Oman Courts Begin New Judicial Year With Expanded Digital Services

Oman’s courts and Public Prosecution have begun the 2026-2027 judicial year, with an expanded digital transformation programme, the introduction of electronic inheritance services and continued efforts to improve judicial efficiency and accelerate the resolution of cases.

 

The new judicial year began after courts completed their general assembly meetings to determine judicial circuits, prepare personnel and facilities, and strengthen administrative and technical readiness. The preparations are intended to streamline proceedings, improve performance and make judicial services more accessible to litigants.

 

A key development this year is the phased introduction of digital systems for inheritance-related matters across courts. The initiative covers inheritances, estates and the management of orphans’ funds, marking a further shift from paper-based procedures to electronic services. The move is expected to simplify processes, strengthen governance and improve access for beneficiaries.

 

The programme forms part of the Supreme Judiciary Council’s broader vision of delivering prompt justice, upholding the rule of law and developing a more efficient and flexible judicial system.

 

Sayyid Mohammed Sultan Al Busaidi, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council, said the beginning of the new judicial year offered an opportunity to build on previous achievements and strengthen the judiciary’s capacity to respond to changing social needs.

 

He highlighted digital transformation as one of the principal areas of progress, pointing to the wider use of modern technologies, improvements in electronic services and the streamlining of judicial procedures. These measures, he said, had helped improve efficiency, service quality and the speed of case processing.

 

The previous judicial year also saw the commencement of operations at the Investment and Trade Court, established to provide a specialised forum for commercial and investment disputes and support the country’s expanding business environment.

 

Al Busaidi also referred to Royal Decree No. 80/2026, which amended the nomenclature of the Public Prosecution. The change reflects its position as a fundamental component of the judicial authority and its responsibilities in administering justice, protecting society and safeguarding rights and freedoms.

 

Courts Record 177,356 Cases

 

Figures for the 2025-2026 judicial year show that Oman's courts handled 177,356 cases and issued 126,487 judgments, resulting in an overall adjudication rate of 71%. The average caseload per judge stood at 411 cases.

 

The Supreme Court recorded an adjudication rate of 87%, delivering judgments in 5,803 of the 6,650 cases before it. Some of its circuits achieved a 100% rate, reflecting their performance in resolving appeals and maintaining consistency in the application of legal principles.

 

The Courts of Appeal handled 44,189 cases and issued 28,678 judgments, achieving an adjudication rate of 65%.

 

At the Primary Courts, 88,458 cases were recorded, with 69,208 judgments delivered, representing a rate of 78%. These courts dealt with the largest share of cases across the judicial system.

 

The figures highlight the volume of work handled by the courts and the continuing emphasis on improving the pace and efficiency of judicial proceedings.

 

Investment And Trade Court Expands Specialisation

 

The Investment and Trade Court, which began operations on October 1, 2025, is a central part of the council’s strategy to strengthen judicial specialisation and provide a dedicated forum for commercial and investment disputes.

 

During the 2025-2026 judicial year, the court issued 4,665 judgments in its Primary Court circuits and 82 judgments in its appellate circuits in newly registered cases.

 

It also received 25,758 cases transferred to its jurisdiction, of which 17,929 were concluded, giving it a completion rate of 70%.

 

The specialised court is intended to support investment protection, expedite the resolution of commercial disputes and strengthen confidence in Oman’s business environment.

 

Enforcement Remains A Key Challenge

 

The council’s performance figures also highlight the importance of enforcing judgments after they have been delivered.

 

A total of 73,925 execution requests were recorded during the judicial year, of which 31,929 were executed, representing an overall performance rate of 43%.

 

Civil execution accounted for 28,527 requests, equivalent to 48% of the reported total, with 13,806 requests executed.

 

The figures underline the importance of improving enforcement procedures to ensure that successful litigants can secure the practical benefits of court judgments.

 

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Judicial Inspection resolved all 308 complaints received during the period, achieving a completion rate of 100%. Inspection activities covered 46 of the 58 courts and 191 of the 221 judges targeted, representing coverage of 86% of the judges subject to inspection.

 

Digital Services Gain Ground

 

Digitalisation remains a major pillar of the council’s judicial modernisation programme, with technology increasingly used to automate procedures, manage court records and facilitate access to services.

 

The Qadha portal had more than 137,000 active users, while over 760,000 cases had been registered electronically. The system also processed more than 29,000 execution requests online, and more than 600,000 judicial files were archived electronically.

 

The digitisation rate for judicial and justice services reached 89%, reflecting the extent to which electronic systems have been integrated into court operations.

 

The Tawtheeq system, which supports transactions handled by Notary Public departments, recorded 136,978 transactions during the first half of 2026, of which 121,187 were issued.

 

Video-call transactions reached 35,109 during the same period, an increase of 163% compared with 2024. Notary Public departments also recorded 8,752 marriages and 2,052 divorces in the first six months of 2026.

 

The video-call service under Tawtheeq received the award for Best Digital Government Service Provided to Individuals for 2025, recognising the development of remote access to public services.

 

More Judges And Expanded Training

 

The council is also investing in national expertise and the development of judicial and administrative personnel. The number of judges reached 432 by the end of the 2025-2026 judicial year, up from 337 in the previous year. Omani nationals accounted for 61% of the judiciary.

 

Training programmes attracted 2,015 participants, including 617 judicial personnel and 1,398 auxiliary and administrative staff. The completion rate among those targeted for training reached 93%.

 

These measures form part of the council’s long-term strategic plan for 2024-2040 and its first operational plan, which are aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

 

Focus On Faster And More Accessible Justice

 

Dr Sheikh Mohammed Saif Al Saadi, a Supreme Court judge and Chairman of the Muscat Court, said the start of the new judicial year was an important opportunity to strengthen judicial and administrative performance.

 

He attributed the previous year’s record adjudication rates to improvements in digital systems, the redesign of procedures and the expansion of electronic services. These developments had helped simplify processes, reduce litigation times and make access to justice easier for litigants.

 

Lawyer Dr Said Al Qalhati said the legal profession remained an essential partner in the administration of justice, with lawyers contributing to the protection of rights and freedoms and the upholding of the rule of law through professional independence and integrity.

 

Looking ahead, the Supreme Judiciary Council plans to continue improving judicial infrastructure, strengthening specialised courts, expanding digital and remote services, developing alternatives to litigation and accelerating the enforcement of judgments.

 

The broader objective is to build a more efficient, accessible and technology-driven judicial system that can respond to present and future needs while maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice.