Oman Air Plane crash?

Oman Air deeply regrets to announce that itsflight WY900 flying from Salalah to Muscat has met with an accident on 8:35 hours on Friday 13th November 2009.13th November 2009 11:14 hrsRevised information indicates that Flight WY900 had a total of 158 people on board, there are 126 injuries, 29 fatalities (including all 8 crew) and 3 unaccounted for. It is further reported that there are 5 resident fatalities.

From the Oman Air website:http://www.omanair.aero/wy/dark/index.htm

A weird posting from Oman Air Website. Is it for real? a drill or a defaced/hacked website?

Latest Stories and Press Releases
Exercise Exercise Exercise Exercise

13th November 2009 11:14 hrs

Revised information indicates that Flight WY900 had a total of 158 people on board, there are 126 injuries, 29 fatalities (including all 8 crew) and 3 unaccounted for. It is further reported that there are 5 resident fatalities.
13th November 2009 10:25 hrsRevised information indicates that Flight WY900 has a total of 127 survivors, of which 124 are injured. It is further reported that there are 31 fatalities including 8 crew members.

13th November 2009 10:23 hrs

Flight WY900 was carrying a total of 158 people. Latest information is that there are 3 survivors, 126 injuries, 29 dead (including all 8 crew members).
13th November 2009 9:23 hrsLatest Information indicate that there are 33 survivors, 41 injured and 51 fatalities.

13th November 2009 08:54 hrs

AT 8:35 hours on Friday 13th November 2009, the flight WY900, a Boeing B737 from Salalah to Muscat crash landed near the wave resort, Muscat.
Flight WY900 had 150 passengers on Board plus 2 flying crew and 6 cabin crew.
At this stage there are reported 76 casualties and 19 fatalities.
A toll free number 80070001 has been established.

Link : http://www.omanair.aero/wy/dark/index.htm

Sayyid Fahd receives Croatian minister

MUSCAT — His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers, yesterday received Gordan Jandrokovic, Croatian foreign and European integration minister, who is currently visiting the Sultanate. During the meeting, Sayyid Fahd reviewed the bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in energy and economic fields, exchanging scientific and technical expertise and encouraging private sector investments. They also reviewed current developments at the regional and international arenas. The Croatian minister showed his country’s preparedness to promote the existing relations with the Sultanate. He expressed his country’s appreciation of the Sultanate’s balanced policy and the achievements it made at various spheres, thanks to its wise leadership. The meeting was also attended by Sayyid Badr bin Hamed bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, secretary-general of the Foreign Ministry; and Drazen Margeta, Croatian non-resident ambassador to Oman.

H1N1 vaccination set to begin today in Oman

MUSCAT: Vaccination campaign for H1N1 flu will begin here today (October 25) making Oman the first country in the region to receive and administer the flu vaccines, officials announced yesterday. Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saidi, Under-Secretary, Minister for Health Affairs, Dr. Ali bin Jaafar bin Mohammed, advisor to the Ministry of Health Affairs and Dr Jihane F Tawilah, WHO representative, Sultanate of Oman will among the first residents to receive the shots at the Al Hail Health Centre. Residents across the Sultanate will be administered with vaccine in the coming days. However, among the 100,000 doses of Novartis vaccine that arrived on October 19th in Oman the first few shots have been earmarked for Haj pilgrims and healthcare workers on a priority basis. Following them the vaccine will be administered to people in essential services, pregnant women, people of all ages with chronic diseases, children more than six months to less than two years, children more than two years to less than six years (pre-school), children more than 6 years to 18 years (school). All healthy people above the age of 18 years i.e. the rest of the healthy people in the community including students of colleges and educational institutes will be administered. Oman will receive more batches of vaccines in the coming months and by the end of March 2010, it would have received 2.6 million doses. GlaxoSmithKline’s H1N1 vaccines are expected to arrive next week. The challenge for health authorities continues to be to convince citizens on the safety of the vaccine. Speaking at a press conference here yesterday Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid Al Saidi said, “We will not give a vaccine that is not safe. Rumours about the effectiveness and safety of the new influenza vaccines are being circulated in the community.” Urging residents not to fall prey to rumours, Dr Saidi said, “the MOH has never bought any products that have not been tried, tested, researched and registered in the country it was produced.” Informing that Novartis and GSK’s vaccine will be administered intramuscularly as a single-dose shot on the upper arm, the Dr Saidi said, “One dose is enough for people over the age of 10. However, children under the age of 10 might get two doses,” Al Saidi said. Dr. Ali bin Jaafar bin Mohammed, who is also a member of an international body that studies vaccines said that the Sultanate has been taking part in several meetings worldwide to discuss the vaccines. “We are in touch with international bodies and World Health Organisations who have a long experience on vaccines. Besides, we would not buy the vaccines from unregistered companies,” he said. Asking people not to be mislead Dr Ali said, “In consideration of the Ministry’s concerns to safeguard public health and safety and provide all measure to prevent transmission of the disease, we urge all citizens and residents in the Sultanate to get vaccinated.” MOH officials also said immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions for many of the communicable diseases. They pointed out that the intractable and killer diseases like smallpox, tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis and many others do not pose a risk today and their burden substantially decreased due to the development of specific vaccines. Dr. Ali bin Jaafar bin Mohammed clarified that those who have been infected with H1N1 virus need not get vaccinated. “However those cases not confirmed by laboratory can take the vaccine,” he added. The Ministry of Health officials also said that no one will be forced to take the vaccination. They also ensured that there will be no discrimination between expatriates and citizens on giving the vaccinations. Dr Jihane F Tawilah clarified that no serious side effects were reported so far in people who have received it across the world which includes in Japan and China besides other countries. “Studies have found that the vaccine is good at preventing swine flu,” she said. “The flu shot itself a dead vaccine. There is nothing alive in it and you cannot get the flu from it,” she added. The Ministry of Health also reaffirmed that according to the scientific studies the expected side effects associated with the new vaccine are not different from those associated with other vaccines. These effects can be summarised as local effects such as pain, swelling and redness at the injection site, mild fever and headache. These are simple transient symptoms which may last for a day or two from the date of injection. According to the WHO licensed vaccines, including influenza vaccines, are held to a very high standard of safety. “Likewise, all possible precautions will be taken to ensure safety of new pandemic vaccines and results from clinical trials, currently ongoing or soon to be initiated, will be taken into consideration by the regulatory authorities in their decision to license pandemic vaccines. WHO has held consultation of experts who reviewed the safety of adjuvants, or substances added to vaccines to make them more effective; no significant safety concerns were identified. Vaccine safety will be carefully monitored through post-marketing surveillance,” Dr Jihane added. “Rumours of side effects of the vaccines are spreading faster than the epidemic itself but we should not give an ear to them,” said Dr Jihane. The Sultanate has recorded over 2428 laboratory confirmed cases until now. 24 deaths were reported along with several mild cases treated without laboratory testing and many others recovered without medical intervention.

Oman - Donating just one click away

MUSCAT — In the spirit of giving and charity during the holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming occasion of Eid, Information Technology Authority (ITA) is raising awareness about the donations portal. This portal provides opportunity for citizens and residents to make online donations to a charity of their choice. The participating organisations include: Al Noor Association for the Blind, National Association for Cancer Awareness, Association for Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs, The Association of the Welfare of the Handicapped, and Oman Association for the Disabled. Comfortable Donation during the month of Ramadan, a month already characterised with giving and humanitarian aid, makes the portal even more pertinent allowing residents to donate from the comfort of their own homes. Designed for simplicity, making a donation is as easy as making a payment using a credit card, authorised by any Omani bank. The portal makes it easy to donate with a single click from anywhere and at anytime. And yes, contributions made via the website do directly benefit the selected charity. As it is Ramadan and in anticipation of the celebration of Eid Al Fitr, ITA invites all citizens and residents in the Sultanate of Oman to donate to these aid organisations using the donations portal. ITA, an independent national body responsible for promoting Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the Sultanate in the form of the e.oman initiative, has transformed the way charitable contributions are made to improve the lives of underprivileged individuals and communities during the holy month of Ramadan through its online donations portal to charitable organisations. Bilingual portal The portal was officially launched in January 2009 in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and the five chief humanitarian and charitable organisations in the Sultanate to facilitate electronic donation processes. The bilingual online portal, www.onlinedonations.org.om, designed for transparency, convenience, simplicity and user-friendliness as its guiding principles, allows citizens and residents of the Sultanate to make direct donations using their bank credit cards to the respective bank accounts of the charitable organisations. Security was also given high priority, as all transactions are carried out accurately and safely within seconds through the closely monitored portal to protect people’s interests. On the occasion, Dr Salim Al Ruzaiqi, chief executive officer at ITA, expressed: “With the development of the donations portal we have designed one of the most innovative websites in the country. Through our partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, we provide the public a simple, convenient and secure platform for making contributions and a number of other online financial transactions through the latest ePayment technology.” Single access point “The donations portal represents a single access point for donating, as we aim at providing superior public services. This is only the beginning of the diverse initiatives we have in store for the public following the launch of the new e.oman identity, as it will guide us in all future endeavours to truly create a knowledge-based society. Through e.oman, we plan to cover a very wide spectrum of socio-economic services in light of the new e-lifestyle,” he added. Muhanna Moosa Baqer, manager of ePayments, commented: “Although accessible all year round, we are very enthusiastic about spreading awareness of the portal’s availability during Ramadan and promoting charity for valuable social causes in the Sultanate. We are confident that ITA’s partnership with the Ministry of Social Development will enable us to reach a wider audience and cover vast territories with the advent of the Internet and new technology.” “We encourage the citizens and residents to get online and begin using this portal. We hope that this portal will help overcome the challenges encountered when using conventional methods and modes of making charitable contributions,” he added. In addition, the portal allows potential contributors to gain an understanding of the various projects, objectives and functions of the organisations, allowing greater access to a multitude of social and economic welfare causes, including financial and educational assistance, health awareness training and preventative programmes. We invite other charity organisations registered with the Ministry of Social Development to join the donations portal. The donations portal for charitable organisations is one of the various initiatives carried out by ITA in its quest to create a truly digital society providing an electronic gateway through the latest ePayment technology. It is important to note that this portal recently won a prestigious Arab e-Content Award at the Second Bahrain International e-Government Forum in the e-Inclusion and Participation category. Another current project includes the ground breaking ePurse project, the result of a tri-lateral national collaboration between the Royal Oman Police, BankMuscat and ITA. This new ePayment system enables citizens and residents to make various government-related payments through their national ID and resident cards. Later in the year, ITA will also introduce the eGovernment Services Portal in addition to the electronic Tendering initiative.

Oman - Nawras journey strikes a chord

MUSCAT ─ The fifth goodwill journey initiated by telecom company Nawras ended on a successful note yesterday. The nine Nawras branded vehicles reached Muscat after passing through most of the Sultanate’s regions and governorates, traversing more than 4,200 kilometres since the journey began on August 30. A grand reception party took place yesterday at the Nawras headquarters in Al Athaiba, under the patronage of Ibrahim bin Yahya Al Rawahi, wali of Baushar. Ross Cormack, CEO of Nawras was also present with a large number of invitees and guests. Rapturous applause greeted the Nawras team on their arrival. Members of the team were honoured and a four-minute documentary film on the journey was screened. Throughout its journey, the Nawras team aimed at fulfilling its commitment to Omani society. In addition to the humanitarian side, the team had the rare opportunity of exploring different wilayats of the Sultanate. “Nawras staff came up with the whole idea of the goodwill journey. It was not the company’s decision. Credit also goes to people who have been working behind the scenes. We appreciate all the efforts that were made,” Cormack said. Talking about his participation in the goodwill journey with Nawras, Cormack said: “I try to attend at least three events in each journey. Through the journey, we get a precious opportunity to see the Omani society and its people from the real walk of life. Honestly, wherever you go in the Sultanate, you will be received with an incredible gathering. As a guest in this country, I cannot express how delighted I am. In fact, I am thrilled how the people of Oman have placed their trust in us.” New elements Cormack is expecting the next journey to be another milestone with different facets. “We will try and add new elements to each journey in the following years, I would like to thank all the people who welcomed the team. I am proud of our team and the media, who gave the event extensive coverage.” Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, chief operating officer at Nawras, said: “Since Nawras launched its services, it has been committed to a set of values taken from the Omani society and probably being one big family is the real value”. “I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the team for the message they tried to convey and the dedication with which they went about their job,” Al Mahmoud added. Peter Rubeck, chief technical officer (CTO), also shared his satisfaction at being part of the Nawras family. “The goodwill journey has become a lifestyle for the Nawras team. Solidarity, spirit and noble thoughts have brought the team together. It has done a great job and feels proud to be part of Nawras.” The team’s last two destinations before arriving in Muscat were the Omani Women’s Association in Manah and Al Wafa Centre in Dema Wa Al Taeen. The Omani Women’s Association organised a series of entertainment events, which was attended by children too, who also celebrated the occasion of Qaranqashoo. A number of entertaining and comic plays were also staged for the audience. Khalsa bint Said Al Toobi, head of the Association, appreciated the role played by Nawras Goodwill Journey in providing assistance to different centres and associations and also mentioned the gesture made by Nawras in providing the association with a new car to facilitate administrative matters. Cormack delighted Cormack attended the event in Manah and was in his elements. “This is one of the fantastic events. It was lovely to be part of this occasion. The plays that were performed during the event were entertaining,” he said. Nawras team also gifted the children at Al Wafa Centre in Dema Wa Al Taeen a variety of books, toys and educational materials. A number of essential supplies were also given to the centre comprising tables, chairs, sewing machines and other necessary equipments. “All thanks to the Nawras team for their efforts in helping our special group of children,” said Malek bin Rashid Al Rasbi, director of social development in the wilayat of Ibra.

Oman - Learning the online way

MUSCAT — KnowledgeOman.com, Oman’s leading knowledge sharing community portal, has received great response since the launch of the KO Online School programme, it being the first e-learning community platform in the Sultanate and a major leap towards free online education in Oman. Over 280 students have registered in the KO School programme offered in both English and Arabic for its users. The initial programmes were in the field of ICT in the areas of Adobe Photoshop, C++, Web Designing, VB.Net, Networking, Java, IC3 and SQL, and the KO team is currently working on introducing new programme to cater to the various needs of the community. Students positively shared their experiences in the KO School, as one of the students Bushra Aleem said, “I joined the KO School because I was eager to learn online and I could join a school and learn ‘freely’ without any formalities like giving an entry test or buying new books. The level of teaching is just as good as attending a school but with added benefits such as learning from the comfort of your own home. A forum has been set up as well so that students can ask questions and exchange ideas easily with the teachers and other students.” “My advice to those who have joined the KO School would be to take advantage of the great opportunity that has been given by KnowledgeOman.com and learn with full interest through the lessons that are being provided,” added a spokesperson. Great experience Another KO School student, Hassan Al Muqbali, added “Knowledge means power. It’s the most powerful weapon on earth since the beginning of humanity. “I learnt a lot from the KO forums, and when the KO School was launched I knew that I could learn even more. I like the way we are taught. The KO team knew whom to choose to be our teachers and it’s one of the reasons why I enjoy it a lot.” Tariq Hilal Al Barwani, founder and president of KnowledgeOman.com, said, “We launched KO School as part of promoting knowledge and reaching the community via utilising what technology offers, with education being the nation’s wealth and the cornerstone of our community. “We are pleased to learn about the fruitful response the programme has generated for the community.” KnowledgeOman.com has two user interfaces, English and Arabic, and has so far attracted more than 3,000 registered members since the launch last year. The portal is managed by a team of dedicated local and expatriate professionals and enthusiasts who share the passion for sharing knowledge and making a difference. Achievements The various achievements of KnowledgeOman.com include winning the International Standard Web Technology Award from Oman Web Awards 2009, linking with the global software giant Microsoft, collaborating with the governmental Information Technology Authority (ITA), launching KO Mobile product and other initiatives, along with a quality online portal that has become a leading knowledge hub attracting a diverse group of visitors and members.

Omantel’s ADSL packages for business customers unveiled

MUSCAT — Omantel has introduced a new range of ADSL packages for business customers with limited and unlimited download options. The unlimited packages are offered at the existing rates whereby business customers have the choice of speeds ranging from 1Mbps to 16Mbps. The limited download packages, mainly targeted for small and medium enterprises, are available at 512Kbps, 1Mbps and 2Mbps speed at attractive rates. With the new business ADSL Internet Packages, Omantel plays a role in supporting the efforts of E-Government and corporate E-Commerce initiatives that require reliable broadband Internet service at affordable prices. ADSL packages Adil Al Raisi, VP of Corporate Customers said at a press conference which was held yesterday. The new business ADSL packages come in five different options, with high Internet speeds, unlimited download, and antivirus and anti spam protection. Adil Al Raisi also added: the first package offers unlimited free download at 1Mbps speed. Subscribers of this package get 3 free e-mail accounts with anti-virus and anti-spam protection for an affordable monthly rate of RO49. The second package offers unlimited free download at a speed of 2Mbps, along with 5 free e-mail accounts with antivirus and anti-spam protection for a monthly rate of RO95. The third option comes at a speed of 4Mbps offering unlimited download, and eight free e-mail accounts with antivirus and anti-spam protection for a monthly rent of RO135. The fourth package has a speed of 8Mbps with unlimited download and 10 free e-mail accounts with anti-virus and anti-spam protection for a monthly rent of RO195. The fifth option is at a speed of 16Mbps, the fastest package in the entire region, offers unlimited free download and 15 free e-mail accounts with antivirus and anti-spam protection for a monthly rate of RO355. New ADSL packages with limited download: Adil Al Raisi also said: “In addition to the above mentioned 5 packages, Omantel has launched 3 new ADSL packages with limited download at competitive prices suitable for small and medium companies”. Al Raisi added: the first package, with a speed of 512Kbps, is introduced for the first time for the businesses segment. It offers 3GB free download and 1 free e-mail account with anti-virus anti-spam protection for a monthly rate of RO17 only. The second is 1Mbps package, which offers 5GB free traffic and 2 free e-mail accounts with anti-virus anti-spam protection for a monthly rent of RO29. The third is the 2Mbps package, which offers 10GB free traffic, 3 free email accounts with antivirus and anti spam protection for a monthly rate of RO43. Al Raisi confirmed these packages, Omantel allows business customers that includes Government and Non Profit segments.

NBO-National Bank of Oman's Ramadan service for high-value customers

MUSCAT — National Bank of Oman (NBO) recently announced ‘Evening Banking’ services during Ramadan, for all its Sadara customers. “Sadara Wealth Management Services” is an exclusive premium banking service, tailor-made to provide privileged customers, with personalised attention, complete with an array of benefits including a dedicated relationship manager, private and luxurious lounges to discuss banking needs promptly and discreetly, in all major cities in Oman, express transaction teller services, reserved parking spaces, and a host of other services. NBO’s Evening Banking Service, for its Sadara customers, is being offered as an added convenience for them, at the Sadara Shatti Centre located at NBO’s Al Shatti Al Qurum Branch, Jawaharat Al Shatti, next to Second Cup. Sadara relationship managers, led by Khalil Al Hudaifi, NBO’s Sadara Centre manager, are happy to welcome the customers between 8.30pm to 11.00pm, throughout the holy month of Ramadan. Relationship managers will be available during these hours to assist customer expediency, share their knowledge and expertise for any banking and investment needs. Hassan Shaban, NBO’s AGM and head of Wealth Management said: “In response to our valuable customer requests, we have extended the working hours at our Sadara Centre, at our Shatti Al Qurum branch. At NBO we always strive to keep convenience of the customer as our priority and go that extra mile to serve them even better”.

Omani calligrapher to be jury at Delphic Games

MUSCAT — Omani artist and calligrapher Saleh Al Shukairi has been awarded a prestigious assignment. He has become the first Omani and the only Arab artist to receive a personal invitation from the organising committee of The 3rd Delphic Games 2009 in Jeju City, Korea, to be a member of the jury committee for the crafts, design and visual arts competition at the event. The 3rd Delphic Games 2009, in Jeju, which will be held from September 9 to 15 will see art competition in six art categories and 18 disciplines — music and acoustics arts, performing arts, craft, design and visual arts, lingual arts, communication and social arts, architecture and ecological arts under the motto Tuning into Nature. Some 1,500 participants from 40 countries will participate in the third Delphic Games to show off their cultural and artistic diversity. The Delphic Games was a competition of culture and arts among ancient city nations of Greece that ran for about 1,000 years from the 6th century BC to AD 394. The modern era Delphic movement was started by a German J. Christian B. Kirsch, who thought global cultural exchange will facilitate international understanding. Enterprising Thanks to his enterprising attitude, representatives of 18 nations founded the International Delphic Council (IDC) in Berlin, Germany in 1994. In the 3rd Delphic Games 2009 apart from being a jury committee member Omani artist Saleh Al Shukairi will also present an exhibition which will feature several of his new paintings that have received rave reviews for its innovative style and technique. Saleh’s presentation, titled ‘History of Arabic Calligraphy in Oman before 500 years’, will be a highlight of the event. Speaking to Times of Oman, Saleh Al Shukairi said, I am very honoured to be appointed as jury committee member at the event which will be held on the beautiful resort island of Jeju. Saleh Al Shukairi’s presentation has been translated into three languages including Japanese, Korean and English. “I am really excited and it will be a recognition for artists from this region,” he said. The 3rd Delphic Games 2009 is expected to create art exchange networks among various international art organisations and participating nations and Saleh is looking forward to it. “I hope to meet artists from different fields at the event. As we know it is intended to share the value of culture and exchange ideas,” Saleh added. Top artists in various genres from around the world will participate in the third Delphic Games. Ambassador “As an ambassador of Oman I hope to do jusice to my representation,” he added. The Delphic Games were named after Delphi, in Greece, where the Temple of Apollo stands. While the Olympic Games presented sports contests as a platform for military drills, the Delphic Games dedicated a cultural festival to Apollo, the deity of the sun, and featured various musical instruments such as the lyre, flute, ghitarra and songs, pantomime and drama. Prominent masters include French mime artist Philippe Genty; his wife and collaborator Mary Underwood; Mongolian morin huur (stringed instrument) player Tseyen Tserendorj; Korean folk play master Sim Woo-sung; French poet and critic Claude Mouchard; American typo designer Jill Bell; German architect Kristin Feireiss; and Japanese book designer Sugiura Kohei will hold maestro programmes including workshops and exhibitions during the event. The first Delphic Games was held in December 2000 in Moscow, Russia with participation from 27 countries followed by the second in September 2005 in Kuching, Malaysia, with participation from 21 countries.

Higher committee to deal with H1N1

MUSCAT — His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has issued Royal Orders constituting a higher committee to devise a mechanism to deal with the H1N1 pandemic and follow up the measures to be taken by the authorities concerned in this regard, a statement issued by the Diwan of Royal Court said yesterday. The committee will make use of an appropriate mechanism that will enable it to discharge its assigned tasks diligently. The committee will also frame appropriate proposals, recommendations and solutions.The committee will be headed by the minister of the Diwan of Royal Court and include the minister of the Royal Office, the minister of interior, the minister of national economy and deputy chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, the minister of health, the minister of Awqaf and religious affairs and the minister of information as members

Oman, Uzbekistan to boost trade

MUSCAT — An official session of talks was held between the Sultanate and Uzbekistan at the Finance Ministry’s General Diwan here yesterday. The Omani side in the meeting was chaired by Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, minister of national economy and deputy chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, while the Uzbek side was chaired by Elyor M. Ganiev, foreign economic relations, investment and trade minister, currently visiting the Sultanate. The meeting discussed a number of issues connected with the bilateral cooperation between the countries and ways of developing and enhancing them in joint economic, investment, trade and industry spheres. Macki stressed that exchange of visits among officials of the two countries was achieving the envisaged goals and emphasised the two sides’ keenness on achieving economic and investment growth that would contribute to achieving joint economic and trade growth. He stressed the Sultanate’s desire to establish joint investment ventures that developed bilateral relations in various spheres. He pointed out that the two sides had signed agreements on the avoidance of double taxation and encouragement and protection of joint investments. On his turn, the Uzbek minister expressed his delight at visiting the Sultanate. He pointed out that there were a number of ventures that the government of his country was planning to undertake in the oil, gas and petrochemicals sectors and in different industrial ventures in construction, buildings and infrastructure sectors. He emphasised that the public and private sectors in both countries would benefit from such opportunities. At the end of the talks, the two sides agreed to set up a joint working team that would explore the possibility of benefiting from each side’s potential. The talks session was attended from the Omani side by Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah Al Hinai, undersecretary for economic affairs at the National Economy Ministry; Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, undersecretary at the Finance Ministry; Saud bin Nasser Al Shikaili, secretary-general of taxation at the Finance Ministry; Khalil bin Abdullah Al Khonji, chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI); a number of officials at the Finance Ministry and the National Economy Ministry, the State’s Reserve Fund and Oman Oil Company. It was also attended from the Uzbek side by members of the official delegation accompanying the guest.

Omantel, Oman Mobile make their presence felt

MUSCAT — This year’s Salalah Tourism Festival ended with unprecedented success. Omantel and Oman Mobile, being main sponsors of the festival, have enriched the festival events with several programmes and made many attractive offers to their subscribers and festival visitors. Over 45 days, Omantel and Oman Mobile’s pavilion saw a huge influx of visitors and tourists. They were eager to benefit from the unique summer offers and promotions introduced by both companies, with the objective being to remain connected with subscribers, interact with the festival’s events and keep pace with the unprecedented numbers of tourists who came to Salalah from inside the Sultanate and from abroad to enjoy the fascinating events of the festival. Omantel and Oman Mobile participated in this year’s Salalah Tourism Festival to maintain close interaction with subscribers and secure positive and effective presence in all festival’s sites. They have made every effort to satisfy the needs and requirements of visitors. Therefore, they have organised several interesting social and recreational events to create a joyful atmosphere for visitors and subscribers during their presence in the pavilion of both companies. With all these efforts, Omantel and Oman Mobile emphasised their leading status in the Sultanate and stepped up their usual approach of providing great service. Visitors of 2009 Salalah Tourism Festival and subscribers of Omantel and Oman Mobile enjoyed the unique telecom services provided by both companies in all festival locations and events. Both companies have established fixed and mobile outlets to offer the latest telecom services in the Sultanate supported by 3.5G network, the high-speed ADSL Internet, mobile broadband and other telecom services. Omantel has also created a special corner in the Municipality Main Festival Ground to enable visitors to enjoy WiFi service free of charge. Furthermore, the company has introduced Omantel/Brownies café, where visitors and their families enjoyed the broadband Internet service while sipping their favourite coffee in the beautiful khareef weather. Summer and Salalah Tourism Festival’s promotions of Omantel and Oman Mobile were of great interest to subscribers. Offers included draws for six Toyota Sequoias, 60 prizes in the form of one-year free subscription in one of Oman Mobile and Omantel services. The two companies have also introduced several offers covering the 3.5G network, Hayyak, BlackBerry and other attractive promotions. Other family events organised by Omantel and Oman Mobile were well received by visitors and tourist as well. Omantel and Oman Mobile’s participation in Salalah Tourism Festival is part of their eagerness to serve the society, considering the festival as an annual national, social, cultural and tourism event. The participation of both companies as main sponsor of this year’s festival was instrumental to the success of the event. Omantel and Oman Mobile have had the honour of being sponsors of previous festivals, and have a long history of supporting such events taking place in the Sultanate.

Bank Muscat in Oman, Big company with poor Customer Service

Bank Muscat have a lot of service and infact the advertisements are very attractive.. but once you get into it.. you will regret the day you deal with them. BM is a big company but i just can't understand why the customer service is very very bad.

OmanForum.com Contest, 100$ Every Week

This is a contest being held at omanforum.com. If you have nothing to do during the ramadan, it is worth sharing your opinions and discuss many things on this forum. Happy Posting!

Dear Members and Guest

On the occasion of Holy Month of Ramdhan and hopefully for many months to come, for every week I am going to give away a 100$ as gift voucher from a shopping website,s names will be list separately later on, where the gift will be send directly to your doors step. The winning member should both participate a lot in other people's threads and open threads which others find interesting and participate in. The threads should be original. No forwards. No jokes. No "what's your favorite..." discussions.So members start posting and bring on your friends and relative in. And Guest, register now and start discussing and dont forget to bring in your friend and relatives.Good luck to you all

Regards
Neo

Sultanate of Oman Culture

Although Arabic is Oman's official language, there are native speakers of different dialects, as well as Balochi (the language of the Baloch from western-Pakistan and eastern Iran), or offshoots of Southern Arabian, a Semitic language only distantly related to Arabic, but closely related to Semitic languages in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Swahili and French are also widely spoken in the country due to the historical relations between Oman and Zanzibar the two languages have been linked historically. The dominant indigenous language is a dialect of Arabic and the country has also adopted English as a second language. Almost all signs and writings appear in both Arabic and English. A significant number also speak Hindi, due to the influx of Indian migrants during the late 1980s and the 1990s.

Khanjar knife, traditional dagger of Oman, circa 1924
Oman is famous for its khanjar knives, which are curved daggers worn during holidays as part of ceremonial dress. Today traditional clothing is worn by most Omani men. They wear an ankle-length, collarless robe called a dishdasha that buttons at the neck with a tassel hanging down. Traditionally this tassel would be dipped in perfume. Today the tassel is merely a traditional part of the dishdasha.
Women wear hijabs and abayas. Some women cover their faces and hands, but most do not. The abaya is a traditional dress and it is currently having different styles. The Sultan has forbidden the covering of faces in public office. On holidays, such as Eid, the women wear traditional dress, which is often very brightly colored and consists of a mid-calf length tunic over pants.
A very important part of Omani culture is hospitality. If invited into an Omani house, a visitor is likely to be greeted with a bowl of dates, qahwa (coffee with cardamom - standard Arabic قهوة) and fruit. The coffee is served fairly weak in a small cup, which should be shaken after three servings to show that you have finished. The dates are in lieu of sugar. Halwa and other sweets are often given at celebrations such as Eids.

[edit] Food
The Omani people are well known for their hospitality and offers of refreshment. To be invited into someone's home will mean coffee kahwa, a strong, bitter drink flavoured with cardamom, and dates or halwa, a sticky sweet gelatinous substance which is made from brown sugar, eggs, honey and spices. It can be flavoured with many different ingredients, such as nuts, rosewater or even chocolate. Lokhemat is another accompaniment to coffee, which are balls of flour and yeast flavoured with cardamom and deep fried until golden then served with a sweet lime and cardamom syrup. The sweetness of this dish often counteracts the bitterness of the kahwa. More substantial meals often have rice as the main ingredient, together with cooked meats. The main daily meal is usually eaten at midday, while the evening meal is lighter. Maqbous is a rice dish, tinged yellow with saffron and cooked over a spicy red or white meat. Aursia is a festival meal, served during celebrations, which consists of mashed rice flavoured with spices. Another popular festival meal is shuwa, which is meat cooked very slowly (sometimes for up to two days) in an underground clay oven. The meat becomes extremely tender and it is impregnated with spices and herbs before cooking to give it a very distinct taste. Fish is often used in main dishes too, and the kingfish is a popular ingredient. Mashuai is a meal comprising whole spit-roasted kingfish served with lemon rice. The rukhal bread is a thin, round bread originally baked over a fire made from palm leaves. It is eaten at any meal, typically served with Omani honey for breakfast or crumbled over curry for dinner.
Traditional Omani Food
It is fairly simple, but by using various marinades and impregnating meat with spices, the result is a mouth-watering concoction which stimulates the tastebuds. Chicken, fish and mutton are regularly used in dishes. A favourite drink is laban, a salty buttermilk. Yoghurt drinks, flavoured with cardamom and pistachio nuts are also very popular.
Although spices, herbs, onion, garlic and lime are liberally used in traditional Omani cuisine, unlike similar Asian food, it is not hot. Omani cuisine is also distinct from the indigenous foods of other Gulf states and even varies within the Sultanate's different regions. The differences between some of the dishes prepared in Salalah, in the south, and those prepared in Muscat, in the north, are so market that it is difficult to find anything common between them. However, one delight that remains a symbol of Omani hospitality throughout the country are the ubiquitous dates, served with khawa, or Omani coffee. Khawa is prepared from freshly roasted ground coffee mixed with cardamom powder.
Special dishes are prepared for festive occasions. The Islamic world celebrates two main religious festivals - Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha. Eid Al Fitr is celebrated following the Holy Month of Ramadan when people complete their obligatory fasting for 30 days. Eid Al Adha is celebrated on completing the Haj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca, commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham. Dishes prepared during Ramadan are very seldom cooked on other occasions.
Food cooked on important occasions, such as Eid, is of an infinite variety. Omanis across the country serve an array of dishes. In Dhofar and Wusta, the festivities start with ruz al mudhroub, a dish made of cooked rice and served with fried fish, and maqdeed, special dried meat. In Muscat, Al Batinah, Dahira and Sharqiya regions, muqalab, a dish of tripe and pluck cooked with crushed or ground spices (cinnamon, cardamom, clove, back pepper, ginger, garlic and nutmeg), dominates the menu. Other dishes served during Eid festivities include arsia, a dish of lamb meat cooked with rice, and mishkak, skewered meat grilled on charcoal.
Lunch on the first day of Eid is usually harees, which is made from wheat mixed with meat. Lunch on the second day is mishkak, while on the third and last day, shuwa forms the whole day's meal. However, it is during Ramadan that one can experience Omani food at its best and two of the most popular traditional dishes served at Iftar, the breaking of the fast include sakhana, a thick, sweet soup made of wheat, date, molasses and milk and fatta, a meat and vegetable dish, mixed with khubz rakhal, thin Omani bread, made out of unleavened dough.
Shuwa is a typically Omani delicacy prepared only on very special occasions. Whole villages participate in the cooking of the dish which consists of a whole cow or goat roasted for up to two days in an special oven prepared in a pit dug in the ground.
The method of preparing shuwa is elaborate. The meat is marinated with red pepper, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cardamom, garlic and vinegar and then wrapped in sacks made of dry banana or palm leaves. These sacks are then thrown into the smoldering oven, which is covered with a lid and sealed so that no smoke escapes. In some villages, the meat is cooked for 24 hours while in others it is believed that meat tastes better after 48 hours.
Everyday Omani cuisine includes a wide variety of soups - vegetable, lentil, lamb and chicken. Salads are also popular and are usually based around fresh vegetables, smoked eggplant, tuna fish, dried fish or watercress. Main course dishes are extensive and range from marak, a vegetable curry, to assorted kebabs, barbecued, grilled and curried meat, chicken and fish dishes.
Rice is used widely and is served in a variety of ways, from steamed to elaborate concoctions bursting with meat and vegetables. Breads rage from the plain to those flavoured with dates, sesame, thyme and garlic. For desert, Omani halwa, or sweatmeat, is a traditional favourite.

[edit] Male national dress

Omani men in Nizwa
The national dress for Omani men is a simple, ankle-length, collarless gown with long sleeves called the dishdasha. Underneath the dishdasha, a plain piece of cloth covering the body is worn from the waist down. Omani men may wear a variety of head dresses. The mussar is a square of finely woven woollen or cotton fabric, wrapped and folded into a turban. Underneath this, the kummah, an intricately embroidered cap, is sometimes worn. The shal, a long strip of cloth acting as a holder for the khanjar may be made from the same material as the mussar. Alternatively, the holder may be fashioned in the form of a belt made from leather and silver. On formal occasions, the dishdasha may be covered by a black or beige cloak, called a bisht. The embroidery edging the cloak is often in silver or gold thread and it is intricate in detail. Some men from traditional families carry a stick, which can have practical uses or is simply used as an accessory during formal events.
The Khanjar
The curved dagger, the khanjar is a distinguishing feature of the Omani personality as well as an important symbol of male elegance. It is traditionally worn at the waist.
The shape of the khanjar is always the same and is characterised by the curve of the blade and by the near right- angle bend of the sheath. Sheaths may vary from simple covers to ornate silver or gold-decorated pieces of great beauty and delicacy. In the past the silver khanjars were made by melting down Marie Theresa silver coins. Different types of khanjar are named after the regions in which they are made and vary according to size, shape, type of metal and the overlay. The top of the handle of the most usual khanjar is flat but the "Saidi" type, which takes its name from the Ruling Family, has an ornate cross-shaped top. However, all possess certain common features and have the same components:
The hilt may be made of costly rhinocerous horn or substitutes such as sandalwood and marble.
The blade determines the value of the khanjar according to its strength and quality.
The sadr, or upper part of the sheath, is decorated with silver engraving,
The sheath, the most striking part of the khanjar madeup of lether, is worked with silver threads.
khanjars are supported on belts of locally made webbing, sometimes interwoven with silver thread or belts of leather covered by finely woven silver wire with handsome silver buckles, and a knife with an ornate handle of silver thread is often stuck into a simple leather pouch behind the sheath.
khanjars are worn on formal occasions and at feasts and holidays, and almost all Omani men boast one.
Once worn in self-defence, the khanjar is today both a fashion accessory and a prestige item much in demand.

[edit] Female national dress
Omani women have very colourful costumes which vary from region to region. The main components of a woman's outfit comprise a dress which is worn over trousers (sirwal) and the headdress, called the lihaf or hijab. The Baluchi dress is also common. It is worn by baluch women. There are numerous traditional styles of Omani costume seen in Muscat. However, there are three main types which show vibrant colours, embroidery and decorations. One style of costume is rather flowing and resembles that worn by the women of the Interior, while another is decorated with distinctive silver bands. The embroidery on these dresses can take around two months to complete. In the Dhofar region(محافظة ظفار), the dress is known as the "Abu Dhail" which means 'one with a tail'. This dress is shorter at the front than at the rear and is made from luxurious velvet or cotton, shot with gold and silver embroidery, beads and sequins. It has a square neckline and is generally worn with a lightweight, cotton or silk sh'ela "head dress" which may also be sewn with pearls, sequins and sometimes small gold coins for special celebrations. Elaborate jewellery is often worn with this dress, around the head, neck, wrists, ankles, fingers and toes. Older ladies, originating from the desert and the mountains may do so.

[edit] Sport
Sports of Oman
Popular Sport
Football, volleyball, hockey.
National Team Sports
5
National Clubs
48
Colors
Red , White
Main article: Sport in Oman
The government aims to give young people a fully rounded education by providing activities and experience in the sporting, cultural, intellectual, social and scientific spheres, and to excel internationally in these areas and for this reason, in October 2004, the government created a Ministry of Sports Affairs to replace the General Organisation for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs.
The 2009 Gulf Cup of Nations, the 19th edition, took place in Muscat, Oman, from 4 January to 17 January 2009 and was won by Oman.
The International Olympic Committee awarded the former GOYSCA its prestigious prize for sporting excellence in recognition of its contributions to youth and sports and its efforts to promote the Olympic spirit and goals.
The Oman Olympic Committee played a major part in organizing the highly successful 2003 Olympic Days, which were of great benefit to the sports associations, clubs and young participants. The Football Association took part, along with the Handball, Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball, Athletics, Swimming, and Tennis Associations. In 2010 Muscat will host the 2010 Asian Beach Games for the first time.

_____ Oman F.A. _____

[edit] Challenges
Oman's political challenges are primarily around succession plans. The democratic institutions and processes are still in early development and have not experienced real power. There is some risk of destabilization by radicals backed by militant groups or other states.
Oman's Musandam peninsula is a strategic asset which may become contested in future. Strong military ties with the United Kingdom and the GCC countries helps maintain stability. The growing power of Iran is not considered a concern due to the friendly and historical ties between the two countries.
The demographic challenges are, like in other GCC countries, that a large proportion of the population are non-citizens.
The economic challenge is over-dependence on oil. While this is a benefit during oil price spikes, it is a risk during downturns.

Sultanate of Oman Education

Before 1970, only three formal schools existed in the whole country with less than 1000 students receiving education in them. Since Sultan Qaboos came to power in 1970, the government has given high priority to education to develop a domestic work force, which the government considers a vital factor in the country's economic and social progress. Today there are over 1000 state schools and about 650,000 students. In 1986, Oman's first university, Sultan Qaboos University, opened. Other post secondary institutions include a law school, technical college, banking institute, teachers training college, and health sciences institute. Some 200 scholarships are awarded each year for study abroad.
Pre-university education in Oman has three stages: primary, preparatory, and secondary. Six years of primary schooling are followed by preparatory school. Academic results of the preparatory exams determine the type of secondary education the student will receive.
Nine private colleges exist, providing 2-year post secondary diplomas. Since 1999, the government has embarked on reforms in higher education designed to meet the needs of a growing population, only a small percentage of which are currently admitted to higher education institutions. Under the reformed system, four public regional universities will be created, and incentives are provided by the government to promote the upgrading of the existing nine private colleges and the creation of other degree-granting private colleges.
The adult illiteracy rate was estimated at 28.1% for the year 2000 (males, 19.6%; females, 38.3%). In 1998, there were 411 primary schools with 313,516 students and 12,052 teachers. Student-to-teacher ratio stood at 26 to 1. In secondary schools in 1998, there were 12,436 teachers and 217,246 students. As of 1999, 65% of primary-school-age children were enrolled in school, while 59% of those eligible attended secondary school. In the same year, public expenditure on education was estimated at3.9% of GDP. In 1993, there were 252 literacy centers and 176 adult education centers. Three teachers' colleges were functioning as of 1986. The Institute of Agriculture at Nazwa became a full college by 1985. Sultan Qaboos University opened in 1986. In 1998, all higher-level institutions had 1,307 teachers and 16,032 students.

[edit] Science and technology
Most research conducted in Oman has been done at the behest of the government; agriculture, minerals, water resources, and marine sciences have drawn the most attention. Sultan Qaboos University, founded in 1985, has colleges of science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. In 1987–97, science and engineering students accounted for 13% of college and university enrollments. The Institute of Health Sciences, under the Ministry of Health, was founded in 1982. Muscat Technical Industrial College, founded in 1984, has departments of computing and mathematics, laboratory science, and electrical, construction, and mechanical engineering. The Oman Natural History Museum, founded in 1983, includes the national herbarium and the national shell collection. All of these organizations are located in Muscat.

[edit] Meteorites
The central desert of Oman is an important source of meteorites for scientific analysis. [16] Since 1999, search campaigns in Oman have provided about 20% of the world's meteorites. These include rare meteorites from Mars and the Moon. The meteorite accumulations in the gravelly central desert play an important role in increasing knowledge of conditions in the early solar system.

Sultanate of Oman Economy

Omani citizens enjoy good living standards, but the future is uncertain with Oman's limited oil reserves.[12] The other sources of income, agriculture and local industries, are small in comparison and count for less than 1% of the country's exports. Agriculture, often subsistence in its character, produces Dates, Limes, Grains and vegetables. Less than 1% of the country is under cultivation but, in general, food has to be imported. Industries contribute only with 4%, but there are governmental plans to increase this.
Oil production is extracted and processed by Petroleum Development Oman. In recent years, proven oil reserves have been holding approximately steady, although oil production has been decreasing.[13][14] Oman has other mineral resources including Copper, Asbestos and Marble, but this is little exploited.

[edit] Oil and gas
Commercial export of oil began in 1967 and since Sultan Qaboos' accession to the throne in 1970, many more oil fields have been found and developed. In June 1999, PDO discovered a new oil field in southern Oman after drilling and testing three wells which demonstrated the commercial viability of the reservoir. This is the most significant find in five years. Work is continuing on the RO 503.876 million ( US$1,300 million ) oil refinery project in Sohar, which was due to go into operation in 2006 with a 116,400 barrels a day refining capacity. In 2004, Oman Oil Refinery was supplied with about 78,200 barrels a day for refining, while PDO began using steam injection technology in several wells to increase their productivity. Oman's future economy is expected to depend on Sohar, which is growing very fast.
Since the slump in oil prices in 1998, Oman has made active plans to diversify its economy and is placing a greater emphasis on other areas of industry, such as tourism and natural gas. Oman's Basic Statute of the State expresses in Article 11 that, "The National Economy is based on justice and the principles of a free economy."

[edit] Mineral resources
Oman's mineral resources include chromite, dolomite, zinc, limestone, gypsum, silicon, copper, gold, cobalt and iron. Several industries have grown up around them as part of the national development process which, in turn, have boosted the minerals sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP as well as providing jobs for Omanis.
Copper has been mined in Oman for thousands of years. The mineral sector’s operations include mining and quarrying. Several projects have recently been completed including: an economic feasibility study on silica ore in Wadi Buwa and Abutan in the Wusta Region, which confirmed that there were exploitable reserves of around 28 million tonnes at the two sites; a feasibility study on the production of magnesium metal from dolomite ore; a draft study on processing limestone derivatives; a project to produce geological maps of the Sharqiyah Region ; economic feasibility studies on the exploitation of gold and copper ores in the Ghaizeen area; a study on raw materials in the wilayats of Duqm and Sur for use in the Sultanate’s cement industry; and a study on the construction of a new minerals laboratory in Ghala in the Governorate of Muscat.

[edit] Industry
The industrial sector is a cornerstone of the Sultanate’s long-term (1996-2020) development strategy. Industry is not only one of the main sectors involved in diversifying the sources of national income and reducing dependence on oil; it is also capable of helping to meet Oman’s social development needs and generate greater added value for national resources by processing them into manufactured products.
The Seventh Five-Year Development Plan creates the conditions for an attractive investment climate. Under its strategy for the industrial sector the government also aims to develop the information technology and telecommunications industries. The Knowledge Oasis Muscat complex has been set up and expanded, and Omani companies are developing their technological potential through collaboration with various Japanese and German institutions.
There is also an industrial estate in Sohar - where the Sultanate’s heavy industries are based - as well as other estates in Sur, Salalah, Nizwa and Buraimi. Natural gas is transported to the industrial estates in Sohar and Salalah, helping to promote expansion of those industries that depend on natural gas; the government grants these industries tax exemptions, as an incentive to encourage their expansion and development. By 2020 the industrial sector is expected to contribute 15% to the country’s GDP.

[edit] Development plans
The Omani economy has been radically transformed over a series of development plans beginning with the First Five­-year Plan (1976-1980). At Sultan Qaboos's instruction, a vision of Oman's economic future up to the year 2020 was set out at the end of the first phase of the country's develop­ment 1970-1995. Vision 2020, outlined the country's economic and social goals over the 25 years of the second phase of the development process (1996­-2020).
Oman 2020, held in June 1995, has developed the following aims with regard to securing Oman's future prosperity and growth:
To have economic and financial stability
To reshape the role of the Government in the economy and to broaden private sector participation
To diversify the economic base and sources of national income
To globalize the Omani economy
To upgrade the skills of the Omani workforce and develop human resources
A free-trade agreement with the United States took effect 1 January 2009, eliminating tariff barriers on all consumer and industrial products. It also provides strong protections for foreign businesses investing in Oman.[15]

[edit] Tourism
Main article: Tourism in Oman

Al-Bustan Palace Hotel
Oman is known for its popular tourist attractions. Wadis, deserts, beaches, and mountains are areas which make Oman unique to its neighboring GCC nations (Wadis in particular). With a coastline of 1700 km, Oman offers some of the cleanest, most stunning beaches a visitor could hope to see. Few beaches are private, except some attached to the beach resort hotels, or those adjoining military or official property. Weekend picnics and barbecues are popular on the beach. Many coves are perfect for snorkelling and with fairly gentle shelves, are good for children.Wadis are green, lush oases of palm trees, grasses, and flowering. Some wadis have year-round running water, with deep, cool pools in which it is quite safe to swim if the currents are slow.Falaj (pl. aflaaj) means a system for the distribution of water and is commonly used to describe the irrigation channel system downstream of the water's source.Some aflaaj in Oman were built more than 1,500 years ago, whilst others were built at the beginning of the 20th century. The genius of the Omani builders is evident in the way they tunnelled into the ground to a depth of dozens of metres in order to gain access to the groundwater. These channels were truly a miracle of engineering at a time when mechanical equipment was not available. Forts and Castles are Oman's most striking cultural landmarks and, together with its towers and city walls, they have historically been used as defensive bastions or look-out points. Forts were often the seats of administrative and judicial authority. There are over 500 forts, castles and towers in Oman which has a coastline of 1,700 km, so they were needed to protect it from potential invaders. The architectural styles vary, being determined by the architects who built them or the periods in which they were built.The traditional Arabic market place is called the souq and these are found in many of the towns throughout the Sultanate. One of the oldest preserved souqs in Oman is in Muttrah, on the Corniche. Gold and silver jewellery is found in abundance as well as numerous wooden carvings, ornaments and spices. Muttrah souq is a maze of pathways leading in and out of each other. 'Household' goods make up the bulk of the souq, but browsing through some of the smaller shops may result in a lucky find. Bargaining is a must, however. Gold and silver are well priced and mainly sold by weight. Good buys are silver khanjars (the traditional Omani dagger, worn by men) and incense burners. Today,the Capital area has a number of shopping malls, mainly situated in Qurum, but in recent times, spreading to the Al Khuwair area, which house a variety of shops, ranging from boutiques to chain stores. The largest mall in the country is the Muscat City Centre. Other popular tourist activities include sand skiing in the desert, Scuba Diving, Rock Climbing/Trekking, Surfing & Sailing, Cave Exploration and Bull Fight/Camel Race.The Muscat Festival is usually held at the beginning of every year. During this event, traditional dances are held, temporary theme parks open, and concerts take place. Another popular event is The Khareef Festival, which is similar to Muscat Festival; however it is held in August in Salalah, Dhofar. During this latter event, mountains are packed as a result of the cool breeze weather during that period of time which rarely occurs in Muscat.

[edit] Labour
The estimated workforce was 920,000 in 2002. A large proportion of the population were still engaged in subsistence agriculture or fishing. The skilled local labour force is small, and many of the larger industries depend on foreign workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka — foreign laborers constituted over 80% of the modern-sector workforce in 1996.
Omani law does not provide the right of union formation. The law forbids a strike for any reason. Collective bargaining is not permitted, however there exist labour-management committees in firms with more than 50 workers. These committees are not authorized to discuss conditions of employment, including hours and wages. The Labour Welfare Board provides a venue for grievances.
The minimum working age is 13, but this provision is not enforced against the employment of children in family businesses or on family farms. The minimum wage for non-professional workers was $260 per month in 2002. However, many classes of workers (domestic servants, farmers, government employees) are not required to receive the minimum wage and the government is not consistent in its enforcement of the minimum wage law. The private sector working week is 40 to 45 hours long, while government officials have a 35-hour working week.

[edit] Inflation
As oil prices have risen to a record high, so has inflation. The government depends mostly on oil revenue, more than on tax returns from companies and other government-owned companies. The government is also Oman's largest employer, so the high interest that government gets increases the prices of food and construction equipment. The government did support the fuel prices so it doesn't increase the inflation and to make the price suitable for people on low wages.
In 2006, government employee salaries were increased by 15%, placing Oman in the category of high-medium income countries.[citation needed] and a year after increase employees' were also increased in salaries so, employees with low wages have a higher increase that may go up to 48% and employees who earn more get a lesser increase in their salaries which end at 5%. The minimum wage has been changed from 120 Rial a month to 140 Rials because of high records of inflation driven by high prices of oil.

Sultanate of Oman Religion

About 75% of the population consists of Sunni Muslims, Ibadhi Muslims.[10] Shi'i Muslims, and other minorities make up the remainder of the population.[10]
The Government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation, but most citizens are either Ibadhi or Sunni Muslims. Shi'a Muslims form a small but well-integrated minority of less than 5 percent of the population, concentrated in the capital area and along the northern coast. Ibadhism, a form of Islam distinct from Shi'ism and the "orthodox" schools of Sunnism, historically has been the country's dominant religious group, and the Sultan is a member of the Ibadhi community.
Non-Muslim religious communities individually constitute less than 5 percent of the population and include various groups of Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Baha'is, and Christians. Christian communities are centered in the major urban areas of Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah and include Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and various Protestant congregations. These groups tend to organize along linguistic and ethnic lines. More than fifty different Christian groups, fellowships, and assemblies are active in the Muscat metropolitan area. The majority of non-Muslims are noncitizen immigrant workers from South Asia, although there are small communities of ethnic Indian Hindus and Christians that have been naturalized.[11]

Sultanate of Oman Demographics

The Ministry of Economy estimates that in mid 2006 the total population was 2.577 million. Of those, 1.844 million were Omanis. The population has grown from 2.018 million in the 1993 census to 2.340 million in the 2003 census. In Oman, about 50% of the population lives in Muscat and the Batinah coastal plain northwest of the capital; about 200,000 live in the Dhofar (southern) region, and about 30,000 live in the remote Musandam Peninsula on the Strait of Hormuz. Some 600,000 expatriates live in Oman, most of whom are guest workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, India and the Philippines.

Demographics of Oman
Languages
Arabic,English,Balochi and Swahili
Religion
Islam
Ethnic groups
Arab, South Asian and African
Life expectancy
73.13 years

Sultanate of Oman Geography

A vast gravel desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along the north (al Jebel al Akhdar) and southeast coast, where the country's main cities are also located: the capital city Muscat, Matrah and Sur in the north, and Salalah in the south. Oman's climate is hot and dry in the interior and humid along the coast. During past epochs Oman was covered by ocean. Fossilized shells exist in great numbers in areas of the desert away from the modern coastline. The peninsula of Musandam (Musandem), which has a strategic location on the Strait of Hormuz, is separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates and is thus an exclave. The series of small towns known collectively as Dibba are the gateway to the Musandam peninsula on land and the fishing villages of Musandam by sea. Boats may be hired at Khasab for trips into the Musandam peninsula by sea. Oman has one other exclave, inside UAE territory, known as Madha. It is located halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the rest of Oman.[7] Belonging to Musandam governorate, it covers approximately 75 km² (29 sq mi). The boundary was settled in 1969. The north-east corner of Madha is closest to the Fujairah road, barely 10 m (32.8 ft) away. Within the exclave is a UAE enclave called Nahwa, belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah. It is about 8 km (5 mi) on a dirt track west of the town of New Madha. It consists of about forty houses with its own clinic and telephone exchange.[8]

[edit] Climate
Annual rainfall in Muscat averages 10 cm (4 in), falling mostly in January. Dhofar is subject to the southwest monsoon, and rainfall up to 64 cm (25 in) has been recorded in the rainy season from late June to October. While the mountain areas receive more plentiful rainfall, some parts of the coast, particularly near the island of Masirah, sometimes receive no rain at all within the course of a year. The climate generally is very hot, with temperatures reaching 54°C (129°F) in the hot season, from May to September.

[edit] Flora and fauna
Desert shrub and desert grass, common to southern Arabia, are found. Vegetation is sparse in the interior plateau, which is largely gravel desert. The greater monsoon rainfall in Dhofar and the mountains makes the growth there more luxuriant during summer. Coconut palms grow plentifully in Dhofar and Frankincense grows in the hills. Oleander and varieties of Acacia abound.
Indigenous mammals include the Leopard, Hyena, Fox, Wolf, and Hare, Oryx, Ibex, Tahr. Birds include the Vulture, Eagle, Stork, Bustard, Arabian Partridge, Bee Eater, Falcon and Sunbird.

[edit] Environment
Maintaining an adequate supply of water for agricultural and domestic use is Oman's most pressing environmental problem. The nation has limited renewable water resources, with 94% used in farming and 2% for industrial activity. Drinking water is available throughout the country, either piped or delivered. Both drought and limited rainfall contribute to shortages in the nation's water supply. The nation's soil has shown increased levels of salinity. Pollution of beaches and other coastal areas by oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman is also a persistent problem. In 2001, the nation had nine endangered species of mammals and five endangered types of bird. Nineteen plant species are also threatened with extinction. Decrees have been passed to protect endangered species, which include the Arabian Leopard, Arabian oryx, mountain gazelle, goitered gazelle, Arabian tahr, green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle and olive ridley turtle. In 2007 Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary became the first site ever deleted from UNESCO's World Heritage list because of the government's decision to reduce the site to 10% of its former size.[9]

Governorates and regions of Sultanate of Oman

The Sultanate is divided into nine governorates and regions. Each governorate consists of states share common cultures, habits, Arabic dialects, history, traditional clothing and traditional occupations.
The Governorate of Muscat is the most densely populated region in the Sultanate with a population of more than half a million. It is Oman's political, economic, and administrative center. Muscat is host to a balance between the traditional heritage of Omani society and the modern contemporary features. This preserves Oman’s historical and cultural identity while presenting Muscat's embrace of modernity.
The Governorate of Dhofar is in the far south of the Sultanate and borders on the Wusta Region the east, the Arabian Sea to the south, the Republic of Yemen to the west and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the north and north-west.
The Governorate of Musandam lies in extreme north of the Sultanate. It is separated from the rest of the Sultanate by a strip of United Arab Emirates land. It is distinguished for its strategic location, with a section of it known as Ras Musandam overlooking the international water passage called the Strait of Hormuz.
It is worth noting that not the whole of the Strait is good for navigation. The part suitable for sea navigation falls within the territorial waters of the Sultanate, requiring Omanis to shoulder a large responsibility in organizing navigation in this Strait for centuries. The strategic importance of this Strait has increased recently, as it has become a crossing point for 90% of the Persian Gulf's oil shipped to all over the world.
The Governorate of Buraimi is situated in the northwest corner of the Sultanate, adjacent to the borders with United Arab Emirates . It has a number of historic forts and houses. Its main forts are al Khandaq, which has been adopted as the emblem of the Governorate , and Al Hillah Fort. Both these forts have recently been restored by the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture.
Batinah Region occupies a coastal strip along the Gulf of Oman from the state of Barka in the south to Khatmat Malahah in the state of Shinas to the north. The wide strip is enclosed by the Gulf of Oman to the east and the foothills of the Western Hajar mountains to the west.
Ad Dhahirah Region is a semi desert plain which slopes from the southern foot of Al Hajr AI Gharbi Mountains towards the Empty Quarter. It is separated from A’Dakhliyah Region by Al Kur Mountain to the East; it joins the Empty Quarter from the West and Wusta Region from the south. state of Ibri is distinguished for its unique location which joins the Sultanate with other areas in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Dakhiliah Region is rich in economic and natural resources and has numerous tourist attractions including forts, castles, towers, old residential quarters and historic mosques. The state of Nizwa has a famous and imposing fort, several old mosques and a traditional souq, while Bahla Fort is one of the treasures of the human heritage. Misfah al Abriyeen in the state of al Hamra is a splendid example of a hanging village.
The Sharqiyah Region forms the northeast coast of Oman and overlooks the Arabian Sea from the east. It includes the internal side of Al Hajr Al sharqi mountains which join it from the north. It also joins Wahibah Sand from the south and Dakhliah Region from the west. The city of Sur is one of the regional centers and the most important of Sharqiyah cities. It played a historical rule in trade and navigation in the Indian Ocean. It was also known for ship building, as it was the most renowned city in the Arabian Peninsula in ship building in the last century. Besides marine activity and ship building, Sur is famous for some historical tourist destinations such as caves. It is also well-known for its wood industries, textiles and agricultural crops.
The Wusta Region is situated to the south of both Dakhliah and Dhahirah Regions, at the east side it is linked to the Arabian Sea, at the west to the Empty Quarter and at the south to Governorate of Dhofar. It includes a large central area of the Sultanate. It is distinguished for having a great number of oil wells.