Oman Holds Fully-Digitized Elections

Omani Ministers of Interior and Information at the opening of an exhibition to present the voting stages for members of the Shura Council in Oman (Al-Omaniya)
Omani Ministers of Interior and Information at the opening of an exhibition to present the voting stages for members of the Shura Council in Oman (Al-Omaniya)
TT

Oman Holds Fully-Digitized Elections

Omani Ministers of Interior and Information at the opening of an exhibition to present the voting stages for members of the Shura Council in Oman (Al-Omaniya)
Omani Ministers of Interior and Information at the opening of an exhibition to present the voting stages for members of the Shura Council in Oman (Al-Omaniya)

Omani voters cast their ballots on Sunday to elect the members of the Shura Council’s tenth term. Voting took place without papers or boxes, using an updated version of an electronic platform, which was inaugurated for the first time in 2019.

In addition to the voting process, the application was used to register voters, announce the lists, and complete the candidates’ applications.

The Oman Telecommunications Company confirmed that the protective systems are working with high efficiency and that no attempts at cyber-attacks have been recorded.

According to the final electoral lists, 843 candidates, including 32 women, competed in these elections to choose the 90 members of the Shura Council, while the total number of voters reached 753,690. Last Sunday, Omani nationals living abroad cast their votes electronically.

The Omani Shura Council, which was established in 1991 as a substitute for a consultative council established in 1981, is elected for a four-year term and has the powers to review, propose and amend the state’s public and economic policies.

The council, however, does not interfere in matters related to defense, internal security, and foreign policy. The elected council, together with the appointed State Council, forms the “Council of Oman”.



Saudi-Turkish Talks Focus on Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

The Saudi deputy foreign minister and his Turkish counterpart meeting in Ankara on Wednesday (SPA)
The Saudi deputy foreign minister and his Turkish counterpart meeting in Ankara on Wednesday (SPA)
TT

Saudi-Turkish Talks Focus on Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

The Saudi deputy foreign minister and his Turkish counterpart meeting in Ankara on Wednesday (SPA)
The Saudi deputy foreign minister and his Turkish counterpart meeting in Ankara on Wednesday (SPA)

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji visited Ankara on Wednesday and met with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and his counterparts Burhanettin Duran and Nuh Yilmaz.

Al-Khuraiji addressed relations between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye during his meetings, attended by the Saudi Ambassador to Türkiye, Fahd bin Asaad Abu Al-Nasr.

The Saudi deputy minister also held political consultations between the Saudi and Turkish foreign ministries in Ankara with Yilmaz.

During the meetings, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye discussed strengthening their bilateral relations and advancing cooperation. The officials also addressed issues of mutual interest and the latest regional developments.

In mid-July, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering ties across various sectors, including the activation of a joint coordination council.

The announcement followed a meeting in Istanbul between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

On his part, Fidan participated in an expanded international meeting on Syria hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

The gathering, chaired by Prince Faisal bin Farhan, underscored Riyadh’s pivotal role in the region and its steadfast support for ensuring Syria’s security, stability, and territorial integrity, free from foreign interference.