Tony Walsh – author on Oman & Arabia
Oman News and other noteworthy issues about the country
The design for the Oman Pavilion “Oman Opportunities over time” for the forthcoming Dubai Expo 2020 has been revealed by Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture.
The Pavillion design refers the Frankincense Tree, Continue reading ““Oman Opportunities over time” – Dubai Expo 2020 Pavilion”
Uber may not be in Oman, yet, – but the Middle-East’s own Careem Taxi is. Careem had started in Muscat in May 2017 but stopped at the request of Oman’s government. As Careem must have obtained a licence, at that time, to operate it was presumably stopped as a result of private sector concerns.
The new Careem service will use Marhaba Taxis which currently operate in Muscat (part of the Omani Ingenuity Technologies L.L.C/Suhail Bahwan Group), as the Careem fleet vehicles. Careem’s fares will start at OMR1.250; which Careem say is “in line with regular taxis” (I wonder if they have ever used the orange and white taxis which start at Rial Omani 0.100).
Careem intends to operate in all major towns in Oman (presumably also through Marhaba); I guess this will mean Suhar, Buraymi, Ibri, Nizwa and Salalah and Sur (the hometown of Suhail Bahwan).
To use Careem, download their app from iTunes and Google Play. The Careem apps interface may not be 100% informative or intuitive and unfortunately the same can be said about Marhaba.
Check here for other news about Taxis in Oman.
My Bradt Guide to Oman is available as an eBook from most online stores – click here to get it immediately. It will take you all the way down to the Yemen border – and details accommodation there; and if you prefer paperback, check out the book also on Amazon online stores and your main bookshop.
Sultan Qaboos Al Said has received in Bait Al Barakah Muscat, Oman, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, along with Israeli security & intelligence Ministers.
The visit comes in the same Continue reading “Sultan Qaboos receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu”
In the far south of Oman is the location of one of Britain’s Special Air Service’s (SAS) more publicly known battles ‘The Battle of Mirbat’. On 25th October 2018, Prince Harry unveiled a memorial in Nadi, western Fiji, to one of the key participants, the Fijian Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, of SAS.
In the late 1960s & earlu 1970s the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG) were fighting against Continue reading “BATTLE OF MIRBAT a key event in Oman’s Dhofar war “
Forbes magazine has released its 2018 list of the ‘Most Influential Women’. Its good to see Oman’s most influential women are included in the list, including a new entrant.
Dominating this list, as their companies do in their fields within Oman, are Amal Continue reading “Oman’s most influential women 2018”
Muscat Festival 2019, Oman’s month-long entertainment and cultural event
Continue reading “MUSCAT FESTIVAL 2019 Oman cultural exhibition for residents and visitors alike “
The last month has seen a flurry of activity by Oman that seems to be focused on Iran and a meeting between Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani.
This may have been set off by a meeting on March 13th James Mattis the USA Defense Secretary met with Sultan Qaboos in Muscat .
Following this meeting On March 16th ‘s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Continue reading “Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian President, might meet”
Currently, arrival regulations in Oman for tourists include a requirement that the vehicle in which they travel is insured for the territory of Oman.
Insurance may be either taken by Continue reading “Oman may implement tourist health insurance”
Oman is on the verge of having a large new commercial port, Sur Port Oman.
Located at Sur in eastern Oman, the proposed port will be part of a growing industrial base focused on the LNG plants and Omani India Fertilizer Company.
The feasibility study was Continue reading “SUR PORT Oman looks ready for construction to create another port in Oman focused on raw material trade“
Cyclone Mekunu brought what is probably Dhofar’s most intense rainfall ever, which in turn brought some deaths (6 reported and perhaps a few more will be found), caused destroyed roads and spectacular waterfalls.
The effect can be seen by the closure announcment, by the National Committee for Civil Defense, of major road links – shown in a diagram issued after Cyclone Mekunu. As the diagram Continue reading “Cyclone Mekunu aftermath”
Cyclone Mekunu approaches Dhofar Oman and has formed to the south of the southern Oman coast of Dhofar. This Cyclone is relatively weak, with the ‘eye’ disintegrating and forward speed of less than 10kmph. However, the ocean surface temperature remains at over 31c and this will certainly provide an increase in the energy of the Cyclone as it approaches the coast.
Circulatory windspeeds of around Continue reading “Tropical Cyclone Mekunu approaches Dhofar Oman”
Oman has made a departure from the usual practice of only announcing the start of Ramadhan, and other religious events, by actually Continue reading “Oman announces dates for Ramadhan 2018”
Muscat Airport new Terminal opened for the first flights on
Shangri La in Oman the Sultanate’s first resort, and possibly most successful hotel property, is on the verge of being ‘repositioned’
regarding its Branding.
The Shangri La in Oman’s Barr Al Jissa Resort and Spa is probably (I feel) the key hotel in Oman, and Continue reading “Shangri La in Oman repositions its hotels branding”
Visiting Oman? Read on.
Below are the procedures to obtain a visa.
You will also want to read the Covid-19 entry requirements for Oman
The issuing authority of visas for Oman, the Royal Oman Police have announced that the Oman Visa application process is updated – read what needs to be done to apply for an Oman visit visa, based on their announcement.
The changes mean that the only way Continue reading “OMAN VISA application process is updated changes by Oman’s Royal Oman Police to the tourist visa application process in Oman “
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