Material Applicability Factors

The Oman PDPL's material scope is defined through several key exemptions that limit its applicability. The law specifically excludes:

• Government and public agency processing
• Processing for state economic and financial interests
• Personal and domestic processing
• Processing of publicly available information

Government and Public Agency Exemption

PDPL Art.3(b):

"The provisions of this law do not apply to the processing of personal data in the following cases: [...] Implementation by units of the state administrative apparatus and other public legal persons within their legally established competencies."

PDPL Art.3(d):

"The provisions of this law do not apply to the processing of personal data in the following cases: [...] Protection of the economic and financial interests of the state."

These provisions create a broad exemption for government bodies and public agencies when operating within their official capacity, as well as for activities related to protecting state economic interests.

Personal and Domestic Use Exemption

PDPL Art.3(h):

"The provisions of this law do not apply to the processing of personal data in the following cases: [...] If the processing is within a personal or familial context."

This exemption excludes purely personal or household data processing activities from the law's scope, focusing regulatory oversight on commercial and professional processing operations.

Exception for Publicly Available Information

PDPL Art.3(j):

"The provisions of this law do not apply to the processing of personal data in the following cases: [...] If the data is available to the public and does not violate the provisions of this law."

This provision exempts processing of publicly available data, provided such processing doesn't violate other PDPL provisions.

Territorial Applicability

The law do not contain information about territorial applicability.