Muscat: Several new measures took effect in Oman from August 1, 2026, affecting public transport, digital government services and financial matters that could impact many expatriates.Mwasalat buses go cashlessOne of the biggest day-to-day changes is for public transport users. Mwasalat city buses in Muscat and Salalah will no longer accept cash. Electronic payment methodsPassengers must now pay using approved electronic payment methods, including bank cards and supported mobile wallets. The move is aimed at reducing boarding times, improving operational efficiency and advancing Oman’s digital transformation agenda.THEQA login adoptedFrom August 1, users accessing the Tax Authority’s electronic portal must authenticate through the THEQA digital identity application.The new login system is designed to strengthen thMajor August 1 changes in Oman: What citizens and residents need to knowe security of online tax services and replaces previous authentication methods. Users are advised to activate their THEQA account and ensure they have an NFC-enabled smartphone before accessing the portal.New Indian banking rulesThousands of Indian expatriates in Oman could also be affected by changes introduced under India’s Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, which came into force from August. Under the new rules, unclaimed dividends, matured fixed deposits and unredeemed shares that have remained inactive for the prescribed period will be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), a central government fund. While account holders will still be able to recover their money, claims will no longer be processed directly through banks. Instead, they will have to follow the IEPF claim procedure to retrieve the transferred funds.