Tag Archives: Oman

Emirates is celebrating 30 years of operations to Muscat, Oman. Since the inaugural flight in 1993, Emirates has carried 4.8 million passengers to and from the Sultanate on more than 37,200 flights, connecting travelers to and from 140 global destinations. Emirates first began operations to Oman with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft with a four weekly services.  In 2019, Emirates launched the world’s shortest scheduled A380 flight, flying a distance of 340 kilometers each way from Dubai to Muscat, offering travelers the chance to experience Emirates’ iconic products and services, defined by comfort, luxury and flexibility. Over the years, Emirates SkyCargo has served as a facilitator for global trade, transporting over 155,000 tonnes of cargo to international markets. Emirates SkyCargo is supporting Omani businesses by exporting key local goods such as threads for garments to Amman, Nairobi and Pakistan as well as fresh produce such as fish, beans and vegetables to various destinations across Europe and US, in addition to the seasonal fresh beans to Japan. Creating further career opportunities within Oman, the Emirates Group employs over 40 Omanis, in multiple roles including cabin crew, pilots and other parts of the business such as Emirates Engineering, Emirates Airport Services and Airport Operations. Half of these employees have been with the Emirates Group for over 10 years, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing a wide range of development prospects enabling employees to gain world-class expertise. Fahad Al Hassawi, Country Manager Oman at Emirates said: “Oman has been an important market for Emirates since the beginning of operations, providing flexible connections through Dubai to the wider world, for both passengers and air freight. Over the last three decades, we are …

SalamAir commenced weekly flights to and from Fujairah starting yesterday. This expansion not only broadens travel possibilities, but also links customers from Fujairah through Muscat International Airport to a number of global destinations on SalamAir’s network. This marks a significant milestone for the Oman-based low-cost carrier as it expands its network and continues to offer affordable fares while adding tourist and regional-friendly destinations to its network. Passengers from Muscat can look forward to four weekly flights on Mondays and Wednesdays, providing easy access to Fujairah’s stunning scenery and rich culture, making it perfect for a quick getaway. Passengers from Fujairah now have options of non-stop flights to Muscat and onwards to over 39 destinations to choose from. SalamAir is committed to offering passengers a comfortable and enjoyable experience. “We are thrilled to offer our passengers more travel options as SalamAir continues to grow and expand our network,” said SalamAir CEO Captain Mohamed Ahmed. “We see Fujairah as an important destination for us with much potential for passenger movement, and we are proud to add it to our network giving customers from Muscat and Fujairah more choice, convenience, and value for money travel.” The event held at Muscat International Airport ushered passengers to Fujairah with a cake-cutting ceremony followed by welcoming them onboard the flight with the distribution of traditional Omani Halwa and Coffee. Media and Airport officials were delighted to be part of these connecting routes between Muscat to Fujairah. The inaugural flight to Fujairah was met with excitement and celebration as passengers from Muscat were welcomed with traditional Emirati hospitality upon arrival. The event was attended by senior officials from both SalamAir and Fujairah International Airport, who expressed their excitement …

Aloft Hotels opened in Muscat marking the brand’s debut in the Sultanate of Oman. Anchored in design, culture, and music, the 193-guestroom hotel brings the brand’s bold modern style to the capital and its vibrant social scene with buzzing open spaces to connect. Each of the urban inspired, loft-style guestrooms feature high ceilings, plush platform beds and 50-inch LED TVs. The modern bathrooms feature walk-in rainfall showers and custom Aloft bath amenities. “Oman is a thriving leisure destination for travellers who seek original experiences and warm hospitality,” said Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President – Premium and Select Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “Driven by bold design Aloft Muscat is a place for creative self-expressers to meet and mingle.” “With this first venture into the hotel market, we were eager to apply the knowledge and expertise we have gained from 35 years in real-estate development to create an exciting, fresh new destination,” said Mr. Aadil Thomas Alexander, Owner and Executive Director. “Aloft Muscat represents a space where style is necessary, connectivity keeps up with you, social scenes are vibrant, and the only direction is forward. As well as being a hot spot in its own right, the hotel will act as a wonderful base to explore the dynamic city of Muscat and the intriguing expanses of the rest of Oman.” The hotel’s signature public spaces are designed as innovative, comfortable places to socialize and relax. At the sleek Re:mixSM lounge, guests can enjoy a game of pool, with day-to-night lighting and music to switch up the vibe. Dining destinations include the brand’s signature bar W XYZ®, an outdoor space to enjoy a meal at Arcade, which offers global craft …

To establish direct air connectivity with one of the world’s popular destinations, Oman’s SalamAir announced the introduction of a direct flight between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur with two flights per week beginning on July 3, 2023. Flights from Muscat to Kuala Lumpur are scheduled for Monday and Friday. The route serves both sides’ high demand for leisure and business tourism. Kuala Lumpur, SalamAir’s first destination in Malaysia, marks the airline’s further expansion into Southeast Asia. For people living in Oman and those wanting to take connecting flights, it’s a convenient non-stop flight to Southeast Asian country for leisure, shopping, or business purposes. Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said, “The new service marks another milestone in our network expansion strategy. We are delighted to launch flights between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur, providing our customers with a perfect value-for-money product that allows them to be flexible, save on airfare with our competitive pricing, and add services they prefer. The flights will boost tourism, economic relations, business opportunities, and student movements between Oman and Malaysia and serve the overall Oman 2040 vision of supporting the inbound tourism sector as one of the main contributors to the national GDP of the Sultanate of Oman.  We are committed to connecting more destinations along new sectors to establish a strong pan-international presence.” The journey between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur will take about seven hours. With the high demand for unique tourist destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, SalamAir looks forward to welcoming customers onboard these new flights soon. Air tickets for this route and other flights of SalamAir can be purchased on the official website of the airline www.salamair.com, mobile app, call center, as well as …

Alila Hinu Bay in Salalah is preparing for a 60% rise in stays during the ‘Khareef’ season. Unravelling in mid- June until 31 August, the province will transform into an oasis with light drizzles and cool air. Guests can enjoy the only Monsoon season in the GCC during the summer, while exploring the rolling landscapes, exquisite marines and a plethora of waterfalls. The five-star luxury resort is prepared to embrace the dewy season with experiences and activities in anticipation of attracting new tourists that have never visited the Sultanate before. This is following the recent announcement of visa-free entry for over 100 countries. “With the gaining popularity of the Salalah area, and the incredible transformation that Khareef brings, I am confident that this coming Khareef season will see an unprecedented influx from both GCC visitors, and also new markets. The marvel of Khareef is definitely one to be experienced, and with our once-in-a-lifetime experiences portfolio that highlights the wonders of the season, we are looking forward to welcoming guests from all over to share this with us.” said Juan Paolo Alfonso, General Manager, Alila Hinu Bay. Perched just by the shore in a secluded location which overlooks the shores of Oman’s southwest coast, the resort promises a tranquil escape for all. Alila Hinu Bay delivers a ‘Surprisingly Different’ experience, where guests can enjoy an intimate weekend staycation or a family holiday. For those looking for a refreshing getaway, the resort offers expansive rooms and spacious villas, equipped with a private pool and tranquil outdoor bathtub. Guests can also dine with fresh local produce and ingredients used across the menus at Sea Salt and The Orchard restaurant. The luxurious Alila Spa …

Sabre Corporation and Al Manal Travel, Tours and Cargo, Salalah, the Sultanate of Oman, have announced an exclusive multiyear technology agreement to help the agency advance its operations and provide travellers with personalized travel experiences. Al Manal Travel has been working with Sabre for more than two decades, delivering comprehensive travel solutions and offerings – including travel packages, cruises and adventurous holidays. Al Manal Travel will be exclusively using Sabre Red 360 to deliver highly personalised offers for its customers, by deploying intelligent and consultative services and features. Furthermore, it will benefit from Sabre’s Automated Exchanges and refunds to drive operational efficiency. “For more than 20 years, Sabre has been the trusted and innovative technology partner that helped us deliver comprehensive travel services and customized products in the Omani market,” said Ahmad Mustafa, General Manager, Al Manal Travel, Tours and Cargo. “We choose Sabre for its expertise, dedicated team, and innovative technology, which will help us to keep our business agile and advance the services that we offer our travellers.” Al Manal Travel will continue to have access to Sabre’s marketplace of more than 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers, to sell customized travel packages from suppliers around the world. “We are thrilled to extend our longstanding relationship with Al Manal Travel as its preferred GDS partner,” said John Matthew, Oman Country Manager, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “We are constantly evolving our technology, enabling us to offer agencies faster innovation and more flexible solutions infused with data-driven insights. This helps agencies to differentiate their offerings and create compelling travel shopping experiences.”

Aloft Hotels announces plans to open Aloft Muscat in Spring 2023. The highly anticipated opening is expected to mark the brand’s debut in the Sultanate of Oman. Designed for the next generation of traveler the hotel will be a new vibrant destination and will feature eclectic spaces, distinctive design, live music programming, and 199 modern loft-style guestrooms complete with the brand’s signature amenities. The hotel is expected to feature three dining outlets, places for guests to come together, including a Californian style eatery, an international restaurant with a Mediterranean twist, and the brand’s signature bar W XYZ®.  Other facilities will include a rooftop pool and gym. Danny Al Chayeb will take the helm of the new hotel as General Manager. With more than two decades in hospitality across the MENA region, Al Chayeb brings a wealth of experience to Aloft Muscat, including a proven track record of creating new food and beverage concepts and providing the highest guest service standards. A hands-on GM, he aims to turn moments into memorable stays for guests, with a desire to lead by example while driving business. “We are thrilled to debut Aloft Hotels in Oman. A brand known for its design-driven and tech-savvy ethos, Aloft Muscat will bring a modern, friendly, and comfortable option for global travelers and a new hotspot for residents in the Sultanate,” said Danny Al Chayeb, General Manager. Aloft Muscat is located 10 minutes from Muscat International Airport and is nearby to the city’s attractions including The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Royal Opera House Muscat, Mall of Oman, Oman Avenues Mall, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, and three major golf courses.

The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MOHT), hosted the largest Global Travel Week Middle East this week with the participation of 200 professionals in the field of luxury tourism from around the world, along with 40 local Omani tourism industry key players. It was two days of networking opportunities to connect with the luxury exhibitors across the globe in the Sultanate of Oman. Asma bint Salem Al Hajriya, Deputy Director General for Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in the Sultanate of Oman said in her closing remarks stated, “On behalf of my country, the Sultanate of Oman, and on behalf of my entire team of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, we are all delighted to welcome you here today – we hope you have a very enjoyable time and are excited to learn more about our beautiful country. Oman is a blessed country with a diverse landscape, nature, heritage and history and of course, without forgetting the most aspect of its people, the most renowned friendliest and hospitable people of Oman are the assets of this country. With all these components, Oman delivers a unique luxury travel experience.” She further reiterated, “striking the perfect balance between international outlook and traditional atmosphere, our deep culture and heritage combined with world-class hotels and authentic Arabian experiences, means that we are very well placed to make the most of the growing interest in visiting our region. Events like today are an invaluable opportunity for you to connect with our stakeholders, and I hope that as we end this two day event you had fruitful meetings and good knowledge of what Oman offers …

The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MOHT), hosted The Global Travel Week Middle East, during the period of 4th to 7 March 2023, with the participation of 200 professionals in the field of luxury tourism from around the world, along with 40 local Omani tourism industry key players. The  Global Travel Week Middle East event is B2B type of event organized in cooperation with Travel Weekly Group, a company specializing in organizing tourism activities, that attract tourism companies and tour operators from different countries around the world to meet with their counterparts to strengthen the cooperation between them in the field of tourism. Top selected tourism companies were selected to carry out familiarization tours in the governorates of Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah and Al Sharqiyah North in order to understand the destination unique selling points. The program included visits to all major tourism attractions including site visits to the Oman luxury hotels and experiences. Such tours will contribute to enhance their efforts in  promoting the Sultanate of Oman. Asma bint Salem Al Hajriya, Deputy Director General for Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in the Sultanate of Oman said: “Connections Luxury Middle East is a valuable addition to the list of luxury tourism companies and has proven to generate extraordinary value for business of companies in the tourism industry. We are proud to once again to partner with Connections Luxury Middle East as the host partner. This partnership provides an unparalleled platform for the Sultanate of Oman to showcase our rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism offerings to a large audience of leading travel and tourism companies coming from different markets around …

Continuing its efforts to boost local tourism, Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) signed an agreement with the Office of the Al Buraimi Governor to develop several tourism projects at prominent destinations across the governorate. The agreement was signed by Sayyid Dr Hamad bin Ahmed Al Busaidi, the Governor of Al Buraimi, and Eng Mohammed bin Salim Al Busaidi, Chairman of OMRAN Group Board of Directors, with senior officials from both parties in attendance. The agreement is part of OMRAN Group’s efforts to enhance partnerships with various stakeholders and achieve its tourism development objectives in the Sultanate. Under the agreement, OMRAN Group will provide technical support and oversee operations for the Al Buraimi Gate and Al Abila Park. The first project, Al Buraimi Gate, will serve as a platform for interaction between visitors and sub-activities through interactive digital panels and a display screen. The screen will display unique material and showcase the cultural history of the Governorate of Buraimi.Al Ubila Park will cover an area of over 181,000 square meters. The project aims to fulfil the desires of tourists, visitors, and residents of the Sultanate, showcasing the region’s rich beauty and creating a fun and relaxing recreational area for the community. Speaking on the agreement, Sayyid Dr Hamad bin Ahmed Al Busaidi said: “We are pleased to partner with OMRAN Group and establish significant projects that stimulate tourism growth in the governorate. These projects will enrich the tourism facilities and services for visitors. Recently, the Governorate of Buraimi implemented several development projects designed to attract visitors from across the Sultanate and advance economic growth in both the governorate and the Sultanate. These efforts will create many business opportunities for local …