The decree transferred Oman’s previous ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Saleh bin Amer bin Harith Al Kharousi, to the general diwan of the Foreign Ministry in Muscat along with several other envoys from posts in Malaysia, Austria, Japan and Syria. It additionally reassigned Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Saleh Al Bahrani from Kazakhstan to serve as ambassador to Iraq. The Omani Foreign Ministry posted full details of Royal Decree 71/2026 on its official website days after the Sultan issued the document.
According to the Oman News Agency, the appointment of Al-Shanfari was one of four decrees addressing the diplomatic service within a package of 10 royal decrees released on September 3 that also covered new legislation on anti-narcotics measures. The agency reported that the changes included granting ambassadorial rank to two other minister plenipotentiaries for postings to China and Belarus. Such rotations follow the provisions of the law regulating the diplomatic and consular corps, which requires royal approval for appointments at this level.
The Embassy of Oman in Kuwait announced the appointment via its account on the X platform and extended congratulations to Al-Shanfari on receiving the Sultan’s high confidence for the role. Embassy officials expressed hopes for his success in performing diplomatic duties while strengthening existing ties between the two countries. The statement followed the formal issuance of the decree and highlighted the fraternal nature of Oman-Kuwait relations.
Al-Shanfari, previously serving at the rank of minister plenipotentiary, now assumes the title of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary under the terms of the decree. The Foreign Ministry listed his new posting alongside the other diplomatic adjustments without disclosing his immediate prior assignment. Oman maintains a network of embassies across the Gulf Cooperation Council states, where it has exchanged ambassadors since the bloc’s founding in 1981.
Archives maintained by decree.om record that Oman has followed a consistent pattern of issuing royal decrees for ambassadorial appointments and transfers, including a 2022 decree that named new envoys to Indonesia, the Philippines and India. The current decree adheres to the same legal framework outlined in the Basic Statute of the State and the Foreign Ministry organisational law. Comparable appointments from earlier decades, such as the 1995 decree naming an ambassador to Kuwait, appear in the same official gazette records.
The Foreign Ministry indicated that the full set of decrees was published in the Official Gazette shortly after issuance, rendering them effective according to standard procedure. Regional outlets including Muscat Daily and Al Rai reproduced the Oman News Agency account of the appointments on subsequent days. Al-Shanfari is expected to take up his duties in Kuwait following the customary presentation of credentials to Kuwaiti authorities.
