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.
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 “
Work has started for the Harweel 50MW project for Wind Power in Oman.
General Electric (GE) Renewable Energy who are supplying the turbines for the site said “road works, civil works and foundation works are currently ongoing”.
The turbines components should arrive Continue reading “Wind Power in Oman”
There are lots of Eid Events in Oman (cultural, family oriented and a horse event) this August 2018 – check them out and some places to see when you visit each.
22nd August 2nd Day of Eid 16:00 – onwards; SUR – N’ama Beach
Sur with its 2 forts Continue reading “11 Eid Events in Oman”
In north-western Oman are the ancient tombs and monuments associated with the UNESCO sites of Bat, Al Ayn and Al Khutm. UNESCO’s International Council on Monuments and Sites describes Bat as ‘the most complete and best-known site of the 3rd millennium BC’.
The sites were inscribed Continue reading “UNESCO sites of Bat, Al Ayn and Al Khutm”
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”
Oman’s Frankincense would have been the original cash crop if cash had been invented 3,500 years ago; but in those days it was a crop of barter, royal gift or the spoil of war.
The most famous use of Frankincense is Continue reading “Oman’s Frankincense”
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“
After the British Foundation for the Study of Arabia (BFSA) Annual General Meeting, there was a good chance to listen to Dr Derek Kennet talk about Archaeology in Oman and especially the Iron Age archaeology of a little-studied region in Oman .
Dr Kennet has Continue reading “Rustaq Oman has some remarkable new discoveries from Iron Age”
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