Oman to Impose Selective Taxes

General view after Cyclone Mekunu in Salalah, Oman May 26 2018. (Oman News Agency)
General view after Cyclone Mekunu in Salalah, Oman May 26 2018. (Oman News Agency)
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Oman to Impose Selective Taxes

General view after Cyclone Mekunu in Salalah, Oman May 26 2018. (Oman News Agency)
General view after Cyclone Mekunu in Salalah, Oman May 26 2018. (Oman News Agency)

Oman plans to impose a 100 percent tax on tobacco, alcohol, pork meat and energy drinks as of June 15 and a 50 percent tax on carbonated drinks, according to the Secretariat General for Taxation. 

The Sultanate is seeking to boost revenues by imposing selective taxes in order to avoid declining oil revenues.

The Secretariat confirmed that the “selective tax” is for “maintaining public health”, under the agreement established in 2016 between the GCC countries.

Director General of Survey and Tax Agreements Sulaiman bin al-Aadi noted that this is a consumption tax and is considered to be an indirect tax.

“Thus, the final charge is on the consumers, but it is collected in advance at a stage of the supply chain, notably through the business sectors.”

Oman has slowly embarked on fiscal reforms aimed at reducing the budget deficit while relying more on external financial resources through bonds and loans to compensate for treasury deficits.

Oman could generate around $260 million a year by implementing the selective tax on such products, the head of the economic and financial committee at the consultative Shura Council Saleh bin Said Masan said in November.

Oman’s economic growth may speed up to 2.3 percent from 2.1 percent, according to economist estimates compiled by Bloomberg. However, the data showed that the current account deficit may widen to 9.1 percent this year.

Bloomberg noted that Oman delayed the introduction of the taxes as concerns grew that it may follow Bahrain’s steps and seek a bailout from Gulf neighboring countries to speed its slow fiscal reforms.

The Sultanate originally planned to impose a value-added tax of five percent in 2018, but it is due to start in 2020.

In April, Standard & Poor's Global Ratings cut its outlook on Oman to negative from stable, saying the change reflected “the risk that in the absence of substantial fiscal measures to curtail the government deficit, or a more favorable external environment, fiscal and external buffers will continue to erode.” 

Earlier this year, Oman said it expected the budget deficit to reach $7.27 billion, equivalent to nine percent of GDP.

Last month, Oman hired a group of international banks for a planned bond issue which could go up to $2 billion in size, sources told Reuters. 



Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.