Oman’s New Media Law 2024

The Sultanate of Oman has enacted a new media law, issued by Royal Decree No. 58/2024, which officially came into force on November 11, 2024, following its publication in the official Oman Gazette. This new law supersedes all previous media regulations and applies to all forms of media activities within the country, including print, audio, visual, and electronic media. The Minister of Information has yet to issue implementing regulations for this law. Hence, the existing regulations will remain in effect, provided they do not conflict with the provisions of the new law.

This significant reform reflects Oman’s commitment to aligning its legal framework with its Vision 2040, aiming to modernize the media landscape by fostering greater freedom and promoting neutrality to support the nation’s developmental goals while keeping with public order, moral standards, and social values.

1. Licensing:

Under the new law, media activities, namely newspapers, audiovisual channels, news agencies, publishing houses, among others, are required to obtain a license from the Ministry of Information (“MOI”). Similarly, the production, importation, and distribution of artistic works and printed materials require licensing, with particular restrictions on content that may violate public morals or national security. However, entities belonging to the State’s administrative apparatus and other public legal entities are exempt from this licensing requirement.

Licenses issued under this law are subject to specific conditions, which include a financial guarantee to ensure compliance with the legal obligations and conditions. In cases where these obligations are not met, the guarantee will be used to address any discrepancies, with further details expected in the forthcoming Regulations. License holders are permitted to amend their legal structure, merge, acquire, or transfer ownership, subject to the controls specified in the Regulations.

The law strictly prohibits discrimination or incitement through media activities, denying licenses for any content based on religious, sectarian, ethnic, gender, or other discriminatory grounds contrary to Oman’s values.

Licenses may be cancelled under circumstances such as failure to meet eligibility conditions, bankruptcy, legal dissolution, failure to renew within the specified timeframe, or fraudulent acquisition. While license suspension or cancellation generally requires a final judicial ruling, exceptions exist allowing the Minister to temporarily suspend broadcasting or publishing for up to seven days, subject to judicial oversight for extensions.

2. Licensed Media Professionals:

Licensed media professionals in Oman are protected against coercion or interference, ensuring that they can perform their duties independently. However, they must abide by the established professional standards, which include the objective and honest delivery of media messages, neutral presentation of events, and the accurate representation of opinions with proper attribution. Additionally, media professionals are expected to highlight Oman’s rich history, cultural achievements, and values, while showcasing their comprehensive development to elevate their position on the global stage.

Moreover, media professionals must comply with their respective institutions’ media policies, provided these policies do not infringe upon their rights as outlined by the law. Another key aspect of the law is the protection of news source confidentiality, specifying that media professionals cannot be compelled to disclose their sources unless required for national security purposes.

Professionals working for foreign media outlets are required to obtain a license to operate within Oman. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the revocation of their license. Additionally, media professionals are allowed to engage in advertising activities and accept monetary or in-kind benefits, but only with prior approval from their media institution. If a violation occurs, the professional must return any improperly obtained benefits to their institution and may be held accountable. It is also prohibited for individuals or entities involved in media activities to accept donations, subsidies, or any special benefits without prior approval from the MOI.

3. Content Restrictions:

As mentioned previously, this law establishes clear boundaries strictly prohibiting content that misleads the public, violates public morals, or pertains to ongoing investigations without prior approval. While the MOI retains the authority to prohibit the publication or broadcast of specific content through official directives, prior censorship of media activities is explicitly prohibited.

Furthermore, the importation of foreign printed materials and artistic works is subject to MOI approval. However, exemptions apply to materials intended for educational or cultural purposes, those displayed in places with diplomatic immunity, materials produced or imported by state administrations and public legal entities, and items imported for personal use.

The production, importation, and distribution of artistic works and printed materials require licensing and must adhere to restrictions related to public morals and national security. The MOI retains the authority to amend or prevent any work deemed to be in violation of these stipulations. Additionally, all artistic activities, including production, display, and distribution, are subject to MOI supervision. Works may be evaluated by a specialized committee based on their artistic, cultural, religious, or social content, and age restrictions may be implemented to protect certain audiences. Finally, artistic works exchanged under international agreements may be exempt from taxes and fees, provided they comply with the customs laws of the Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”).

4. Right of Reply and Correction:

The law guarantees individuals the right to request corrections or responses to inaccurate media content, with the option to seek judicial recourse if the publication or broadcast results in harm or constitutes a crime. Requests for corrections must be submitted to the license holder within 15 days of becoming aware of the inaccuracy, or within 60 days of its publication, whichever is sooner. In cases where the inaccuracy pertains to a crime for which a final judicial acquittal has been issued, the affected individual has up to 60 days from the ruling date to request a correction or response. Conversely, if the content of the correction or response constitutes a crime or violates moral standards, it will not be published.

License holders are required to publish corrections or responses free of charge within 3 days of receiving a valid request. The correction must be limited to the inaccurate aspects of the original content and must be published or broadcast in the same place, language, size, and timeframe. Compliance with these regulations absolves the license holder of liability for the incorrect content. If the published information is verified as accurate, the license holder is entitled to demand a fee, calculated according to the established advertising rates. These measures aim to balance accountability in media practices with protections against misuse and unnecessary liability.

5. Penalties:

The law also establishes strict penalties for violations, the Public Prosecutor or Competent Court may suspend licensed media activities for up to 45 days during investigations or trials, with the option to extend this period. Specific violations include disrupting state or licensed media operations, which can result in 1–3 years of imprisonment and fines between 50,000 and 100,000 OMR, with doubled penalties for national security breaches. Engaging in unlicensed media activities or operating with an expired license incurs 1–3 years of imprisonment and fines ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 OMR, and the confiscation of equipment used in relation to the violation. Violating publishing rules or circulating prohibited content can lead to imprisonment for 3 months to 1 year and fines from 5,000 to 15,000 OMR. Legal entities found in violation face substantial fines between 100,000 and 200,000 OMR, without exempting individual accountability. Additionally, general unspecified violations may result in fines ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 OMR, and administrative penalties can impose fines up to 10,000 OMR.