Tony Walsh – author on Oman & Arabia
Snapshots of my life & visits to 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.
With a Tax spend towards car transport of GBPound33Billion the United Kingdom still lags behind countries in The Gulf in terms of their repair state
with the UAE rated as Continue reading “Oman’s Roads are better than Britain’s says report”
With the days still not too hot and the evenings pleasantly warm March is a fantastic time to get out and about for Oman’s Top 5 things to do in March.
The month usually has world-class performers at the Royal Opera House – past performers have included Anna Netrebko and a rising star Yusif Eyvazov. This March enjoy Lakme the opera by Léo Delibes with the wonderful “Bell Song” ( L’air des Clochettes)
and “Flower Duet” (Duo des fleurs – known the British Airways theme after it was used in their adverts – the video is a superlative performance by Sabine Devieilhe & Marianne Crebassa – who are not performing in Oman)
Oman’s Ministry of Tourism has issued agreements for the development of 11 tourism accommodation projects throughout the country.
Leading the way is a substantial plot to be developed by the Oman Government’s ‘Oman Investment Fund’. The size of the plot in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, 73,367sqm is comparable to the plot developed by an Oman pension fund and operated by Anantara and about 50% of the land area available to Alila, the new property will be the mountain’s 3rd luxury hotel. Al Jabal Al Akhdar’s room offering has grown from a single 22room hotel in 2011 to 4 hotels with 10times the number. The government intend
the mountains of Al Jabal Al Akhdar which Continue reading “Eleven new tourism accommodation plots allocated in Oman”
Iran is rapidly become a key element in Oman’s economic and political future. On Wednesday 15th February 2017 Iranian President Rouhani will pay a brief visit to Sultan Qaboos in the morning before flying to Kuwait, which is the next chair of the GCC. Both Oman and Kuwait have important Shia Muslim populations, in Kuwait these are focused in business; my employer in Saudi whose family is Shia being perhaps the largest private company in Kuwait.
In Oman however Continue reading “President Rouhani to visit Sultan Qaboos on Wednesday 15th February”
The new port at Ad Duqm, some 500kms by road south of Muscat is rapidly becoming the most active economic area in Oman. From a town that a few years ago had no Bank, it was developed by the Oman government
in co-operation with Koreas Daewoo into a dry-dock to take advantage of the tankers and container ships that use the sea route about 50kms off the port. Since then Continue reading “Ad Duqm Port and Economic Zone”
Oman will soon have one or two new entrants into its Taxi world.
Oman’s traditional unmetered Taxi service is in an Orange & White colour and has Continue reading “Taxis in Oman”
Chilly weather and disruptions on some tube services didnt seem to have made a dent in the attendance for the Destinations Show,
the Business to Consumer holiday exhibition, in Continue reading “Destinations Show 2017”
Oman’s Al Bustan Palace, though remaining open throughout 2017 will have restricted room bookings for 7 months. There will be limited number of rooms available from 1st March – 30th November 2017 and no room bookings at all between 1st May 30th September 2017.
This Oman government owned hotel last Continue reading “Al Bustan Palace to have room closures during 2017”
With its long coastline Oman has numerous coast creeks and bays which are important resources for sea life and birds.
Birdlife has Continue reading “Oman’s Ramsar Sites”
Details of the 2017 Tour of Oman have been announced. The race from 14th-19th February will have 6 stages and 18 teams are expected to take part incl from USA, Bahrain & UAE; but not from UK (perhaps the lack of a race in Doha has impacted here) or surprisingly Oman.
While each stage has its appeal – the two stand outs are
Stage 5 that climbs Continue reading “2017 Tour of Oman”
Oman’s new airline Salam Air has launched. Its flights between Muscat & Salalah 2 times a day are operational with an A320, while planned flights between Muscat and Dubai are to come from mid February.
Future routes are planned into East Africa, where there is also a carrier with the same Arabic spelling طيران السلام ; presumably this will be resolved if Oman’s Salam Air does launch flights to Zanzibar.
Salam Air has tickets Continue reading “Salam Air Oman launches Flights”
What to do in February Oman – some suggestions.
By far the most comprehensive is the Continue reading “What to do in February Oman Free to enjoy outdoor activities in Oman & a Night at the Opera“
Buying a souvenir of Oman can be problematic, with a key question ‘is it authentic’? John Kerry was seen shopping for gifts in Mutrah Souq with lots of advice givers, emphasising the problem of choosing carefully. However one area has been dealt with today the Omani dishdasha – Oman’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry have today issued details to support a Ministerial Decision issued last year.
You can Continue reading “Omani dishdasha – the Five Approved Designs”
Any organisation which had supplied work such as the superb Carpet of Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque would wish to sign the work. The company which created the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque’s principal carpet managed to do just that and wove into the carpet their details.
The high density of thread in the Grand Mosque Carpet , over 250 knots per sq inch, and extraordinary craftswomanship Continue reading “CARPET SULTAN QABOOS GRAND MOSQUE visitors to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat are in for a treat with this carpet“
The Oman government has refuted that it is holding negotiations (in Arabic) with other GCC states regarding a deposit of Billions of Dollars into the Oman Central Bank by them.
This comes after Oman Continue reading “Oman’s media and Reuters publish contradictory reports.”
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