We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,
and the International Cooperation Agreement Between the Ministry of Education of the Sultanate of Oman and the European Organization for Nuclear Research on Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the Field of High-Energy Physics signed in the city of Geneva on 19 May 2026,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The mentioned agreement is hereby ratified in the form attached.
Article II
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 3 Rabi Al-Akhir 1448
Corresponding to: 15 September 2026
Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 1666 issued on 20 September 2026.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN AND THE EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH (CERN) CONCERNING SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION IN HIGH-ENERGY PHYSICS
The Ministry of Education, the governmental body in the Sultanate of Oman responsible for supervising higher education institutes and the development of higher education policies in the Sultanate of Oman “MoE”, having its seat at Muscat, Sultanate of Oman,
on the one hand,
and
The European Organization for Nuclear Research “CERN”, an Intergovernmental Organization having its seat at Geneva, Switzerland,
on the other hand,
hereafter collectively referred to as the “Parties”
CONSIDERING:
That research in high-energy physics is important for the further development of fundamental science and technological progress;
CERN’s intention to strengthen co-operation with States which are not Members of CERN but with whom co-operation has been established;
That MoE is dedicated to building a quality higher education system, sustainable learning, and scientific research in the Sultanate of Oman that leads to a knowledge society and competitive national capabilities;
The Sultanate of Oman’s interest in participating in the scientific programme of CERN, as well as the country’s focus on research activities in the fields of sensor systems, CO2 cooling, energy recycling, material science, artificial intelligence and computer security;
The established communication between MoE and CERN;
The Parties’ desire to create a framework to ensure, on a long-term basis, opportunities for participation by scientists, engineers, technicians, teachers and students from the Sultanate of Oman in research projects of CERN, and for the provision of such other contributions as the Parties may agree;
The mutual benefit that the Parties expect to result from their cooperation;
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE 1
Scope
This International Cooperation Agreement (“Agreement”) constitutes the framework within which the Parties shall, on a basis of reciprocity, further develop their scientific and technical co-operation in high energy physics.
ARTICLE 2
Non-military purposes
The Parties shall use the results of their co-operation for non-military purposes only.
ARTICLE 3
Forms of co-operation
Subject to Article 5 hereunder, MoE shall support such research projects of CERN for which scientific and research institutes, as well as higher education institutes, in the Sultanate of Oman have particular expertise, including in the field of experimental and theoretical physics, accelerator and detector engineering, and computing. The support may be in the form of exchange of personnel, know-how, equipment, materials, funds or any combination thereof.
ARTICLE 4
Personnel support
4.1 Where the support is in the form of personnel, CERN shall consider applications by scientists, engineers and technicians from the Sultanate of Oman for selection and appointment as Associated Members of the Personnel of CERN. CERN may decide to contribute towards meeting their cost-of-living expenses in the CERN region on a case-by-case basis.
4.2 Scientists, engineers, technicians, teachers and students from the Sultanate of Oman who meet the eligibility criteria for application may apply to attend the CERN Schools, including the Accelerator School, the Computing School, the European School of Physics and the Summer Student Programme at CERN.
4.3 CERN shall treat all applications in accordance with their merit.
ARTICLE 5
Execution
5.1 The execution of this Agreement is subject to the conclusion of Protocols between CERN and MoE and/or scientific and research institutes and/or higher education institutes in the Sultanate of Oman, detailing, for each research project, the cooperation between the parties to the Protocol in terms of objectives, programme, resources, status of staff, intellectual property, liability and other issues. Each Protocol may be complemented by detailed Addenda. On the part of MoE, depending on the research project concerned, the execution of the activity may involve appropriate government bodies in the Sultanate of Oman.
5.2 The Protocols shall stipulate that the terms of this Agreement shall mutatis mutandis apply between the parties to the Protocol.
ARTICLE 6
Disputes
Any dispute arising from the interpretation or application of the provisions of this Agreement shall be settled in accordance with the procedure defined in the Annex to this Agreement.
ARTICLE 7
Amendments
The Parties may amend this Agreement through the conclusion of a written Amendment signed by the authorized representatives of the Parties. Such Amendment shall enter into force in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 8 of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 8
Entry into force and duration
8.1 This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signature by the Parties, it being understood that where it is subject to subsequent approval or ratification, it shall enter into force on the date on which the Party concerned has given written notification to the other Party that approval or ratification has taken place.
8.2 This Agreement shall remain in force for an initial period of 5 (five) years and shall thereafter be renewed automatically, each time for a new period of five years, unless a written notice of termination is given by one of the Parties to the other, or the Parties have agreed on its renewal by another period, at least 6 (six) months prior to the renewal date.
Done in 2 (two) copies in the English language and 2 (two) copies in the Arabic language, it being understood that in case of ambiguity or contradiction, the former shall prevail.
Done at Geneva on Tuesday, 19th of May 2026.
|
For the Ministry of Education (MoE) of the Sultanate of Oman |
For the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) |
ANNEX
Any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be settled by consultation between the Parties.
Disputes which cannot be settled by consultation shall, unless the Parties agree to another method of settlement, be submitted at the request of any one of them to an arbitration tribunal composed of three members, namely an arbitrator chosen by the Director-General of CERN or the person acting in the Director-General’s stead, an arbitrator chosen by the Minister of Education, or the person acting in his or her stead, and a third arbitrator chosen jointly by the two others, who shall be neither an official of CERN nor a national of the Sultanate of Oman and who shall chair the Tribunal.
The application shall include the name of the arbitrator chosen by the applicant; the respondent shall appoint the second arbitrator and inform the other Party of the latter’s name within two months of receiving the application. If the respondent fails to notify the name of the second arbitrator within the said period of two months or if the two arbitrators fail to agree on the choice of a third arbitrator within two months after the second arbitrator having been appointed, the second arbitrator or the third arbitrator, as the case may be, shall be chosen by the President of the International Court of Justice, at the request of whichever Party is the first to apply to the Court.
The Tribunal shall establish its own rules of procedure. Its decisions shall be binding on the Parties who shall have no right of appeal.