Oman announces major overhaul in court fees

Muscat: The Supreme Judiciary Council in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance,  has made major changes by the reduction and cancellation of existing fees and initiation of new fees in courts, public prosecution departments and notary public sectors.

This step forms part of the third phase of implementation of the government services pricing project.

This initiative aims to ensure greater freedom of litigation, enhance the efficiency of judicial services, and provide high-quality legal services to the public while improving the overall business environment in Oman. The revised pricing structure reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to make legal services more accessible and cost-effective for all sectors of society.

The Supreme Judicial Council revised a total of 25 fees--of which 14 were reduced, 5 were cancelled and 6 were introduced for the first time.

Dr. Majid bin Mubarak Al Saeedi, a representative from the Supreme Judicial Council, explained that the changes are part of a broader initiative by the Ministry of Finance to standardize government service pricing. He pointed out that the initiative aims to adopt a unified and transparent approach to determining appropriate prices for government services while balancing service quality, price, and competitiveness. It also simplifies the process of obtaining government services.

Additionally, five fees have been cancelled, including the fee for judicial enforcement orders, the fee for a certificate of a ruling, the fee for a certificate of rehabilitation, the fee for authenticating documents by notary public, and the fee for notary public services to individuals who are unable to visit the notary, such as patients, inmates, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

A new fee structure called the ‘slabs’ system has been introduced. This system unifies lawsuit fees across both initial litigation and appeals, with fees determined based on the value of the financial claim. If multiple requests are made in a single lawsuit, the fees will be calculated by summing the individual fees for each request. The new system aims to provide more accurate, transparent fee calculation, aligning with the recently launched ‘Qadaa’ electronic portal, which automates the fee payment process.

Dr. Al Saeedi reiterated that the new system reduces the overall cost of litigation, particularly benefiting small and medium-sized businesses. The changes also align with the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to improving the Omani judiciary’s global standing, attracting investment, and fostering continuous growth in the business sector.

This overhaul of the fee structure is expected to improve access to legal services, reduce financial burdens on litigants, and ensure that Oman’s judicial services remain efficient and competitive in the international legal landscape.