Oman

25 Aug 2020; MEMO: The number of Oman’s expatriate public sector workers have “declined remarkably” over the past year, the Sultanate’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) announced yesterday.

28 July 2020; MEMO: Oman has cancelled a major project with the United Arab Emirates worth billions of dollars, Arab sources have reported, highlighting the growing tension between the two countries. Oman’s new Sultan, Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said, is said to have issued an order to reduce Abu Dhabi’s grip on his country’s affairs.

24 July 2020; MEMO: Omani sites and forums have reported news of an amnesty issued by Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said for a number of political oppositionists residing in London and other Western capitals.

Sources indicated that the Sultanate’s embassy in the UK is making arrangements to ensure the oppositionists’ return to their countries, and to help them start a new life in Oman.

MUSCAT, June 13 (NNN-ONA) – The Omani Ministry of Health, announced on Friday, 1,117 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number in the country to 21,071.

According to a statement, issued by the ministry, all new cases, including 470 Omanis, are related to community contact.

The statement also said, 866 patients of COVID-19 have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 7,489.

Seven new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 96.

MUSCAT, May 30 (NNN-ONA) – The Omani Ministry of Health announced on Friday, 811 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 9,820.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, all new cases, including 315 Omanis, are related to community contact.

The statement also said, the total recovered cases raised to 2,177 and the death toll remained 40.

The ministry called on people to observe the procedures for quarantine, avoid public places or places of worship, and ensure public hygiene.

MUSCAT, Mar 19 (NNN-ONA) – The Omani Ministry of Tourism, Wednesday, called on all tourist delegations, to leave the country, as part of its precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The ministry calls upon travel and tourism companies, to provide advice to tourist groups, to leave and return to their home countries,” said a ministry statement.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Transport announced the suspension of all public transportation in Oman, including buses, ferries and taxis, starting today (Thursday).

MUSCAT, Mar 4 (NNN-ONA) – The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, on Tuesday, instructed the government to take measures to set up a “job safety” fund.

He also asked the government to finance the fund with 10 million Omani riyals (26 million U.S. dollars), as a start for the establishment.

According to the royal instructions, a finance system for the fund will be developed through participation of private sector employers and workers.

MUSCAT, Feb 20 (NNN-ONA) – Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), signed with China’s Huawei, a memorandum of understanding (MoU), to provide training programmes for 1,000 Omani young people, on 5G technology.

“The Chinese company will offer a two-year training course for that number of Omanis, to be picked by the TRA,” TRA said in a press release.

The MoU was signed by TRA Chief Executive Officer, Salem Al Rawahi and Huawei Oman Regional Director, Chen Bing.

MUSCAT, Feb 16 (NNN-ONA) – Oman’s daily crude exports decreased by 17.88 percent month on month in Jan, to 756,586 barrels, said an official report, issued Saturday.

The country’s daily production of crude oil in Jan also decreased by 1.26 percent to 958,270 barrels, said the monthly report of the Omani Ministry of Oil and Gas.

However, China’s crude imports from Oman increased in Jan, the report noted.

As the largest importer of Omani oil, China imports 80 to 85 percent of the Omani oil exports.

MUSCAT, Feb 2 (NNN-ONA) – Bank Muscat, a leading financial institution in Oman, reported a net profit of 185.55 million Omani riyals (481.96 million U.S. dollars) in 2019, the bank said in an official statement.

The net profits increased by 3.3 percent in 2019, from 179.63 million riyals in the previous year, said the statement.

The operating expenses of the bank amounted to 195.93 million riyals, compared to 190.34 million riyals in 2018, registering an increase of 2.9 percent, it added.