Muscat: The Ministry of Interior has issued a ministerial decision introducing regulations for the electronic adjudication of rental disputes, marking a new step towards streamlining dispute resolution and expanding digital government services.
Issued under Ministerial Decision No. 115/2025, the regulation establishes a comprehensive framework for handling tenancy disputes electronically, covering the submission of claims, exchange of pleadings, conduct of hearings and issuance of decisions, in line with the provisions of the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law.
Under the decision, the secretary of the competent committee will register applications through the designated electronic system and refer them to the committee chairperson within seven days from the date of submission, for the purpose of scheduling a hearing. Parties to the dispute will be notified of the hearing date electronically. Where electronic notification is not possible, notification will be carried out in accordance with the methods prescribed by law.
The regulation stipulates that claims, defence memoranda, replies and all supporting documents must be submitted via the electronic system, with documents exchanged automatically between the parties. Where electronic submission is not feasible, filings may be made in accordance with the procedures set out in the relevant legislation.
The committee chairperson may require the personal attendance of the parties where necessary. Parties may also request in-person attendance through the electronic system, and the committee is required to decide on such requests within a period not exceeding seven working days from the date of submission.
According to the decision, electronic documents submitted by the parties, as well as decisions issued by the committee, shall have the same legal effect as official and customary documents, provided they meet the conditions stipulated under the Electronic Transactions Law.
The regulation also defines key terms, including the committee responsible for adjudicating commercial disputes, the electronic application and the electronic system designated for filing and adjudication.
It further emphasises compliance with the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law, particularly with regard to the principles of attendance, confrontation between parties and the right of defence. Specific controls are set out for electronic adjudication, including restricting access to case documents to the committee chairperson, permitting the issuance of decisions and minutes electronically without the need for parties’ signatures, and requiring adherence to approved technical and cybersecurity standards.
The move is expected to enhance the efficiency of commercial dispute resolution, improve access to justice and strengthen confidence in electronic litigation mechanisms, in line with Oman’s broader digital transformation agenda.
