Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarek announced a grant of 20 million rials ($52m) for each of the country's 11 governorates as he enters the third year of his reign with a drive to improve the country's standard of living.
The ruler has been holding a series of meetings with governors and tribal leaders from each area to discuss how to improve the lives of Omanis.
“We urge you, as administrators of your towns, to elevate your local communities and improve the status of the Omani citizens in your areas and their quality of life. The government will support you,” Sultan Haitham said at a meeting in Nizwa, the main city of Al Dakhiliya governorate, last week.
“You must recognise challenges and address difficulties in your towns to serve your communities and public interest,” he said.
On Monday, he met leaders in the Al Sharqiyah North governorate.
He also issued pardons for 229 prisoners in Omani jails.
Along with creating employment for graduates, the ruler is calling for the promotion of small and medium enterprises to create opportunities for self-employment and for contracts to be given to established businesses.
Sultan Haitham ascended to the throne on January 11, 2020, shortly after the death of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
Sultan Qaboos, who ruled for 50 years, was regarded as a hero by many of his subjects for lifting the country from obscurity and turning it into a modern nation by building infrastructure and schools, creating jobs and reconciling tribal differences between feuding groups.
Sultan Haitham’s first challenge as ruler was to revive the economy, which has suffered from falling oil prices and chronic budget deficits in the past five years.
He was quick to get off the mark with a cabinet reshuffle three months into his rule. He trimmed the cabinet to 19 ministries from 26, retired all civil servants who had served for more than 30 years, and removed the positions of state advisers to save government expenditure.
Omanis in rural areas praised the sultan’s latest initiative as a step in the right direction.
“We welcome the news to improve the quality of life in areas outside big cities like Muscat, Salalah and Sohar,” Ahmed Al Hosni, 44, a farmer in the Wosta region, told The National.
“It is the right step and it comes at the right time. It’s about time that development spreads all over the country and not just in cities and major towns.”
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
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The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
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Al Noor Special Needs Centre
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Beit Al Khair Society
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Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
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Emirates Airline Foundation
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Emirates Red Crescent
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Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
