We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,
the Civil Defence Law promulgated by Royal Decree 76/91,
the Financial Law promulgated by Royal Decree 47/98,
the Tender Law promulgated by Royal Decree 36/2008,
the State Financial and Administrative Audit Law promulgated by Royal Decree 111/2011,
the Penal Law promulgated by Royal Decree 7/2018,
and Royal Decree 84/2020 regarding the Secretariat General of the Tender Board,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
An independent fund named the “National Fund for Emergency Cases” is hereby established in the Ministry of Finance with the aim of addressing emergency cases and natural disasters such as climatic conditions, floods, earthquakes, and other risks to the state that harm public facilities and infrastructure through the following:
1. Supporting the achievement of the public policy relating to the procedures necessary for managing emergency cases.
2. Providing the necessary financing in accordance with the actual requirements to ensure the resumption of normal life after the occurrence of an emergency case.
Article II
The resources of the National Fund for Emergency Cases consist of the following:
1. Appropriations allocated to the fund in the General Budget of the State.
2. Gifts, donations, and contributions accepted by the Minister of Finance.
3. Returns on the investment of the property of the fund.
4. Any other resources approved by the Council of Ministers.
Article III
The Minister of Finance shall issue the necessary decisions to govern the National Fund for Emergency Cases. He shall have all the powers necessary to manage the fund and work to achieve its objectives, and he shall have the following powers in particular:
1. Setting the public policy of the fund and following up on its implementation.
2. Managing the property of the fund, approving investment plans for its funds within the framework of the investment policies in force, and approving the rules governing the investment of its funds.
3. Forming standing and temporary committees in a manner that achieves the objectives of the fund.
4. Establishing the rules and controls for the assignment of projects necessary to achieve the objectives of the fund.
5. Approving the reports relating to the financial position of the fund.
6. Preparing a report on the emergency case after its lapse, handling it, and coordinating with the relevant entities for research purposes and studies to benefit from the experiences relating to it in order to mitigate future risks.
7. Governing the receipt of cash donations from companies, establishments, and individuals during and after the occurrence of emergency cases and natural disasters.
8. Opening one or more accounts in licensed banks in the Sultanate of Oman or abroad for the purpose of depositing the funds allocated to the fund from the General Budget of the State and from donations, and disbursing from such accounts.
Article IV
The funds of the National Fund for Emergency Cases shall have an independent annual budget, the surpluses of which are carried over from year to year and are not transferred to the public treasury of the state.
Article V
The property of the fund is deemed public property, and the provisions of the Penal Law; the State Financial and Administrative Audit Law; and the System for the Collection of Taxes, Fees, and Other Amounts Due to Units of the Administrative Apparatus of the State apply to it.
Article VI
Without prejudice to the provisions of article V of this decree, decisions issued by the Minister of Finance and contracts entered into by him within the framework of immediate and direct handling of an emergency case in order to achieve the objectives of the National Fund for Emergency Cases are exempt from all general and special provisions stipulated in the laws and royal decrees.
Article VII
It is not permitted to disburse the funds of the National Fund for Emergency Cases for purposes other than those for which it is established.
Article VIII
All that is contrary to this decree, or in conflict with its provisions, is hereby repealed.
Article IX
This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the day following the date of its publication.
Issued on: 18 Jumada Al-Akhira 1445
Corresponding to: 1 January 2024
Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 1527 issued on 7 January 2024.