Monday 18 May 2026
The competent court has issued a judicial ruling in a case
involving an establishment operating in the services and
business sector, after it was proven that the supplier had
breached its obligations towards the consumer and failed to
complete the agreed procedures within the specified period.
This ruling comes to reinforce the role of the judiciary in
protecting consumers and ensuring that services are provided
in accordance with their nature, thereby strengthening
confidence in the market.
The details of the case relate to a complaint submitted by a
consumer to the Consumer Protection Authority, stating that
he had contracted with the establishment to process
transactions related to an investor card and residency permits
for a number of workers in return for a financial amount that
was paid in full, provided that the procedures would be
completed within a specified period. However, the
establishment failed to perform the service properly, as its
work was limited to obtaining the commercial registration and
carrying out certain preliminary procedures without completing
the remaining transactions, which was deemed a breach of its
contractual obligations and a clear violation of Article (23) of
the Consumer Protection Law. This prompted the consumer to
submit his complaint to the Authority, which in turn undertook
the legal procedures by examining the complaint and referring
it to the competent judicial authorities. Following consideration
of the complaint and its referral to the competent court, the
court issued a judgment convicting the defendants of the
misdemeanour of “failure to provide the service in a proper
manner and in accordance with its nature,” punishable under
Article (39) of the Law. The first defendant was sentenced to
imprisonment for two months, while the violating
establishment was fined an amount of OMR 1,000, in addition
to the suspension of its activities and the permanent closure of
its premises.
These judgments come within the efforts of the Consumer
Protection Authority to consolidate the principles of justice and
strengthen oversight over the services and business sector, in a
manner that ensures the commitment of establishments to
providing their services in accordance with the laws and
regulations, and enhances community confidence in a fair and
secure market environment that protects consumer rights and
supports the objectives of national development.