Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

territorial waters. In addition, the Department of State’s Export Control and Related Border
Security (EXBS) training included a legal and regulatory advisor from the Monterey Institute,
who consulted with the Omani government and private sector on the best route for Oman to take
to adopt comprehensive strategic trade controls in accordance with international standards.
EXBS also trained Omani Customs and Airport Security Officials on identifying contraband
hidden in air cargo and identifying smugglers of contraband. The EXBS program trained
members of the Royal Army of Oman on the tracking and apprehension of persons illegally
crossing Omani borders, and the inspection of suspect vehicles. Oman also continued its
participation in the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance program which provided
training on vital infrastructure security, examination of terrorist crime scenes, terrorist
investigations, and the interdiction of terrorist activities.
Countering Terrorist Finance: Oman is a member of the Middle East and North Africa
Financial Action Task Force, a Financial Action Task Force-style regional body. In July 2010,
Royal Decree number 79/2010 enacted new comprehensive legislation on Anti-Money
Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT). The AML/CFT legislation
consolidated Oman’s previous AML/CFT laws, created a national committee for AML/CFT, and
codified Oman’s “safe harbor” and mutual legal assistance regulations. The law designated the
Royal Oman Police Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) as the responsible entity for enforcing
AML/CFT laws and regulations. Oman has since put forward considerable funding and effort
towards increasing the capabilities of its FIU, a member of the Egmont Group. The FIU
recognizes its lack of capacity in forensic analysis, and increasingly sought U.S. assistance to
increase the FIU’s capacity to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, including terrorist
finance.
The Government of Oman, led by the efforts of the Central Bank of Oman, has continued to
exercise caution and a high degree of oversight in its commercial banking sector. In December
2012, Oman formally introduced Islamic banking services into the financial system through
Royal Decree 69/2012, which added a provision to allow Islamic Banking services to be offered
under existing banking law. Hawalas are not permitted in the financial service sector, and Omani
authorities have acted on two occasions to shutter attempted hawala operations. For further
information on money laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2013 International
Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial
Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.
QATAR
Overview: In 2012, Qatar did not experience any terrorist attacks or any political changes that
would affect the Government of Qatar’s ability to combat terrorism. During the year, the Middle
East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), a Financial Action Task
Force-style regional body, removed Qatar from its regular follow-up process after the Task Force
determined that Qatar had improved its anti-money laundering/combating the financing of
terrorism regime and was either “Compliant or Largely Compliant” with all of the Task Force’s
recommendations. Still, Qatar’s monitoring of private individuals’ and charitable associations’
contributions to foreign entities remained inconsistent. The Government of Qatar also maintained
public ties to Hamas political leaders.
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