Category: Oman

Oman’s built history stretches back 5,000 years, its one of the Arab world’s most enduring cultures. Today its a modern economy with a hospitable population .

Oman’s new Ministers and senior Government Officials are appointed

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq has made a number of Ministerial and other important changes of personnel in Oman. (He also made changes in 2020)

Oman’s oil minister Continue reading “Oman’s new Ministers and senior Government Officials are appointed”

Jokha Alharthi’s latest book in English, the Bitter Orange Tree

Jokha Alharthi’s latest book in English, the Bitter Orange Tree, is another reflection, through the eyes of a protagonist, about several generations of an Omani family.

In the Bitter Orange Tree Zuhour, who is the protagonist, arrives in a snow covered British city to study. She slumps into a mournful reflection about a newly dead ‘grandmother, a miserable older sister and a depressed mother.

Zuhour lyrically remembers her grandmother’s scent of “civet musk, precious aloeswood oil, and ancient soil”.

Bitters Oranges Jokha AlHarthi
Bitters Oranges Jokha AlHarthi

As with Jokha Alharthi’s last Continue reading “Jokha Alharthi’s latest book in English, the Bitter Orange Tree”

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.

PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN AL SAUD WILL VISIT OMAN a sign of change in the relationship between the two monarchies.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud will visit Oman on Monday 6 December.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud MBS
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud – USA State Department photo by Ron Przysucha

This comes after Sultan Haitham visited Saudi Arabia on 11 July 2021. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said arrived in Neom, Saudi Arabia and met King Salman. Neom is the site of a projected city, part of the Saudi Vision 2030 push.
Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE, has invested heavily in Oman and has so far probably created more jobs than states such as China, despite the latter’s involvement on Duqm.
Saudi Arabia has just hosted French President Emmanuel Macron part of President Macron’s Gulf tour when he also visited the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Oman will be hoping for additional investment from Saudi Arabia that will be boosted with the expected opening of the road link between Oman and Saudi Arabia through the Empty Quarter, that I blogged about as being near opening in 2015. The road will be useful to improve flow of goods between the two countries, especially for consumer products like Al Marai.
A long hoped for oil-pipeline from Saudi’s oils fields into Duqm Oman is a longer-term project. The Oman-Saudi road will make its construction easier as the road passes through the oil area of Shaybah in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Other infrastructure areas is the much anticipated Gulf Rail project, that would not only link the GCC states but in Oman will be a much needed freight, and hopefully, passenger service that will remove pressure on Oman’s road network.
The announcement about Prince Salman’s visit will doubtless be followed by numerous agreements between the two countries and companies.

Following his visit, Prince Salman will travel through the GCC – meeting with leaders of the UAE on Tuesday and then onto Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

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 reading “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.“

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”

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

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”

Oman’s New Tourism Regulations includes mandatory Insurance policy by the tourist

Oman’s New Tourism Regulations have been issued by Oman’s Ministry of Tourism for the return of in-bound tourism to Oman.

Tour Group Muscat Oman
Tour Group Muscat Oman

In addition to following the preventive measures needed by the Supreme Committee on COVID-19 at their offices, the ministry said the operators must ensure that travellers have a medical certificate or required permits issued before travelling.

All reservations should be made through the internet, preferable with on-line or contactless payments.

Tours for groups should not exceed 15 people – and while on tour physical distancing should be observed with signed reminders.

Turtle Watching Oman
Turtle Watching Oman

Medical coverage insurance will be compulsory for all travellers before finalising any booking.

When a tourist arrives the following procedures should be followed.

The number of people entering the hotel reception area to be limited.

Social distancing requirements should be observed and clean waiting areas with water bottles are to be provided.

At hotel check-in, online registration is prefered and where a physical document is required separate pens should be used for each guest.

An a-la-carte menu is to be offered in hotels and restaurants.not a buffet.

Tour guides should have a digital thermometer to drivers for temperature checks of the guests.

 

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