The National Bioethics Committee held its first meeting of 2026 under the chairmanship of His Highness Sayyid Dr. Fahd bin Al Julanda Al Said, the Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Committee, in the presence of the Deputy Chair, Sheikh Dr. Kahlan bin Nabhan Al-Kharusi, Assistant Grand Mufti, along with Committee members.

The meeting agenda included discussion of several topics, most notably the proposed themes for the thirteenth intellectual forum scheduled for September 2026. These forums, regularly organised by the Committee, typically address issues related to the development of national policies to ensure the provision of services to society and the regulation of legislative frameworks.

As part of efforts to strengthen international partnerships, the Committee reviewed the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The agreement aims to advance frameworks for joint cooperation in the field of bioethics, contributing to the exchange of expertise and the development of national capacities.

The Committee also examined proposals for the second phase of public awareness radio programmes, which are designed to enhance societal awareness of bioethical issues.

In addition, the Committee reviewed the latest preparations for the Fourth International Conference on Bioethics, scheduled to be held in early 2027 under the title “Ethics and Modern Healthcare”. Organisational and scientific aspects were discussed to ensure the delivery of a high-quality conference that reflects the Sultanate’s standing in this vital field.