Programme Structure
The Decree Fellowship is delivered over two intensive weeks. Week 1 builds foundational knowledge and core skills. Week 2 applies that knowledge to specialised areas of law and culminates in a group presentation.
Week 1: Foundations & Skills
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| Day 1 — Sunday, 2 August | |
| 08:00–08:30 | Breakfast |
| 08:30–09:30 | Welcome, Icebreakers, Fellowship Overview Dr Riyadh Al-Balushi—CEO, Decree Basma Al-Farsi—Finance and Operations Officer, Decree Abdulrahman Al-Farsi—Legal Associate, Decree |
| 09:30–10:30 | Overview of Omani Legislation and the Official Gazette Dr Riyadh Al-Balushi—CEO, Decree Abdulrahman Al-Farsi—Legal Associate, Decree |
| 10:30-11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–13:00 | The Basic Statute of the State and the Branches of the Omani Government Dr Riyadh Al-Balushi—CEO, Decree |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00–16:00 | Conducting Omani Legal Research Online Dr Riyadh Al-Balushi—CEO, Decree Abdulrahman Al-Farsi—Legal Associate, Decree |
| Day 2 — Monday, 3 August | |
| 8:00–8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30–10:30 | Procurement, Tenders, & Contracts in Oman Maad Al-Balushi—Senior Associate, FALC |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–13:00 | International Law & Oman Dr Riyadh Al-Balushi—CEO, Decree |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00–16:00 | Careers Panel: Pathways for Law Graduates (In-House, Government & Private Practice) Abdulrahman Al-Farsi—Legal Associate, Decree (Moderator) Leena Al-Kindi—Corporate Associate, FALC Sara Taqi—Legal Associate, OQ |
| Day 3 — Tuesday, 4 August | |
| 8:00–8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30–10:30 | Intellectual Property Law Dr Riyadh Al-Balushi—CEO, Decree |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–13:00 | Ethics, Generative AI, & Legal Technology in Practice Mohammed Al-Mazrui—Senior Associate, FALC |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00–16:00 | Group Project: Topic Selection, Team Formation & Research Planning |
| Day 4 — Wednesday, 5 August | |
| 8:00–8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30–10:30 | Data Protection in Oman Buthaina Al-Wardi—Junior Legal Associate, Omantel |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–13:00 | Labour Law & Social Protection: Contracts, Rights & Omanisation Suhaila Al-Sharji—Senior Legal Counsel, PDO |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00–16:00 | Microsoft Word for Lawyers Dr Riyadh Al-Balushi—CEO, Decree |
| 19:30-22:00 | *OQ Evening Panel Discussion Insights from Senior Legal Practitioners Yousuf Al-Busaidi—VP Legal, Asyad & Deputy Chairman of the Board, Decree (Moderator) Abdulwahhab Al-Hinai—General Counsel, OQ Asad Qayyum—Managing Partner, MAQ Legal Raya Al-Harthy—Partner, Trowers & Hamlins |
| Day 5 — Thursday, 6 August | |
| 8:00–8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30–13:00 | Field Visit to Majlis Al-Shura |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00–16:00 | Project Work: Research & Initial Outline |
Week 2: Applied Law & Group Project
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| Day 6 — Sunday, 9 August | |
| 8:00–8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30–10:30 | Company Law in Oman: Formation, Governance & Compliance Fatma Al-Maamary—Partner, MAQ Legal |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–13:00 | Securities Law, Capital Markets & IPOs in Oman Khalid Al-Abri—Partner, MAQ Legal Iman Al-Lawati—Associate, MAQ Legal Ruqayyah Al-Saqri—Associate, MAQ Legal |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00–16:00 | Project Work: Research & Drafting Phase |
| Day 7 — Monday, 10 August | |
| 8:00–8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30–10:30 | Oil & Gas Law in Oman Mubarak Al-Hinai—Principal Legal Advisor, OQ |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–13:00 | Special Economic Zones, ITCs & the International Financial Centre Maad Al-Balushi, FALC |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00–16:00 | Project Work: Continued Drafting |
| 19:00-21:00 | *Omantel Innovation Labs Evening Fireside Chat AI and Contract Review Ahmed Al-Kindi—Co-Founder and CEO, instaSpace |
| Day 8 — Tuesday, 11 August | |
| 8:00–8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30–10:30 | Energy Transition Yousuf Al-Busaidi—VP Legal, Asyad & Deputy Chairman of the Board, Decree (Moderator) |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–13:00 | CV Writing & Personal Branding for Legal Professionals Zubaida Al-Nadhairi—Manager of Talent Acquisition, OQ |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00–16:00 | Mock Job Interviews & Professional Feedback Al-Mujahid Al-Nabhani—Senior Associate, FALC Ali Al-Abri, Board Member, Decree Asad Qayyum—Managing Partner, MAQ Legal Basma Al-Farsi—Finance Officer, Decree Dr Faten Hani—Founder & CEO, WASIL Noora Al-Lawati—Legal Advisor, Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Mariam Al-Keyoumi—Legal Advisor, Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Sumaiya Al-Balushi—Senior Legal Counsel, PDO Yousuf Al-Busaidi—Deputy Chairman of the Board, Decree Zubaida Al-Nadhairi—Manager of Talent Acquisition, OQ |
| Day 9 — Wednesday, 12 August | |
| 8:00–8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30–10:30 | Banking & Islamic Finance Law Rida Bhatti—Senior Associate, MAQ Legal |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00–13:00 | Tax Law in Oman Mashail Al-Balushi—Tax Manager, PwC Muataz Al-Balushi—Tax Associate, PwC |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00–16:00 | Project Work: Final Revisions & Presentation Rehearsals |
| Day 10 — Thursday, 13 August | |
| 8:00–10:00 | Breakfast & Networking |
| 10:00–13:00 | Group Presentations & Panel Feedback Asad Qayyum—Managing Partner, MAQ Legal Mohammed Al-Mazrui—Senior Associate, FALC |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
Group Project
Three teams of four fellows will each identify a legal gap or practical challenge in Omani law, research the policy context, and present their findings and recommendations to a panel of senior lawyers on the final day.
The group project runs across both weeks of the programme, with dedicated time for topic selection, research, drafting, revision, and rehearsal built into the schedule.
Learn more about the group project here: