Oman Qatar Trade grows substantially

Trade volume between Oman & Qatar has grown dramatically from USDollars549 Million in 2016 to USDollar1.8Billion in 2019

Remarkably Oman is Qatar’s main destination for its non-Oil products. Currently, there are some 200 jointly owned Omani/Qatari companies in Oman and 350 jointly owned Omani/Qatari companies in Qatar.

Oman Qatar Meeting
Oman Qatar Meeting

Mohsin Khamis Al Balushi of Continue reading “Oman Qatar Trade grows substantially“

Jokha AlHarthi’s Celestial Bodies Man Booker International Prize book

Jokha AlHarthi’s Celestial Bodies is a book about three generations of an Omani family. An almost dreamlike narration of their lives in the town of Al Awafi describes three women, sisters, and their path towards marriage.

Camel Event outside Al Wafi town wall and mosque - Oman
Camel Event outside Al Wafi town wall and mosque – Oman

Asma marries out of duty, Khawla Continue reading “Jokha AlHarthi’s Celestial Bodies Man Booker International Prize book“

Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi a spectacular building to enhance your visit to Abu Dhabi

Qasr Al Watan (Palace of the Nation) in Abu Dhabi is open to the public. Check below for a Dress Code, Map, Information, Video and great Photographs.

Aerial view of Qasr Al Watan courtesy Ministry of Presidential Affairs UAE
Aerial view of Qasr Al Watan courtesy Ministry of Presidential Affairs UAE

Continue reading “Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi a spectacular building to enhance your visit to Abu Dhabi“

Six Senses Hotel Group is brought by Intercontinental Hotels giving the group extra impact on Oman's tourism business

Intercontinental Hotels (IHG) has purchased the award-winning Six Senses brand from private equity fund Pegasus Capital Advisors for USD 300 million. The sale includes the management of Six Senses  16 hotels and resorts, along with Spas and subsidiary groups Evason and Raison d’Etre. Following the acquisition, Six Senses is now expected to grow to 60 hotels within the next 10 years.

Zighy Bay Hotel Musandam Oman
Zighy Bay Hotel Musandam Oman

Six Senses currently manages Continue reading “Six Senses Hotel Group is brought by Intercontinental Hotels giving the group extra impact on Oman’s tourism business“

Anantara Valentine’s Day in the Oman Mountains A romantic escape in Oman

Love Above the Clouds with Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar.

Raise romance to new heights at dramatic mountain retreat the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar.

Love Above the Clouds
Love Above the Clouds

Let the serene atmosphere inspire Continue reading “Anantara Valentine’s Day in the Oman Mountains A romantic escape in Oman“

Valentine’s Treats by the Arabian Sea with Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara

Romantic Retreat on the Arabian Sea
Sneak away for your Valentine getaway at the beachfront oasis of Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara .

Villa - Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara
Villa – Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara

Arrive to a special Anantara Continue reading “Valentine’s Treats by the Arabian Sea with Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara“

BUS FROM DUBAI TO MUSCAT revised options from Mwasalat

The Mwasalat Bus  from Dubai to Muscat now has a couple of extra pick-up points in Dubai, making travel even easier. Here are details of the Three locations you can get your Mwasalat Bus from in Dubai, with Map and timings.

The timings are from the main terminus at Continue reading “BUS FROM DUBAI TO MUSCAT revised options from Mwasalat“

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