On the sixth anniversary of his accession to the throne, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman has issued a series of royal directives aimed at strengthening social welfare and supporting citizens’ living conditions, reaffirming his commitment to the prosperity and wellbeing of the Omani people, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported on Sunday. The measures form part of a broader effort to address key social and economic needs, ranging from employment and housing to education and social protection. Among the directives is the allocation of OMR50 million for economic and development-oriented projects designed to generate job opportunities for citizens. The funding will be channelled through the governors’ programmes under the 11th Five-Year Development Plan (2026–2030), with the total budget for these initiatives rising from 220 million to 270 million rials. In the education sector, financial assistance will be provided to more than 73,000 school students during the two academic semesters. The support will be delivered through the National Social Protection System of the Royal Oman Police, with funding doubled from allocations of the Social Protection Fund. Sultan Haitham also ordered amendments to certain provisions of the Social Protection Law, including those related to widows and orphans. The changes are expected to benefit […]