Supreme Court:

The Supreme Court represents the apex of the judicial hierarchy in the Sultanate of Oman and is equivalent to courts of cassation in similar judicial systems. It was established in accordance with the Judicial Authority Law issued by Royal Decree No. (90/99) and its amendments, and is a single court based in Muscat. The Supreme Court consists of a president, a sufficient number of vice-presidents and judges, and is composed of chambers to adjudicate appeals brought before it, with judgments issued by five judges. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over:

♦ Appeals brought before it against judgments issued by courts of appeal in the following cases:

If the contested judgment is based on a violation of the law or an error in its application or interpretation.

If there is a nullity in the judgment or a nullity in the proceedings affecting the judgment.

♦ Hearing appeals filed by the public prosecutor in the interest of the law against final judgments, regardless of the court that issued them, if the judgment is based on a violation of the law or an error in its application or interpretation in cases where the law allows the parties to appeal, or if the parties have missed the deadline for appeal or waived their right to appeal.

♦ Adjudicate in cases of negative or positive conflicts of jurisdiction between the ordinary courts, the administrative courts, and other courts, and adjudicate in disputes concerning the conformity of laws and regulations with the Constitution and their non-contradiction with its provisions through the formation of a specially constituted body within the Supreme Court.

Courts of Appeal

Courts of appeal represent the second level of litigation. There are 13 courts of appeal in the Sultanate of Oman in various governorates, and judgments are issued by three judges. Courts of appeal have jurisdiction over:

♦ Hearing appeals against judgments issued by courts of first instance within their jurisdiction.

♦ Hearing criminal cases.