After a drive from Muscat, via Nizwa, we arrived in Dhofar where the tail end of a weak Khareef (Monsoon) season was still evident. Most of Dhofars beaches are soft white sand, beloved by Humans and not surprisingly animals.
Beaches in Dhofar
Tag: OMAN
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.
Oman and Yemen
close neighbours
The Saudi lead attacks on Yemen seem to have become more aggressive and widespread following the death of 50 Bahraini and UAE troops who are engaged in military action in Marib Yemen. Inexplicably the damage includes the home of Oman’s Ambassador to Yemen.
Oman, which is not involved the attacks lead by the other five members of the GCC, Continue reading “Oman and Yemen”
Oman Saudi Road near opening
possibly as early as October
The announced Oman Road to Saudi opening will create the 1st direct tarmac road linkage between Oman and Saudi Arabia, despite the border between the two countries being some 700 kilometres long. This is all about to change with the Oman Road to Saudi opening south-east of the international border intersection between Oman, Saudi & the UAE.
The Oman section runs from Continue reading “Oman Saudi Road near opening”
Opinions about Oman
in a volatile region
Giorgio Cafiero, contributes articles to a number of media organisations about the Arabian Gulf (yes as we are in Oman it’s not the Persian Gulf at the moment). After some analyses of the background of foreign fighters by ‘The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence’ (an organisation created by various academic institutions) in Syria he noticed there were none from Oman. In his article in the online Huffington Post he notes that “unlike other Gulf Arab monarchies, hard-line Wahhabism/Salafism is not
a pillar of Muscat’s Continue reading “Opinions about Oman”
Bidiya visit over Eid
to the Al Salmi Library.
It was nice to visit to Bidiya over Eid, its one of my favourite parts of Oman.
Just on the edge of the Wahiba Sands, a scattering of small Date Oasis make use of the subsurface water and oven like summer temperatures to grow some of Oman’s wonderful dates. Continue reading “Bidiya visit over Eid”
My Lucky Weekend
in Muscat
What a weekend full of good fortune I could pass on. On Saturday Jojo Bird of ‘What’s Happening Muscat, Oman?‘ tagged me to say that I had just won a great prize of an HTC phone from eSaver in Muscat- the first prize I’ve won in soooo many years living in Oman. JoJo had told the group the day before about a Philipino teacher who had just died of cancer leaving 6 young children without a parent. Continue reading “My Lucky Weekend”
Oman’s Subsidies in the News again
as they hit 12% of Government Expenditure
Once again Oman’s subsidies made to a variety of products is a feature of an article; today in the Times of Oman. In Oman Total subsidy and exemption estimate for 2015 is at OMR1.8 billion (thats USDollar 4.67Billion) says the Times of Oman and it will be entrenched further with the establishment of the ‘strategic food reserve’ .
According to Reuters, Oman Government expenditure this year is estimated at 14.1 billion rials ($36.6 billion).
So subsidy is about 12% of Government expenditure – which incurred a deficit of OMR1.06 billion in 2014 and is projected to increase to OMR2.5 billion in 2015.
According to Boston Consulting – private wealth in Oman Continue reading “Oman’s Subsidies in the News again”
Huge increase in personal wealth in Oman
and more to come in 2015
Private wealth in Oman grew by an impressive 35.4 per cent in 2014 says Boston Consulting Group.
This despite Continue reading “Huge increase in personal wealth in Oman”
Cyclone Ashobaa
stalled off Oman
Oman is on the edge of another Cyclone, Ashobaa. At 990 mbar Ashobaa is not as intense as Gonu (920 mbar) in 2007 or Phet (970 mbar) in 2010 >> scroll down for the video.
However its arrival Continue reading “Cyclone Ashobaa”
Shabab Oman Celebrated
in an evening with a nautical theme.
It was good to spend an evening celebrating one of Oman’s finest Ambassadors the sailing ship Shabab Oman and her long serving commander Captain Chris Biggins. The guest of honor His Highness Sayyid Shihab Bin Tariq Al-Said
was the Admiral Continue reading “Shabab Oman Celebrated”
Dust Storm Over Oman
Over the last couple of weeks Oman, and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, has been blanketed by massive dust storms. Visibility has been reduced to meters and Flights cancelled. Seeing the dust from the Ground is one thing, from Space is another – and thanks to NASA here is that perspective Continue reading “Dust Storm Over Oman”
Celebrations for the return to Oman of Sultan Qaboos
at Oman’s Royal Opera House
The welcome return to Oman of Sultan Qaboos has been celebrated throughout Oman. Probably nowhere as spectacularly as at the Royal Opera House.
A Son et Lumière Continue reading “Celebrations for the return to Oman of Sultan Qaboos”
Oman’s Flora and Fauna
on a Group Tour in Oman
I took a small group from Zegrahm Expeditions to visit Oman’s Botanic Garden where Dr Annette Patzelt the site’s Scientific Director kindly explained the work and future of this unique establishment.
The Botanic garden has the Continue reading “Oman’s Flora and Fauna”
Bait Al Luban Restaurant Muttrah
for a nice meal
Opposite the Fish Souq (still under renovation) in Mutrah is a restored old house. On the upper floor is the Bait Al Luban Restaurant (Bait Al Luban is Arabic for Frankincense House ).
Its decor is re-imagined traditional Omani and sets the atmosphere nicely. The restaurant has only just opened in Mutrah so diners were outnumbered by staff, however rather than Continue reading “Bait Al Luban Restaurant Muttrah”
Oman wins a Best Economy Class 2014 Award
at the “World Travel Awards”
Oman Air – has won the World’s Leading Airline – Best Economy Class 2014 at the “World Travel Awards”
beating other nominees
British Airways
Cathay Pacific Airways
Emirates
Ethiopian Airlines
Etihad Airways
Hainan Airlines
Lufthansa
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
South African Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways
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