Oman

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.

MUSCAT, Jan 25 (NNN-ONA) – Heavy rain of varying intensity, detected in some Wilayats in Musandam Governorate.

Following the good weather Oman has been enjoying over the last few days, locals and expats can expect more rain in the coming days.

An update from the Directorate General of Meteorology, at the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), said that thundershowers are expected from next week.

19 Jan 2019; MEMO: Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Friday met his Canadian counterpart, François-Philippe Champagne, to discuss the issue of the Ukrainian plane crash in Iran last week.

MUSCAT, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- New Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq al-Said said on Saturday that he will follow the steps and approach of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said and will complete the progress achieved in the Omani renaissance process.

He stressed that he will pursue a policy of distancing the region from conflicts and disputes, achieving economic integration, and supporting the Arab League and cooperation with brother countries to achieve its goals.

MUSCAT, Jan 12 (NNN-ONA) – New Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, said, he will follow the steps and approach of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, and will complete the progress achieved in the Omani renaissance process.

He stressed that, he will pursue a policy of distancing the region from conflicts and disputes, achieving economic integration, and supporting the Arab League and cooperation with brother countries to achieve its goals.

11 Jan 2019; MEMO: Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East’s longest serving rulers who maintained the country’s neutrality in regional struggles, died on Friday and his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was announced successor in a smooth transition, Reuters reports.