Oman’s OMRAN appoints a new CEO

OMRAN, the Oman Ministry of Tourism’s subsidiary, will have a new CEO, from May 1st. He will join OMRAN following the departure, for personal reasons, of the previous CEO James Wilson in February 2017.

OMRAN Mina Qaboos
OMRAN Mina Qaboos

The arrival of the new CEO Peter Walichnowski will enable the acting CEO Eng. Saif Al Hinai to focus on OMRAN’s Madinat Al Irfan the site next to the new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre and Muscat Hills which is hoped will relocate major companies away from Ruwi.

Peter Walichnowski
Peter Walichnowski

Peter Walichnowski led the development of Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates for Majid Al Futtaim during his second time with that company. In between those two periods he set up his own company, Skylan Properties, which operated in China and Korea. Before working in Dubai he developed Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, southern England, for the Australian mall developer Lend Lease. OMRAN’s associated portfolio under Oman’s

Millennium Resort Mussanah Oman
Millennium Resort Mussanah Oman

Ministry of Tourism also includes the intended Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront, Jebel Sifah, Salalah Beach and Saraya Bandar Jissah which are substantial leisure projects while the Millennium Resort Mussanah and Crowne Plaza Hotel Duqm are stand-alone hotels.

The intention for OMRAN is to substantially increase the contribution of tourism, in all its aspects, to Oman’s economy, has long been the intention of the government. Interestingly there are also several other government entities that are becoming involved in tourism, notably ASAAS whose head office is adjacent to OMRAN.

Author: Tony Walsh

Book author including the current Bradt guide to Oman