on 19 August 2020.