Muscat: The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs today, during its media briefing in Muscat, reviewed its achievements for 2025 and its targets for the current year 2026, focusing on key pillars, namely sustainable development, enhancing community partnership, investing religious resources, and consolidating the values of moderation and citizenship.
According to Oman News Agency, Dr. Mohammed Said Al Maamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, affirmed that the Ministry adopted ten performance indicators for 2025 and managed to exceed most of its targets, reflecting the growing level of trust between the institution and society and confirming the effectiveness of implemented programs and initiatives.
He pointed out that the Ministry's general directives are based on four main pillars: contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals, building trust and effective community partnership, investing religious resources, and promoting the values of moderation, tolerance, and good citizenship.
He highlighted that the target growth rate for beneficiaries of religious activities and fatwa services was 5%, equivalent to 2,083,725 beneficiaries; however, the actual achievement in 2025 exceeded ten million beneficiaries. The minister noted that the target growth rate for programs promoting tolerance, coexistence, and common human values internationally was 2%, with 12,400 people benefiting globally. Additionally, the growth rate for beneficiaries of national identity enhancement programs locally increased by 5%.
He further added that the target growth rate for returns from endowments assets, Public Treasury (Bayt Al Mal), and funds of orphans and minors increased by 5%, achieving 130% of the target, amounting to RO 8,556,799. The target growth rate for new assets annually increased by 7%, while the actual achievement in 2025 was registering 168 endowments assets valued at RO 53 million.
Dr. Al Maamari indicated that the target growth rate for Zakat revenues annually increased by 3%, with the actual achievement reaching RO 15,785,119, a growth rate of 183% of the target. The minister also touched upon the indicator for the growth rate of Quran learners, which targeted an increase of 7%, while the actual achievement reached 298,643 learners.
He added that the indicator for the growth rate of the number of congregational mosques, neighborhood mosques, and Quran schools covering their basic service expenses increased by 15% annually. The target was 100% achieved with a total of 2,741 congregational and neighborhood mosques.
He affirmed that these achievements are based on trust and credibility between the government and society, positively reflecting on the performance evaluation of government institutions issued by the Government Institutions Performance Measurement Unit.
The minister discussed the most prominent achievements realized during the past year, affirming the integration of vision between investing religious resources, enhancing community partnership, and consolidating the principles of governance and proficiency. Community partnership with an endowment dimension contributed to the construction and maintenance of mosques and Quran schools through the implementation of 339 projects.
He pointed to the management of the investment portfolio for orphans' and minors' funds valued at over RO 123 million, achieving an investment return of 5.15%. He explained that innovation in endowment projects constituted a pillar for qualitative transformation through the launch of endowment funds and investments in the space sector.
The minister also highlighted the Ministry's sponsorship of 31,642 families through 66 private Zakat committees. Regarding Hajj services, he pointed to an increase in the percentage of beneficiaries from the Hajj entitlement service to 92% of total applicants, with more than 110,000 pilgrims benefiting since the adoption of the electronic system.
He affirmed the continuation of work on governance projects and legislative development through contracting with specialized companies to approve comprehensive governance guides for endowments and related activities. The Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs emphasized that these targets and programs are implemented according to an integrated governance system ensuring realism and transparency.
Regarding Hajj convoys and transport, Ahmed Salim Al Rashdi, Undersecretary of the Ministry, explained the recent challenges due to the decision by Saudi Arabia to prevent Omani buses from entering its territories. The Ministry is working in coordination with Saudi authorities to find practical solutions.
The media briefing featured a discussion session with participation from several Directors General from the Ministry, reviewing the latest developments in endowment projects and measures taken to achieve future goals. The session also highlighted achievements in 2025, including the growth of endowment and Zakat revenues and efforts in enhancing community partnership and achieving sustainability in religious resources.