Article (1):

The provisions of the attached Law in relation to the regulation of the collection and publication of statistical data in the Sultanate of Oman shall be applied.

Article (2):

The Minister of National Economy shall issue the regulations and decisions necessary for the implementation of the provisions of the attached Law.

Article (3):

The statistical Law, issued by the aforementioned  Royal Decree No. 87/88  is hereby cancelled. Any thing that contradicts with the provisions of the attached Law shall be considered as cancelled.

Article (4):

This Decree shall be published in the official gazette and shall come into force from the date of its publication.

Article (1):

In the application of the provisions of this Law, each of the following words and expressions shall have the meaning set against it unless the context otherwise requires:

1. The Ministry: Ministry of National Economy.

2. The Minister: Minister of National Economy.

3. The Secretary General: the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Economy.

4. The Undersecretary: the Undersecretary for Development Affairs, Ministry of National Economy.

5. Directorate General: Directorate General of Social Statistics or the Directorate General of Economic Statistics, Ministry of National Economy depending on the circumstances.

6. Director General: Director General of Social Statistics or Director General of Economic Statistics, Ministry of National Economy, as appropriate.

7. Government units: Ministries, public corporations and establishments.

8. Private entities: All private companies, establishments, proprietors of general, handicrafts, professionals vocational, commercial and industrial undertakings and non-governmental organizations.

9. The Committee: The committee stipulated in Article (9) of this Law.

10. Statistical data: All the administrative statistical figures and data that are collected through statistical surveys pertaining to the economic, financial, population, social, cultural, and health aspects as well as every thing concerning the society and its activities.

11. Statistical surveys: The process of collecting statistical data whether in comprehensive or in a sample survey approach.

12. Population census: The process of conducting a comprehensive counting of population in the Sultanate together with the various statistical data that are technically required.

Article (2):

A population census shall be carried out every 10 years, and a Royal Decree shall be issued in this regard specifying the date and necessary required procedures. Statistical surveys may be conducted to serve the economic development purposes according to a work plan to be formulated by the Directorate General.

Article (3):

The Directorate General shall be the authority responsible for publishing the data and results of statistical surveys and population census, according to an annual work plan, as well as standardization, coordination and analysis of information and preparing the same for publication.

Article (4):

As an exemption from the provisions of Article (3) above Government units may gather and publish the statistical data that falls within the jurisdiction of each of these units according to an annual plan approved by the committee stipulated in Article (9) of this Law. These units are required to provide the Directorate General with copies of such data.

The private entities may conduct statistical surveys concerning the marketing of their products or services for their own utilization or for other entities, provided that they obtain a written prior approval from the Director General. The data collected according to this article shall not be published.

Article (5):

The Information and Publication Center of the Ministry of National Economy, in cooperation with the Directorate General, shall publish the following publications:

1. A national statistical yearbook that includes all the statistical data available, that are important for the country’s economic and social development purposes and also reflects the progress and advancement realized in various fields.

2. A quarterly bulletin of the main statistical indicators.

3. A monthly bulletin reflecting the main economic and social indicators.

4. Any other specialized periodicals that need to be issued.

5. Non-periodical publications that indicate results of the statistical surveys conducted.

Article (6):

All government units, private entities and individuals shall be obliged to provide all the data requested by the Directorate General or the government units that collect and publish the statistical data concerning the issues falling under their respective jurisdiction. Full cooperation shall be extended to these units to reflect the whole truth, according to the internationally known statistical standards, and according to the schedule prepared by the Directorate General or the government authority.  Ministry of Defense and other security authorities – excluding the Customs- are exempted from provision of data except what it may allow according to a special written permission.

Article (7):

The General Security authorities shall, if requested, assist those assigned for conducting the surveys or the census, should they be asked for that, in such a way that ensure conducting their task in the appropriate way.

Article (8):

All the individual data, as per the provisions of this law, concerning any statistics or census are considered confidential. It is prohibited to publish such data unless in an aggregate form. It is not allowed to disclose such data to any individual or public organization without the consent of the concerned, and it is also not allowed to use such data for non – statistical purposes.

It is forbidden to use any individual statistical data to create any financial burden, and it should not be used as an evidence of a crime or a basis for any legal measures or actions. It may be used as evidence against the provider of incorrect information.

Article (9):

A statistical advisory committee shall be formed under the chairmanship of the Secretary General and include the following members:

• Undersecretary for Development Affairs, Ministry of National Economy

• Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman.

• Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information.

•  Undersecretary for Labour Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Vocational Training.⁽¹⁾

• Undersecretary for Planning Affairs, Ministry of Health.

• Undersecretary for Educational Planning and Projects, Ministry of Education.

• Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

• Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

•   Undersecretary of the Ministry of Civil Service.

• Representative of Royal Oman Police.

• Representative of Sultan Qaboos University.

• Director General of Social Statistics.

•  Director General of Economic Statistics.

This Committee shall review the regulations prepared by the Ministry as per this law subject for approval by the Minister. In addition this Committee coordinates the efforts exerted in order to collect and analyze the statistical data. In particular the Committee shall undertake the following:

1. Approval of long-term economic and social statistical plans as well as annual plans prepared by the Ministry and the other government units.

2. Coordination of statistical works and activities in the Sultanate.

3. Determining the priorities for statistical studies, surveys and censuses according to the various government units’ needs in a way that serve their planning purposes.

4. Standardization of concepts and statistical terms in the Sultanate as well as monitoring the implementation of international recommendations in this regard.

5. Determining the methodology of conducting the statistical operations and the technical methods that should be followed in their preparation and publication of their results in a way that ensure the upgrading of the level of accuracy and promptness in official statistics.

6. Reviewing the costs of specialized statistical operations of all government units and submit comments to the concerned authorities.

7. Encouragement of statistical research and studies in various fields and at various levels. To work toward disseminating statistical awareness in order to ensure preparation and qualification of sufficient personnel to work in the statistical field.

8. Approval of the publishing of the official results of the statistics been conducted or collected in periodical or special publications, except those results which the committee decides to be kept confidential. The Committee may seek cooperation of a number of experts and specialists depending on the nature of the issues under consideration.

Article (10):

Without prejudice to any harsher punishment stipulated by any other law, any person who commits the following shall be sentenced for a maximum period of imprisonment for six month or a fine not exceeding five hundred Omani Rials or both punishments:

1. Violates the confidentiality of individual statistical data.

2. Obtain, through cheating or threatening, individual statistical data that is confidential according to the provisions of this law.

3.  Knowingly collect or publish incorrect data, statistical surveys or census.

4. Deliberately obstruct any of the works of data collection by way of surveys or censuses approved in the Directorate General’s plan or the statistical plans of the government units.

Any person who refuses to provide the required data or knowingly provide incorrect data as per the provisions of this Law shall be punishable with a fine not exceeding three hundred Omani Rials. Any person who fails to provide the required data within the specified date shall be considered as refusing to provide such data, unless he/she proves that the delay was due to an acceptable excuse.

 (1): A Royal Decree has been issued and it stipulated the division of the Ministry into two, the Ministry of Social  Development, and the Ministry of Labour firce.