FERRY SERVICE FOR OMAN FROM QATAR? as Qatar is trying to establish a Ferry Service

A Ferry Service for Oman from Qatar and Kuwait might be launching soon.

Grand Ferry via Abdul Basit The Peninsula
Grand Ferry via Abdul Basit The Peninsula

This seems to be being organized from  Continue readingFERRY SERVICE FOR OMAN FROM QATAR? as Qatar is trying to establish a Ferry Service

Oman’s Orange and White Taxi Fares to be metered by a new government decision from mid 2019

Oman Taxi Fares for the vehicles coloured orange and white, maybe metered from 2019. There are apparently 36,000 of these taxis in Oman with around 20,000 operating in Muscat.

Taxi Oman
Taxi Oman

This will mean that all taxis in Oman will have a type of metered fare system.

The proposal is that the fares will be 300baisa (Omani Rial 0.300) for the initial hire and 130baisa (Omani Rial 0.130)per kilometre; with a minimum fare of Rial Omani 1.000. No detail was given regarding the mini-buses which carry up to 13 passengers.  A waiting fee of 50baisa per minute will be levied, though as most journeys are simply flagged down this is unlikely to need to be calculated. As most journeys are made sharing the taxi with other passengers, with passengers getting out and joining throughout the journey, the taxi fare is expected to be shared amongst passengers. This sharing will be extremely difficult to operate by meter as few journeys are made with the same passengers from start to finish, people flag the taxi down to get in or off at random places.

The minimum fare is 5 times higher than that for an individual passenger on a short journey.
UPDATE 6th Feb 2019
The government has announced (clarified) that although the taxis must have the meter activated at the start of a hire (journey) it is possible for passengers and the driver to agree the fare by negotiation, presumably done before the journey starts.

Therefore the situation is that while meters must by turned on for each journey  (it’s not clear if this is reset each time a person enters a shared taxi) – the actual fare can be negotiated.

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar celebrates the end of 2018 and New Year 2019

High in the mountains of Oman Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar celebrates New Year 2019 with an array of fun-filled activities and entertainment for the whole family throughout the resort; all under the experienced eye of the hotel’s new General Manager, Dagmar Symes.

Christmas & New Year 2019
Christmas & New Year 2019

Until 9 January 2019 kids can explore Continue readingAnantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar celebrates the end of 2018 and New Year 2019

Muscat Airport Taxi charges revised by Mwasalat as another price drop is announced

Mwasalat Taxi has announced more reductions to its Muscat Airport Taxi charges.

Oman Taxi Mwasalat
Oman Taxi Mwasalat

Sunday to Thursday 06:00-22:00
The base fare will be Omani Rial 2.500
with a kilometre charge 300 baisa for every km (from 1 km to 30 km)

Sunday to Thursday 22:00-06:00
and weekends (Friday & Saturday) and Public Holidays
The base fare will be Omani Rial 3.000 with a kilometre charge 300 baisa for every km (from 1 km to 30 km) which is the same as normal charges.

OMAN EDITION 5 NEW
OMAN EDITION 5 NEW


Bradt’s 5th guide to Oman 2022 has completely rewritten regional chapters and maps. These cover Oman from the tip of Musandam’s peninsula, through to the hotels near the border with Yemen. Available from June 2022 at most online book stores incl Bradt and Amazon. (my earlier 4th Edition of the guide is still available at Bradt and Amazon)

JW Marriott Muscat opening 2019

The new JW Marriott Muscat is likely to open by mid-summer 2019.

JW Marriott Muscat
JW Marriott Muscat

This is a push back from a 2018 opening that was originally planned. Financed by Qatar National Bank the hotel is located within the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. The Continue readingJW Marriott Muscat opening 2019

Alila Jabal Akhdar Christmas and New Year in Oman relaxing activities and adventure trips at 2,000 metres

Treats are part of Christmas and New Year in Oman at Alila Jabal Akhdar. Though staying at Alila in Oman is a joy in itself, the hotel has a great range of activities for guests.

Christmas and New Year Alila Oman
Christmas and New Year Alila Oman

Learn how to play ‘Petanque’, an ideal Continue readingAlila Jabal Akhdar Christmas and New Year in Oman relaxing activities and adventure trips at 2,000 metres

LAND OF FRANKINCENSE is my Guide Book to historic places in Dhofar Oman associated with Frankincense -

THE LAND OF FRANKINCENSE’ (full colour version in UK), MY NEW BOOK, explores key locations associated with Frankincense in Dhofar, including the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Land of Frankincense Paperback and eBook
The Land of Frankincense Paperback and eBook

Locations such as Wadi Andhur, Continue readingLAND OF FRANKINCENSE is my Guide Book to historic places in Dhofar Oman associated with Frankincense –

Duqm Refinery

Duqm Refinery has achieved full finance on its path to becoming a driver in Oman’s economic diversification.

One of Oman’s economic objectives is to diversify its income, and the strategies include adding value to raw materials, leverage its geographical location and maximize local manpower skill sets.

Ras Markaz Oman
Ras Markaz Oman

The new “Duqm Refinery” at Ras Markaz Continue reading “Duqm Refinery”