BLOG POSTS by Tony 🖋

Sultan Haitham to visit London

Sultan Haitham will visit London on 14 December.

Sultan Haitham Al Said

He will be accompanied by Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, the Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs, Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, Foreign Minister of Oman and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Zaher Al Hinai, Oman’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
This will be Sultan Haitham’s first visit to Great Britain as Sultan. His son, Sayyid Theyazin, was a diplomat at Oman’s UK embassy.

World Travel Market (WTM) London 2021 ExCeL London from November 1 to 3

This week London has been hosting the World Travel Market (WTM) at ExCeL London from November 1 to 3 . Incidentally ExCeL , owned by Abu Dhabi was a centre for overflow Covid hospitalisations in London.

Abu Dhabi at WTM London
Abu Dhabi at WTM London

The theme of the event was ‘reconnect, rebuild’ Continue readingWorld Travel Market (WTM) London 2021 ExCeL London from November 1 to 3

Oman ratifies the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications this protects brand names that are geographic in nature.

Oman ratifies the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications by by Royal Decree 19/2021 on February 15, 2021 .

Omani Halwa
Omani Halwa being made

This Geneva Act in itself is Continue readingOman ratifies the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications this protects brand names that are geographic in nature.

Middle East’s most powerful women

The annual ranking of the Middle East’s most powerful women in business has now been revealed by Forbes Middle East. From the sultanate, four Omani women have made to the coveted top 50 of The Middle East’s Power Businesswomen 2021.

From Oman, Haifa al Khaifi,

Haifa al Khaifi
Haifa al Khaifi

who was recently named CEO of Energy Development Oman (EDO) is ranked 30th. Continue reading “Middle East’s most powerful women”

Tourism needs to focus on local initiatives to support local people

The world is experiencing transformative change with technology developments, demographic changes, changing consumer habits, environmental and climate change. So to build for the future a new emphasis is needed. Local initiatives to support local people

Frankincense Tree - Dhofar - Oman
Frankincense Tree – Dhofar – Oman

These together with continued inequalities and the immense impacts of the COVID-19 have created a new approach, the Continue reading “Tourism needs to focus on local initiatives to support local people”

OMAN’S TRAVEL REGULATIONS IN WINTER 2020/2021

Oman’s Travel Regulations in Winter 2020/2021

to help understand the rapidly changing rules for Oman Visa 2020/2021 .

Visa Entry & Exit stamps UAE & Oman

Visa Entry & Exit stamps UAE & Oman

Always check on Oman government websites & with your airline before travelling to get the latest update.
Tourist aArrivals should have health insurance, return ticket, passport validity of at least six months on arrival date, and Continue reading “OMAN’S TRAVEL REGULATIONS IN WINTER 2020/2021”

New Government Ministries and Ministers in Oman created by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said has made many Royal Decrees about Government Ministries (see below) and under Royal Decree No. 111/2020 created New Ministers in Oman. (see here for 2022 update)

Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi is appointed Continue readingNew Government Ministries and Ministers in Oman created by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said

Sinaw Hoard of Silver Coins

In September, 1979 just west of the date oasis in Sinaw a glazed clay jar was dug up at a building site. The pot, with its green glaze, was a common variety of what is called ‘Sasanian-Islamic’, found in eastern Arabia and Persia during the period covering the end of the Sasanian period and its eclipse by Islam.

Al Sawafia old village - Sinaw - Oman
Al Sawafia old village – Sinaw – Oman

However, inside the pot Continue reading “Sinaw Hoard of Silver Coins”

Jews in Sohar Oman

Records of the Jews in Sohar Oman stretch back to as early as AD 950 when Buzurq ibn Shahriyar wrote about the Jewish merchant Ishaq bin Yahuda in his book “Book of the Wonders of India.” According to this text, Ishaq bin Yahuda traded between Sohar and China some 50 years earlier, where on a visit to Sohar he apparently had goods valued in excess of 3 million Dinars.

Bertram Thomas describes Jews living west of Sohar during the initial period of Islam, one of whom met Amr bin Al As, the Prophet’s representative to Oman.

Monument Jewish Cemetery Sohar Oman
Monument Jewish Cemetery Sohar Oman

Wellstead described the Jews arriving in Muscat in 1828, from the ‘exactions and tyranny of Continue reading “Jews in Sohar Oman”