Oman's Court of Investment and Commerce has eleven first-instance circuits spread across the governorates and five appellate circuits in Muscat, Sohar, Nizwa, Ibra and Salalah, with the Commercial Circuit of the Supreme Court at the top. A claim is filed with the first-instance circuit that has territorial jurisdiction: for money claims, the circuit of the defendant's domicile, and for claims relating to real estate, the circuit where the property is located, according to the unified procedural guide to litigation before the court issued by the Supreme Judicial Council.
This article sets out the full map of circuits as given in the guide: each governorate, its first-instance circuit and the appellate circuit it reports to, with an explanation of how to choose the right circuit when filing online. For an overview of the court and its jurisdiction, see our guide to the Court of Investment and Commerce in Oman.
The court's three levels
Under Royal Decree 35/2025, a dispute before the Court of Investment and Commerce passes through three levels:
- First-instance circuits: where a claim is first filed and the merits of the dispute decided.
- Appellate circuits: made up of three judges, hearing appeals against first-instance judgments.
- The Commercial Circuit of the Supreme Court: the highest level, made up of five judges, deciding challenges in the cases and on the grounds permitted by law.
Single-judge or three-judge circuit?
Each first-instance circuit sits in one of two forms, depending on the value and type of the claim:
- Single-judge circuit: claims of up to OMR 100,000, urgent matters within the court's jurisdiction, orders on petition connected with its cases, and other matters assigned by law.
- Three-judge circuit: claims of unspecified value, claims over OMR 100,000, and matters the law assigns to three-judge circuits.
According to the guide's jurisdiction table, bankruptcy and preventive composition, company dissolution and liquidation, and tax disputes are heard by a three-judge circuit, while commercial and investment enforcement disputes and construction enforcement disputes are heard by a single judge.
Map of first-instance and appellate circuits by governorate
The table below shows the territorial jurisdiction of the court's circuits as set out in Table 2 of the guide:
| Governorate | Wilayats listed in the guide | First-instance circuit | Appellate circuit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscat | Muscat and Bawshar, Al Amerat and Muttrah, Quriyat, Seeb | Muscat | Muscat |
| South Al Batinah | Rustaq, Barka, Wadi Al Maawil, Nakhal, Al Musannah | Rustaq | Muscat |
| North Al Batinah | Sohar, Suwaiq, Al Khaburah, Saham, Liwa, Shinas | Sohar | Sohar |
| Musandam | Khasab, Dibba | Khasab | Sohar |
| Al Buraimi | Al Buraimi, Mahdah | Al Buraimi | Sohar |
| Al Dakhiliyah | Nizwa, Samail, Izki, Bahla, Adam, Bidbid | Nizwa | Nizwa |
| Al Wusta | Duqm, Haima, Mahout | Duqm | Nizwa |
| Al Dhahirah | Ibri, Yanqul, Dhank | Ibri | Nizwa |
| North Al Sharqiyah | Ibra, Al Mudhaibi, Al Qabil, Wadi Bani Khalid, Bidiyah, Dima Wa Al Taiyin, Samad Al Shan | Ibra | Ibra |
| South Al Sharqiyah | Sur, Al Kamil Wa Al Wafi, Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan, Jaalan Bani Bu Ali, Masirah | Sur | Ibra |
| Dhofar | Salalah, Thumrait | Salalah | Salalah |
The guide lists the wilayats shown above, and its basic division is by governorate. If your wilayat is not listed, confirm the competent circuit when registering the claim or ask your lawyer before submitting.
The five appellate circuits and the circuits under them
- Muscat appellate circuit: hears appeals from the Muscat and Rustaq first-instance circuits.
- Sohar appellate circuit: hears appeals from the Sohar, Khasab and Al Buraimi first-instance circuits.
- Nizwa appellate circuit: hears appeals from the Nizwa, Duqm and Ibri first-instance circuits.
- Ibra appellate circuit: hears appeals from the Ibra and Sur first-instance circuits.
- Salalah appellate circuit: hears appeals from the Salalah first-instance circuit.
How to identify the competent circuit for your claim
The guide gives practical rules for identifying the circuit, the most important being:
- A money claim or a claim relating to movable property: filed at the defendant's domicile.
- A claim relating to real estate: filed where the property is located.
- Claim value: up to OMR 100,000 goes to a single-judge circuit, and above that or of unspecified value to a three-judge circuit.
- Type of dispute: the claimant selects the claim type on the platform (commercial, investment, construction, banking, insurance, transport, intellectual property, bankruptcy, liquidation, tax and so on). Some types follow the value rule and some are always heard by a three-judge circuit.
Example: a company in Sohar claims OMR 40,000 for goods supplied from a company domiciled in Nizwa. Under the defendant's-domicile rule, the competent court is the Nizwa first-instance circuit sitting as a single judge, and any appeal goes to the Nizwa appellate circuit. Because the claimant is a company claiming more than OMR 10,000, the claim must be filed through a lawyer, as we explain in when you need a lawyer at the Court of Investment and Commerce.
Choosing the circuit when filing online
Claims, appeals and challenges are filed through the Court of Investment and Commerce platform of the Supreme Judicial Council, in this order: select the circuit, then the claim type, then the main request. The case preparation office checks that the statement of claim is directed to the competent court or circuit, but choosing wrongly at the outset can delay registration. See the full steps in our guide to filing a case online at the Court of Investment and Commerce.
Because the procedure is electronic, you generally do not need to attend the circuit in person except where the law or the nature of the step requires it, which makes it practical to instruct a Muscat firm for a case before the Salalah, Sohar or Sur circuit.
Why territorial jurisdiction matters
- Filing with a circuit that lacks jurisdiction can lead to a ruling of lack of jurisdiction and referral, wasting valuable time.
- The appellate circuit follows from the first-instance circuit that issued the judgment, and appeal deadlines are short (15 days as a rule), so knowing it in advance makes a timely appeal easier.
- Identifying the right circuit is part of preparing a complete statement of claim that passes the case preparation office without requests for missing information.
How we help in any governorate
Dr. Abdullah Al Rashdi Office, Advocates and Legal Consultants, handles commercial litigation before the Court of Investment and Commerce in all its circuits, from identifying the competent circuit and preparing the statement of claim to appeals and Supreme Court challenges, and then enforcement of the judgment. For investors and companies we also offer integrated foreign investor and corporate services.
Contact us on WhatsApp, call +968 92000841, or visit our office at Bait Al Hamad, third floor, Al Khuwair, Muscat, near Takaful Oman Insurance and Bank Muscat, opposite the Ministries area.
Frequently asked questions
How many circuits does the Court of Investment and Commerce have?
According to the guide, the court has eleven first-instance circuits in Muscat, Rustaq, Sohar, Khasab, Al Buraimi, Nizwa, Duqm, Ibri, Ibra, Sur and Salalah, and five appellate circuits in Muscat, Sohar, Nizwa, Ibra and Salalah, in addition to the Commercial Circuit of the Supreme Court.
Is there a Court of Investment and Commerce circuit in Sohar?
Yes. There is a first-instance circuit in Sohar for North Al Batinah, and an appellate circuit in Sohar that hears appeals from the Sohar, Khasab and Al Buraimi circuits.
Where do I file a commercial claim against a company in another governorate?
The guide's rule for money claims is that the claim is filed at the defendant's domicile, that is, before the first-instance circuit for the defendant company's governorate, and for real estate claims before the circuit where the property is located.
Do I have to attend the circuit in person if it is far away?
The court's services are provided online through its platform, and attendance is needed only where the law or the nature of the step requires it. Your lawyer can follow the case on your behalf.
This article is general information based on the unified procedural guide to litigation before the Court of Investment and Commerce. It does not replace the legislation in force and is not legal advice on a particular case. We recommend discussing your case with a lawyer before filing.