RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
1 November 1999 
 (99-4697) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of the Sultanate of Oman Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN 
 
Communication from the Sultanate of Oman  
 
Revision  
 
  For the purposes of the accession of the Sultana te of Oman to the WTO, the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry of the Sultanate of Om an has presented the following revised offer of 
commitments on trade in services, with the request that it be circulated to members of the Working 
Party.   
_______________ 
  
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 2 
 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
All sectors and sub-Sectors included 
in this schedule 3) Commercial presence in the form of a 
company incorporated in Oman, with foreign equity limited to: 
 
i) 49%, (ii) Starting from the effective date of relevant legislation, but no later than 1 
January 2001, 70%. 
 
Commercial presence allowed for 
representative offices, as from 1 January 
2001.    
Commercial presence for foreign service 
companies subject to  minimum capital of 
R O 150,000 until 31 December 2000.  No 
such requirement as from 1 January 2001. 
 
4) Unbound except for measures concerning 
entry and temporary stay of natural persons who fall into one of the following 
categories: 
 
(i)  Business Visitors
 
 
Persons not based in Oman, who visit Oman on behalf of a service supplier for business 
negotiations (and not for direct sale of 
services) or for doing preparatory work for establishing commercial presence in Oman.  
Entry for persons in this category shall be for 
a period of  90 days. 3) Purchase of land and real estate is not 
permitted to foreign companies and foreign individuals.  However,  service 
suppliers will have the right to 50 year 
renewable leases for land and buildings necessary to engage in service activities. 
 
Companies with foreign equity up to 70% will pay income taxes at the same 
rates as wholly owned Omani 
companies.  However, companies with foreign equity exceeding 70% may be 
required to pay a higher rate of income 
tax as compared with wholly Omani 
owned companies. 
  
4) Unbound except for measures 
concerning the categories of natural persons referred to in the market access 
column. 
   
   WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3
 Page 3Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
 Persons who are employees of an enterprise 
outside Oman, not having commercial presence in Oman, which has concluded a 
services contract with an  enterprise engaged in 
substantive business in Oman and who provide a service in Oman as professionals on behalf of 
enterprise outside Oman .  Entry and stay of 
persons in this category shall be for a period of 90 days. 
 
(ii)  Employees of juridical persons
 
 
Limited to 20% of the number of personnel of a service supplier, ie. other than managers, 
executives and specialists.  However, in 
addition to this we can allow 10% intracorporate transferees : Managers, 
executives and specialists, who are employees 
of firms that provide services within Oman through a branch, subsidiary, or affiliate 
established in Oman and who have been in the 
prior employ of their firm outside of Oman. The entry of such natural persons shall be for a 
period of two years subject to renewal for two 
additional years with a maximum of four years.    
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 4 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
 Definitions: 
 Managers:  Persons within an organization 
who primarily direct the organization or a 
department or sub division of the organization, supervise and control the work of other 
supervisory, professional or managerial 
employees, have the authority to hire or fire or recommend hiring, firing, or other personnel 
actions (such as promotion or leave 
authorization), and exercise discretionary 
authority over day-to-day operations.  Does not 
include first-line supervisors unless the employees supervised are professionals nor 
does it include employees who primarily 
perform tasks necessary for the provision of the service. 
 
Executives:  Persons within an organization who primarily direct the management of the 
organisation, establish the goals and policies of 
the organization, exercise wide latitude in decision making, and receive only general 
supervision or direction from higher-level 
executives, the board of directors or stockholders of the bus iness.  Executives 
would not directly perform tasks related to the 
actual provision of service or services of the organization. 
 
Specialists:  Persons within an organization 
who possess knowledge at an advanced level 
of continued expertise and who possess proprietary knowledge of the organization's 
services, research, equi pment, techniques or 
management.    
   WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3
 Page 5 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
II  SECTOR-SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
1. BUSINESS SERVICES 
A.  Professional Services 
a) Legal services 
Consulting work in home  country 
law, third country law  and international law only.   
Part of CPC  861  
b) Accounting, auditing and book-keeping services.     
CPC 8621 & 8622 
c)  Taxation Services.             CPC 8630 
d)  Architectural Services.       
CPC 8671 e)  Engineering services.          
CPC 8672 
f)   Integrated engineering services.     CPC 8673 
g)  Urban planning & landscape 
architectural services.         CPC 8674 
h)  Medical & dental services     
CPC 9312 
i)   Veterinary services.               
CPC 93201 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
B. Computer and Related Services 
CPC 841 - 845 & 849 
a) Consultancy services related to the installation of computer hardware 
b) Software implementation services 
c) Data processing services d) Data base services 
e) Other 1) None 
2) None 3) None; starting no later than 1 January 2003, 
commercial presence of wholly foreign-owned 
subsiduaries will be permitted. 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
 
 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
     
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 6 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
C. Research & Development Services 
CPC 851-853 
a) R&D services on natural sciences b) R&D services on social sciences 
and humanities. 
c) Interdisciplinary R&D services 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
F.  Other Business Services 
a) Advertising                      
CPC 871 b) Market research               
CPC 86401 
c) Management consulting    CPC 8650 
d) Services related to management  
consulting   CPC 866 
e) Technical testing and analysis 
services      CPC 8675 + 8676 
f) Services incidental to agriculture, 
hunting and forestry. 
CPC 881 
g) Services incidental to fishing.  CPC 8820 
 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section    
   WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3
 Page 7Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
h) Services incidental to mining, 
including oil field drilling  CPC 883 + 5115 
i)Services incidental to 
manufacturing. (except 88442) CPC 884+885 
 j) Services incidental to energy 
distribution CPC 887 
m) Related scientific & technical 
consulting services  
CPC - 8675 
n) Maintenance & repair of equipment (not including maritime vessels, 
aircrafts or other transport equipment)  
CPC 633 + 8861 - 8866  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
o) Building cleaning                 
CPC 874 q) Packaging                             
CPC 8760 
 1) None 
2) None 3) Foreign equity limited to 51% 
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section  
s) Convention                           
CPC 87909 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section  
II.  SECTOR-SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
2. COMMUNICATION SERVICES 
B.  Courier Services         
CPC 7512 1) None 
2) None 
3) None; starting no later than 1 January 2003, 
commercial presence of wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries will be permitted. 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
  
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
     
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 8 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
C. Telecommunication Services 
Commitments are scheduled in accordance w ith--"Notes for Scheduling Basic Telecom Serv ices Commitments" (S/GBT/W/2/REV.1); and, --"Market Access 
Limitations on Spectrum Availability" (S/GBT/W/3) 
a)  Voice Telephone Services 1) Starting no later than 1 January 2004; none 
2) None 
3) Until 31 December 2003, GTO will have exclusive right to provid e services.  Starting no 
later than 1 January 2004, none; starting no 
later than 1 January 2005, commercial presence in the form of wholly foreign-owned 
subsidiaries permitted. 
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None  
 
  
 
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section Oman adopts the 
additional commitments 
listed in the Reference Paper attached. 
b) Packet Switched data transmission  
Services 
c) Circuit Switched data transmission  Services. 1) Starting  1 January 2004, none 
2) None 
3) Until 31 December 2003, GTO will have exclusive right to provid e services.  Starting no 
later than 1 January 2004; none.  Starting 
no later than 1 January 2005, commercial presence in the form of wholly foreign-owned 
subsidiaries permitted. 
4) Unbound, except as  in the horizontal 
section. 1) None 
2) None 
3) None  
 
  
 
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section 
  
d) Telex Services 
e) Telegraph Services 1) Starting no later than 1 January 2003, none. 
2) None 3) Until 31 December 2002, GTO will have 
exclusive right to provid e services. Starting no 
later than 1 January 2003 none; Starting no later than 1 January 2005, commercial 
presence in the form of wholly foreign-owned 
subsidiaries permitted.  4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
 
  
 
 4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section   
   WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3
 Page 9Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
f) Facsimile Services (The provision 
of facsimile equipment has already been liberalized and GTO does not 
provide the equipment) 1) Starting no later than 1 January 2004, none. 
2) None 3) Until 31 December 2003, GTO will have 
exclusive right to provid e services.  Starting no 
later than 1 January 2004, none; starting no later than 1 January 2005, commercial 
presence in the form of wholly foreign-owned  
subsidiaries permitted. 4) Unbound except as in the horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
 
  
 
 4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section  
Mobile/Cellular Services  
 Analogue/digital services 
PCS (Personal Comm. Services) 
Paging Services Mobile Data Services 1) Starting no later than 1 January 2003, none. 
2) None 3) Until 31 December 2002, GTO will have 
exclusive right to provid e services.  Starting no 
later than 1 January 2003, none; starting no later than 2005, commer cial presence in the 
form of wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries 
permitted. 4) Unbound except as in the horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
 
  
 
 4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section   
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 10 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
Payphone & Calling  Card Services 1) Starting no later than 1 January 2001, for 
payphones services, none; starting no later than1 January 2002, for calling card operations, 
none. 
2) None 3) Until 31 December 2000, GTO will have 
exclusive right to provid e Payphone Services.   
None as of 1 January 2001; starting no later than 1 January 2003, commercial presence in 
the form of wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries 
permitted.  Until 31 December 2001, GTO will 
have exclusive right to provide calling card 
operation services.  For calling card operation services none as of 1 January 2002.  Starting 
no later than 1 January 2003, commercial 
presence in the form of wholly foreign-owned  subsidiaries permitted. 
4) Unbound, except as  in the horizontal 
section. 1) None 
  
 
2) None 3) None 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section  
g) Private Leased circuit services 
Data Services 
Internet Services 
 1) Starting no later than 1 January 2003, none. 
2) None 
3) Until 31 December 2002, GTO will have 
exclusive right to provid e services.  Starting no 
later than 1 January 2003, none; starting no 
later than 1 January 2005,commercial presence 
in the form of wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries permitted. 
4) Unbound except as in the horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
  
 
  
4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section   
   WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3
 Page 11Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
h) Electronic Mail 
i) Voice Mail j) On-line information and data base 
retrieval 
k) Electronic  Data Interchange l) Enhanced/value added facsimile 
services (incl. Stor e and forward, store 
and retrieve). m) Code and protocol conversion 
n) On-line information and/or data 
procession 1) Starting no later than 1 January 2004, none. 
2) None 3) Until 31 December 2003, GTO will have 
exclusive right to provid e services.  Starting no 
later than 1 January 2004, none; starting no later than 1 January 2005, commercial 
presence in the form of wholly foreign-owned 
subsidiaries permitted. 4) Unbound, except as  in the horizontal 
section. 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
 
  
 
 4) Unbound, except as in the horizontal 
section  
Audiovisual Services  
a) Motion picture and videotape 
distribution services          
CPC 9611  
  
1) None 
2) None 
3) Foreign equity limited to 49% 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
b) Cinema ownership & operation 
CPC 9612 1) None 
2) None 3) Foreign equity limited to 51% 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
3.  CONSTRUCTION & RELATED ENGINEERING SERVICES 
A.  General Construction work for 
buildings CPC 512 
B.  General Construction work for 
Civil Engineering  CPC 513 
C.  Installation and Assembly Work   
CPC 514, 516 
D. Building Completion and Finishing 
Work CPC 517 
E.  Other                             
CPC 511, 515, 518 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
 
 
  1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
 
 
   
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 12 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
4.  DISTRIBUTION SERVICES 
A.  Commission agents Services    
CPC 621 B.  Wholesale trade Services       
CPC 622 
C.  Retailing Services     CPC 631+632, 6111, 6113, 6121 
D.  Franchising               
CPC 8929  1) None 
2) None 3)Foreign equity limited to 49% 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
5.  EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 
 
A.  Secondary education services   
CPC 922 
B.  Higher education services          CPC 923 
C.  Adult education                     
CPC 924 D.  Other education services        
CPC 929 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
6. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 
A.  Sewage Services                     
CPC 94010 B.  Refuse disposal services         
CPC 94020 
C.  Sanitation & similar services   CPC 94030 
D. Other  CPC 9404, 9405, 9406 & 
part of 9409 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
    
    
    
    
    
    
     
   WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3
 Page 13Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
7.  FINANCIAL SERVICES 
A.  Insurance & insurance related Services 
Direct insurance (including co-
insurance): 
(a)  Life   CPC 8121 
(b)  Non-life   
CPC 8129 (c)  Reinsurance & retrocession;   
CPC 81299 1) None 
2) None 
3) None; starting no later than  1 January 2003, commercial presence 
in the form of wholly foreign-owned 
subsidiaries and branches  permitted. 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None  
 
  
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section. 
  
Insurance intermediation, such as  
brokerage and agency;   
CPC 8140 Services auxiliary to insurance, such 
as consultancy, actuarial, risk 
assessment and claim settlement services. CPC 8140 1) None 
2) None 
3) Foreign equity limited to 70% 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
     
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 14 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
B.  Banking and other financial services (excluding insurance) 
(a) Acceptance of deposits and 
other repayable funds from the public   
CPC 81115-81119 
(b) Lending of all types, including, consumer credit, mortgage credit,  
factoring and financing of commercial 
transaction;   CPC 8113 
(c) Financial leasing;   
CPC 8112 (d) All payment and money 
transmission services, including 
credit, charge and debit cards, travellers cheques and bankers drafts;   
CPC 81339 
(e) Guarantees and commitments;   CPC 81199 1) None for financial information services and 
financial advisory services.  Unbound for other services. 
2) None 
3) (i) None.  Upon accession, commercial presence allowed for wholly owned branches 
of foreign banks.  Starting no later than 1 
January 2003, commercial presence in the form 
of wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries and 
branches of foreign banks and other financial 
services suppliers.  
ii) Foreign equity in locally incorporated banks 
limited to 70%. iii) The aggregate holding by  
(a) an individual and his relating parties 
(b) an incorporated body and its related parties (c) a Joint-Stock Company or a Holding 
Company & its related parties, in a locally 
incorporated bank shall not exceed 35% of the 
voting shares of the bank. 1) None for financial information 
services and financial advisory services; unbound for other services. 
2) None 
3) None  
 
  
   
   WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3
 Page 15Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
(f) Trading for own account or for 
account of customers, whether on an exchange, in an over-the-counter 
market or otherwise, the following: 
- money market instruments (including cheques, bills, certificates 
of deposits);  
CPC 81339 - foreign exchange;   
CPC 81333 
- derivative products including, but 
not limited to, futures and options;  
CPC 81339 -  exchange rate and interest rate 
instruments, including products such 
as swaps,    CPC 81339 
- forward rate agreements; 
-  transferable securities;   CPC 8121 
- other negotiable instruments and 
financial assets, including bullion.   CPC 81339 
(g) Participation in issues of all kinds 
of securities, including under-writing and placement as agent (whether 
publicly or privately) and provision of 
services related to such issues;   CPC 8132 
(h) money broking;   
CPC 81339 
(i) asset management, such as cash or 
portfolio management, all forms of collective investment management, 
pension fund management, custodial, 
depository and trust services;  CPC 8119 + 81323 iv) Number of bank bran ches in Muscat limited 
to four for each bank (whether local or foreign). 
 
4) Unbound, except that the number of foreign persons limited to 10% of the total number of 
employees of a bank or a financial service 
company. If the total number of managers, 
executives and specialists of a service supplier 
is less than 10, it can bring up to two foreign 
persons from abroad.  
  
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the horizontal section.   
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 16 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
(j)  Settlement and clearing services 
for financial assets, including securities, derivative products, 
and other negotiable  
instruments;   CPC 81339 or 81319    
(k) Advisory, intermediation and other  
auxiliary financial services on all the  
activities listed in sub-paragraphs (v) 
through (xv), including credit reference and analysis, investment and 
portfolio research and advice, advice 
on acquisitions and on corporate restructuring and strategy.   
CPC 8131 or 8133 
(l) Provision and transfer of financial information, and financial data 
processing and related software by 
suppliers of other financial services;  CPC 8131    
8.  HEALTH AND RELATED SOCIAL SERVICES 
A.  Hospital services              
CPC 9311 1) None 
2) None 3) Only for hospitals of more than 50 beds 
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the horizontal section. 1) None 
2) None 3) None, except as indicated under  
limitations on market access. 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
9.  TOURISM & RELATED SERVICES 
A.  Hotels and restaurants      
CPC 64110, 64120, 642 
B.  Travel agencies and tour operators 
services       
CPC 7471 1) None 
2) None 
3) Foreign equity for restaurants limited to 
49%. None for others. 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
    
    
     
   WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3
 Page 17Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
11.  TRANSPORT SERVICES 
A.   Maritime Transport Services 
(a)  Passenger transportation     
CPC 7211 
(b)  Freight transportation          CPC 7212 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section The following services at 
the port are made 
available to international maritime transport 
suppliers on non-
discriminatory terms and conditions: 
1) Pilotage 
2) Towing and tug 
assistance 
3) Provisioning, fueling and watering 
4) Garbage collecting and 
ballast waste disposal 5) Port Captain's services 
6) Navigation aids 
7)Shore-based operational services essential to ship 
operations including 
communications, water and electrical supplies. 
8) Emergency repair 
facilities. 
C.  Air Transport Services 
(d) Maintenance and repair of aircraft  CPC 8868 and as defined in para 6(a) of the annex of air transport services 
of the GATS 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section   
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 18 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border supply  (2)  Consumption abroad   (3)  Commercial presence    4)  Presence of natural person s 
Sector or sub-sector Limitations on market access Limitations on nati onal treatment Additional commitments 
i) The selling and marketing of air 
transport services ii) Computer reservation system 
(CRS) services (As defined in sub-
0aras (b) and (c) of para 6 of the Annex on Air Transport Services). 1) None 
2) None 3) Foreign equity limited to 51%. 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
H. Services Auxiliary to all Modes of Transport 
(c)  Freight transport agency services  
CPC 748 
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
(a)  Cargo handling services   
CPC-741 
(b)  Storage and warehouse services   CPC-742 
(d) Other   
CPC 743-747 & 749 1) None 
2) None 
3) Foreign equity limited to 51%. 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
      WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
 Page 19 
  
  REFERENCE PAPER
 
 
Scope  
 The following are definitions and principles on the regulatory framework for the basic telecommunications services.  Definitions
 
 
Users  mean service consumers and service suppliers. 
 
Essential facilities  mean facilities of a public telecommu nications transport network or service 
that  
 a) are exclusively or predominantly provi ded by a single or limited number of 
suppliers; and 
  b) cannot feasible be economically or technically substituted in order to provide a 
service. 
 
A major suppliers
 is a supplier which has the ability to ma terially affect the terms of participation 
(having regard to price and supply) in the relevant market for basic telecommunications services 
as a result of:  
 a) control over essential facilities; or 
 
 b) use of its position in the market 
 1. Competitive safeguards
 
 
1.1 Prevention of anti-competitive practices in telecommunications  
 
 Appropriate measures shall be maintained for the purpose of preventing suppliers who, 
along or together, are a major supplier from engaging in or continuing anti-competitive 
practices. 
 1.2 Safeguards
 
 
 The anti-competitive practices referred to above shall include in particular: 
 
a) engaging in anti-competitive cross-subsidization;  b) using information obtained from competitors with anti-competitive results; and 
 
c) not making available to other services  suppliers on a timely basis technical 
information about essential facilities and commercially relevant information which are necessary for them to provide services. WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 20   
  
2. Interconnection
 
 2.1 This section applies to linking with suppliers providing public telecommunications 
transport networks or services in order to allow the users of one supplier to communicate with users of another supplier and to access  services provided by another supplier, where 
specific commitments are undertaken. 
 2.2 Interconnection to be ensured
 
 
 Interconnection with a major supplier will be ensured at any technically feasible point in 
the network.  Such interconnection is provided: 
  a) under non-discriminatory terms, conditions (including technical standards and 
specifications) and rates and of a quality no less favourable than that provided for 
its own like services or for like services of non-affiliated service suppliers or for 
its subsidiaries or other affiliates; 
  b) in a timely fashion, on terms, conditions (including technical standards and 
specifications) and cost-oriented rates that  are transparent, reasonable, having 
regard to economic feasibility, and sufficiently unbundled so that the supplier 
need not pay for network components or facili ties that it does not require for the 
service to be provided; and 
 
 c) upon request, at points in addition to  the network termination points offered to 
the majority of users, subject to charge s that reflect the cost of construction of 
necessary additional facilities. 
 2.3 Public availability of the procedures for interconnection negotiations
 
 
 The procedures applicable for interconnection to a major supplier will be made publicly 
available. 
 
2.4 Transparency of interconnection arrangements  
 
 It is ensured that a major supplier will m ake publicly available either its interconnection 
agreements or a reference interconnection offer. 
 
2.5 Interconnection: dispute settlement  
 
 A service supplier requesting interconnection with a major supplier will have recourse, 
either: 
 
a) at any time or 
 
b) after a reasonable period of time which has been made publicly known.  
 to an independent domestic body, which may be a regulatory body as referred to in 
paragraph 5 below, to resolve disputes regarding appropriate terms, conditions and rates  WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
 Page 21 
  
  for interconnection within a reasonable period of time, to the extent that these have not 
been established previously. 
 3. Universal service
 
  Any Member has the right to define the kind of universal service obligation it wishes to 
maintain.  Such obligations will not be regarded as anti-competitive per se , provided they 
are administered in a transparent, non-discriminatory and competitively neutral manner 
and are not more burdensome that necessary for the kind of universal service defined by 
the Member. 
 
4. Public availability of licensing criteria
 
  Where a license is required, the following will be made publicly available: 
 
a) all the licensing criteria and the period of time normally required to reach a 
decision concerning an applicable for a license and 
 b) the terms and conditions of individual licenses. 
 
 The reasons for the denial of a license will be made known to the applicant upon request. 
 
5. Independent regulators
 
 
 The regulatory body is separate from, and not accountable to, any supplier of basic 
telecommunications services.  The decisions of and the procedures used by regulators 
shall be impartial with respect  to all market participants. 
 6. Allocation and use of scarce resources
 
 
 Any procedures for the allocation and use of scarce resources, including frequencies, 
number and rights of way, will be carried out  in an objective, timely, transparent and non-
discriminatory manner.  The current state of allocated frequency bands will be made 
publicly available, but detailed identification of frequencies allocated for specific 
government uses is not required.  
 WT/ACC/SPEC/OMN/4/Rev.3 
Page 22 
SULTANATE OF OMAN  
INITIAL OFFER ON SERVICES  
LIST OF ARTICLE II (MFN) EXEMPTIONS  
  
 
  
Sector or  subsector Description of measure 
indicating its inconsistency 
with Article II Countries to which the 
measure applies Intended duration Conditions creating the 
need for the exemption 
All Sectors Preferen tial treatment for 
service suppliers of the Gulf 
Cooperation Council (GCC) countries GCC countries Indefinite GCC regional arrangement 
and eventual economic 
integration in the area of services. 
 
 
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