Not every dispute needs a long court case. Dr. Abdullah Al Rashdi Office, Advocates and Legal Consultants, based in Muscat, acts as your mediation lawyer in Oman, working on settlement, reconciliation and mediation between the parties, whether a case is already before the courts or has not yet been filed. With over 20 years of experience, we serve individuals and businesses across the Sultanate, always preserving our client's legal rights and staying within the law and the customs that govern amicable settlement.
Amicable settlement in Oman: the legal framework
Oman's Conciliation and Settlement Law, issued by Royal Decree 98/2005, provides for conciliation and settlement committees. Using them is optional, and they can hear civil, commercial and personal status disputes before a lawsuit is filed. Applications are free of fees, and a signed settlement record is an enforceable instrument. Parties to a pending case may also settle and ask the court to record their settlement under the Civil and Commercial Procedure Law.
When do you need a settlement lawyer?
- A dispute with an Omani partner, sponsor, supplier or customer that you would rather resolve without ending the business relationship.
- An unpaid debt, owed to you or by you, that could be settled with a written repayment schedule instead of a claim.
- A disagreement with an employer or employee over wages, end-of-service gratuity or termination.
- A landlord–tenant dispute over unpaid rent, eviction or maintenance.
- A family matter, such as maintenance, custody or an inheritance, that you want handled quietly and privately.
- A case already in court where both sides now see value in settling.
- A settlement offer you have received and want checked before you sign it.
How we help
- Mediation between the parties: contacting the other side or their lawyer and running structured negotiations.
- Settlement of pending cases: pursuing a settlement while the case is heard and having it recorded as the law provides.
- Pre-action settlement: resolving the dispute early, before costs and procedure escalate.
- Assessing your position: reviewing the documents so you negotiate knowing what a court would likely consider.
- Drafting settlement agreements: clear terms on amounts, payment dates, obligations and the consequences of default.
- Representation before conciliation and settlement committees and other bodies that handle amicable settlement.
- Following up on performance: if the other side defaults, we take the appropriate enforcement or litigation steps.
Family disputes are handled together with our personal status cases team. If a debtor breaks an agreed repayment plan, we move to debt collection, and where the contract contains an arbitration clause, commercial arbitration may be the better route.
How we work with you
- First contact: tell us about the dispute by WhatsApp, phone or at our Al Khuwair office.
- Review: we study the contract, correspondence and payments, and identify your rights.
- Strategy: we agree your goals, your minimum acceptable outcome and the alternatives if settlement fails.
- Negotiation or mediation: we approach the other side directly or apply to the competent committee.
- Agreement: you approve the final wording before signing, and we document it in an enforceable form.
- Follow-up: we see the agreement through, or move to litigation if no settlement is reached.
Documents to prepare
- Passport or resident card, and the commercial registration for a company.
- The contract in dispute: commercial, employment or tenancy.
- Invoices, statements, cheques and payment receipts.
- Correspondence, including emails and WhatsApp messages.
- Any claim, judgment or decision already issued, and any earlier settlement offer.
Frequently asked questions
Is a settlement agreement binding in Oman?
It depends on its form. A settlement record signed before a conciliation and settlement committee is an enforceable instrument by law, and a settlement recorded by a court carries similar weight. A private agreement is a binding contract, but forcing performance may require court action, so we choose the strongest form for each case.
Do I have to go to a conciliation committee first?
No, the law makes these committees optional. Some disputes, such as labour claims, may pass through an amicable settlement stage with the competent authority before reaching court, and we will tell you which route applies.
How long does amicable settlement take?
The law requires a committee to finish within 60 days of the application, extendable by 30 days with the parties' agreement. Direct negotiation depends on the other side's cooperation.
Will I lose my right to sue if I try to settle first?
No. If settlement fails, you can still go to court. Applying to a committee interrupts time limits under the law, but private negotiation may not, so we monitor the legal deadlines throughout.
What is the difference between mediation and arbitration?
A mediator helps the parties reach their own agreement and imposes nothing. An arbitrator issues a binding award under an arbitration agreement.
If you have a commercial, employment, tenancy or family dispute in Oman and want to resolve it amicably without giving up your rights, message us on WhatsApp, call +968 9200 0841, or visit our office in Al Khuwair, Muscat, to discuss dispute settlement in Muscat and the best route for your case.
