Fees for 109 municipal services slashed to support private sector

Muscat: The Ministry of Finance on Tuesday has unveiled the revised fee structure that will be levied on various government services in the first quarter of the next year.

The revised fee structure is aimed at raising the quality of services provided by the government and offering a competitive edge to the Sultanate when it comes to attracting foreign investments.

The integrated pricing structure will see fees decreased, increased, combined, or even canceled for some services offered by the government.

Taking the current situation of the private sector, directives have been issued not to increase any fees for the moment.

Highlights:

A total of 903 fees have been revised, of which 557 fees were either reduced or canceled in the first phase.

In the second phase, 739 fees will be reviewed, of which 288 fees will be reduced, and 37 new services were added for a fee.

For fees levied by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Investment Promotion, services related to inheritance, contracts, and

patent applications will be reduced.

Fees related to permits for discounts and promotional offers have been canceled.

A total of 109 municipal fees were canceled or reduced for the benefit of the private sector.

No fees for the installation of car shields/ shelters starting from the new year – previously, it was RO 60. But a refundable insurance fee of RO 50 will be levied.

To get a permit and start a construction activity, there will be one single fee of RO 10 for residential properties and RO100 for commercial properties.

The Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) said that 5 fees were reduced and 7 others were canceled within the second phase of pricing government services, while 6 fees related to new services were added.

Muscat Municipality has reduced four fees in the field of company registration with the municipality – one fixed fee of RO10.

Muscat Municipality reduces 4 fees for commercial signboards and transfers the authority to submit applications to Invest Easy platform for a single fee of RO15. There will be no fee for the renewal of commercial sign permits.

Muscat Municipality has reduced fees for 5 services associated with the completion of construction work to one fixed fee of RO for residential, and RO50 for commercial properties.