Tony Walsh – author on Oman & Arabia
Oman’s built history stretches back 5,000 years, its one of the Arab world’s most enduring cultures. Today its interconnected through modern highways and impressive mobile telecom networks.
The latest ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2017 shows that the youth in the Arab World may be closer to their western counterparts viewpoint than many think.
The survey was conducted Continue reading “Arab Youth Survey 2017”
The Oman side of the much needed Oman Saudi road is having an integrated fuel station built.
Continue reading “Oman Saudi road the border is still not open“
Oman is a destination for migratory birds during Spring and Autumn, in addition to resident birds in Oman. Some pass through, others like White Storks and Steppe Eagles overwinter in Oman using it as a food larder and return to breeding grounds to the north. But there are some that come to Oman and breed, and included in these is the Sooty Falcon in Oman, Falco concolor.
The Sooty Falcon is a medium-sized falcon with, as its name suggests, a colour that is a shade of grey, perhaps Continue reading “Sooty Falcon in Oman – Film”
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”
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”
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”
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”
Manah Oman has one of the Sultanate’s most complete remaining mud-bricks towns.
About 163kms southeast of Muscat, the mud town is on Continue reading “MANAH OMAN”
The Oman government has published the Budget for 2017. Not unexpectedly, given the country’s reliance on oil, it shows a substantial deficit which is anticipated to be 28% of Government Revenue. The deficit during the remaining years of the government’s 5-year plan to 2020 is again projected to remain between 25-30% each year. The government is anticipating a rise in its expenditure from a projected Omani Rials (OMR) 11,165Billion in 2017 to (OMR) 14,100 in 2020.
This will partially be supported by a Continue reading “Oman Budget 2017”
Reports in many media including separately by Reuters and Bloomberg say that Oman is joining the Saudi-led ‘Islamic alliance against terror’. This alliance is widely assumed a force lead by Saudi Arabia against Iran, despite any doubt suggested by its name.
The timing of the letter signed by Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi, Continue reading “Oman is joining the ‘Islamic Military Alliance Against Terrorism’”
Oman’s budget deficit has been reported on by the Times of Oman. It was US$8.46 in 2015 from Jan-Oct; in 2016 the Times reported it was US$12.49 (using Omani Rial US$ conversion).
This 47% Continue reading “Omans 10 month Budget Deficit announced”
The Saudi to Oman Road opening has been planned for many years. In Oman’s north-west is the small town of Tanam, which was a small part of Oman’s Oil production leap. Its just about to feature again as the much talked about Saudi – Oman road seems about to open early 2017; Tanam is the last anything before the border.
I wrote in September 2015 that the road was ready to open Continue reading “Saudi to Oman Road still to open”
At the north-west terminus of the Frankincense Trail from Oman is Rome. We arrived into Rome on Italo Train‘s excellent service.
After the Continue reading “Rome the end of the Frankincense Trail some 5,500kms from Dhofar’s mountains“
a great new service in Muscat
Almost ready for service are Oman’s bright and shiny new Buses under the new brand ‘Mwasalat’.
They are a familiar Continue reading “Oman’s New Bus Fleet”
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