How did Oman’s 1996 Basic Law change its political system?

The 1996 Basic Law of the State was a landmark development for Oman, serving as the country’s first written constitution. It significantly transformed the political system by formalizing the structure of government and clarifying the process of succession.1

Key changes introduced by the Basic Law include:

• Bicameral Legislature: It established the Council of Oman, a new legislative body consisting of two chambers: the Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shūrā) as the lower house and the newly created Council of State (Majlis al-Dawlah) as the upper house.1
• Expanded Political Participation: The law extended the right to serve in the government to all Omani women, building upon earlier reforms that had granted limited suffrage to women in select constituencies.1
• Institutional Framework: By codifying these roles, the Basic Law provided a clearer constitutional framework for the sultanate, which remains a monarchy where the sultan serves as the head of state and typically acts as the prime minister.1