Tag Archives: Oman

Oman News Agency reports that Oman’s historic quarters are undergoing a major revival, transforming centuries-old neighbourhoods into vibrant cultural tourism destinations. Restoration and development initiatives led by the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism are revitalising traditional alleyways, mud-brick homes and heritage landmarks while preserving the authenticity of Omani architecture and community life. According to ministry officials, the strategy focuses on documenting and restoring historic sites using traditional techniques while activating them for tourism through heritage inns, cafés, artisan spaces and cultural experiences. Infrastructure upgrades such as interpretive pathways, visitor amenities and signage are also being introduced to enhance the visitor journey. The historic quarter of Al Hamra has emerged as a leading example, where community-led projects have restored irrigation channels, pathways and historic buildings, alongside solar-powered lighting installations. Industry stakeholders say the initiative is stimulating investment, creating local employment and positioning Oman’s heritage districts as sustainable tourism attractions that blend tradition with modern visitor experiences.

Odyssey DMC Oman won the title of ‘Emerging DMC – Oman’ at the 8th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2025. “It feels great to receive this award, and it is not the first time for us. We have been in the business for 43 years and are proud to be the first DMC established in the UAE. With over 90 products and a strong focus on cultural, historical, and interactive experiences, we continue to innovate. Going forward, we are expanding globally, with seven DMCs already established and many more developments ahead.” Mahareef Mohamed – Manager – Business Development & Signature Experiences – Odyssey Oman

Rove has entered the Omani market through a strategic partnership with LEO Developments, marked by the signing of Rove Home Muscat Expressway — the brand’s first branded residences project in the Sultanate. The first of several planned developments, Rove Home Muscat Expressway, is set in a central and well-connected area near Muscat Hills and key road links. The location offers convenient access to the city’s main business districts and urban destinations, as well as to the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) and Muscat International Airport. Born in Dubai, Rove is a joint venture between Emaar Properties and Dubai Holding, and has recorded strong regional growth, with over 8,000 keys open or under development. An award-winning leader in contemporary travel, Rove manages a diverse portfolio of hotels and branded living spaces. Every property is positioned for maximum connectivity and crafted for those who seek efficiency and sustainability alongside a vibrant, local personality – all without the usual complications. The project will feature fully furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments and lofts, complemented by key lifestyle amenities including a lap pool with jacuzzi, roof garden, and co-working spaces designed for modern urban living, alongside the brand’s signature Rove Café. Commenting on the announcement, Viktor Serenkov, Chairman of LEO Developments, said: “We are proud to announce our partnership with Rove, bringing a fresh and highly relevant approach to branded residential living in Oman. This collaboration reflects a shared vision to respond to evolving lifestyle expectations and deliver developments defined by intention, cultural sensitivity, and long-term value. Rove Home Muscat Expressway is the first step in a broader pipeline that we believe will redefine urban living in the Sultanate.” Paul Bridger, Chief Operating Officer at Rove …

As demand for luxury travel to Oman and the wider GCC continues to accelerate, dnata Representation Services – part of the dnata Travel Group – brought its exclusive luxury travel roadshow, Opulence by Ahlan Arabia, to the Sultanate for the first time. The milestone edition united more than 100 global travel professionals in a complete takeover of Salalah’s Alila Hinu Bay resort, between 13–16 January 2026. With destination leaders and luxury hospitality partners in attendance, the agenda explored the latest travel trends and opportunities for growth, elevated by a spectacular natural setting that defines the region’s luxury appeal. Central to the programme of the event’s second edition was the headline panel, ‘Rewriting the Travel Script: The Next Era of Travel & Tourism,’ featuring John Bevan, CEO of the dnata Travel Group, joined by senior representatives from WhereIsThis, Atlantis Resorts, and the Oman Convention Bureau. Insights from the discussion highlighted the concierge’s shift from a reactive role to one that anticipates guest needs before they arise. Speakers also explored how AI powered personalisation is enabling real time, seamless, and tailored experiences. The panel further identified storytelling, sustainability, and destination stewardship as key forces redefining the future of luxury travel. The event featured 28 curated exhibitors and 55 senior buyers from across the GCC and beyond, alongside professionals from across the dnata Travel Group and its partners, creating a dynamic platform for 1,680 pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings. Moving beyond traditional formats, Opulence introduced a ‘Beyond the Ballroom’ concept, with meetings and networking spread across the resort’s scenic spaces, complemented by immersive cultural experiences. Guests enjoyed a cultural evening hosted by Experience Oman at the Frankincense Museum within the Al Balid Archaeological Site, offering a deep …

Air India Express, India’s first international value carrier, announces a special limited-period offer for guests travelling from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to India, allowing them to pre-book 5 kg or 10 kg additional baggage at attractive discounts. This offer is open for bookings made till 31st January 2026 for travel between 16th January and 10th March 2026, and can be made on the airline’s award-winning website, www.airindiaexpress.com, mobile app and on all major booking channels and is subject to availability. Guests travelling from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to India can purchase additional check-in baggage for only BHD 0.2, KWD 0.2, OMR 0.2, QAR 2, SAR 2, and AED 2 respectively in lots of 5kg and 10kg. The offer is available across all fares including Xpress Value, Xpress Lite, Xpress Flex, and Xpress Biz. The offer is only valid during booking flow. The airline already offers a minimum 30 kg baggage allowance on these sectors across fare types except on Xpress Lite, the airline’s exclusive zero check-in baggage fare. With the option to purchase an additional 10 kg through this offer, guests can now travel with up to 40 kg check-in baggage, making it easier to carry gifts, essentials, and personal belongings when visiting family and friends.

RezLive.com hosted a vibrant roadshow in Muscat bringing together leading hospitality brands and over 180 plus travel agents from across Oman. The event spotlighted RezLive.com’s commitment to empowering travel agents through technology, curated content, and strategic partnerships. Attendees gained insights into RezLive’s expanding global footprint and product innovations during an engaging presentation. The roadshow featured active participation from top hotel partners, including:  Tulip Muscat, Ramada Encore Muscat Al-Ghubrah, Kyriad Hotel Salalah, Tulip Inn Hotel MaJan, Hilton Salalah Resort and  Jumeirah Muscat Bay. Each partner showcased their offerings and contributed to the excitement by distributing exclusive lucky draw vouchers, adding a celebratory touch to the evening. The event was graced by Mr. Jaal Shah, Founder of RezLive.com and Group Managing Director of Travel Designer Group, whose presence reinforced the brand’s strategic focus on regional growth and agent engagement. The evening concluded with a gala dinner and cocktails, fostering meaningful connections and celebrating the spirit of collaboration in B2B travel.

Hilton announced the signing of an agreement with The Zubair Corporation to open three hotels in Muscat under the Waldorf Astoria, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton brands – doubling its footprint in the Sultanate. The signings mark the debut of the iconic Waldorf Astoria brand in Oman and underscore Hilton’s plans to diversify its portfolio and deliver trusted hospitality to emerging and established destinations across the region. The three hotels will be located within Barr Al Jissah, an iconic waterfront luxury development on Muscat’s coastline. Surrounded by rugged mountains and secluded beaches, Barr Al Jissah combines natural beauty with world-class hospitality experiences – making it a timeless destination for leisure visitors, wellness seekers, families, and business travellers, all within 40 minutes of Muscat International Airport. Carlos Khneisser, Chief Development Officer, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “The debut of Waldorf Astoria in Oman, alongside the new Hilton Hotels & Resorts and DoubleTree by Hilton properties, marks a significant new chapter for Hilton in the Sultanate. Oman’s rich culture, heritage, and natural landscapes continue to attract discerning travellers. These new properties will enable us to meet that growing demand across both leisure and business segments – supporting Oman’s Vision 2040, which aims to attract 12 million tourists annually to the Sultanate by 2040. Together with The Zubair Corporation, we are proud to bring this transformative destination to life and strengthen Oman’s position as a leading tourism hub.” Niels Bormans, Group Chief Executive Officer at The Zubair Corporation, added: “The collaboration with Hilton reflects our shared vision for Oman’s tourism future. By combining Hilton’s global expertise with our commitment to preserving the Sultanate’s heritage and natural beauty, Barr Al …

Oman’s tourism activity offerings highlight the country’s strongest assets: a rich local cultural heritage and an extraordinary variety of landscapes, as shown by an analysis carried out by Mabrian, the global travel intelligence and tourism advisory partner. The study indicates that cultural experiences remain a central pillar of the offer, yet nature and active lifestyle activities together now surpass culture as the main source of discovery and enjoyment for travellers exploring the Sultanate. Mabrian, part of The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group, examined supply and demand trends for experiences marketed through major online activity platforms across Oman’s 8 regions, using data from August and September 2025. “Our data intelligence shows clear opportunities to broaden Oman’s tourism offer around experiences beyond its cultural core, a particular yet relevant element of its tourism value proposition. Strengthening nature and active experiences in underrepresented regions, and making more family-oriented products available online, can help the country reach new segments and extend visitor stays,” says Sonia Huerta, Director of Insights & Tourism Advisory at Mabrian, and supervisor for this in-depth analysis. Mabrian’s data reveals that 37% of all activities and experiences available in Oman are concentrated in cultural tourism, linked to local heritage and monuments. This is followed by nature (28%) and active tourism (17%), which combined account for 45% of total activities offerings in the Sultanate. In terms of sub-products, the top three categories are local heritage, natural landscapes, and active tourism by the sea. Family-oriented activities still hold a limited share of the total portfolio, suggesting an opportunity to expand and reinforce segmented offerings specialised in this segment ,or better highlight existing options suitable for families with children of different ages. In terms …

The workshop discussed the concepts and methodological frameworks for measuring tourism in line with international standards, along with mechanisms for linking statistical data and administrative records related to visitors and tourism expenditure. It also highlighted the importance of integrating national data sources to assess both the direct and indirect impact of tourism on GDP and employment. The event brought together experts and specialists from national statistical offices and tourism authorities across GCC member states, in addition to representatives from regional and international organisations. The regional workshop on ‘Measuring the Contribution of Tourism to the Economy’, hosted by the Gulf Cooperation Council Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat) concluded under the patronage of Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Omani Minister of Heritage and Tourism, underscored the importance of adopting comprehensive methodologies to measure tourism’s total contribution to the economy. Such an approach provides a more accurate and holistic picture of the sector’s true role in supporting GCC economies and assists in formulating effective, evidence-based policies founded on reliable statistical data. Al Mahrouqi stated that the workshop comes at a particularly significant time, as the tourism sector in the region is witnessing rapid growth and qualitative transformation in infrastructure, services, and investment. He noted that Oman and other GCC countries attach great importance to tourism as a central pillar of economic diversification, recognising its role in job creation, stimulating productive and service sectors, and enhancing sustainable development. However, he stressed that achieving this potential requires accurate and reliable statistical systems capable of measuring the true value of tourism’s contribution to GDP and to the national economy as a whole. He added that this workshop, organised by GCC-Stat, serves as a platform for experience sharing, capacity building, …

Oman is set to open 9,600 new hotel rooms between now and 2030, with 2,600 scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, says leading real estate advisory group and property consultant, Cavendish Maxwell. The upcoming keys will boost Oman’s existing inventory of 36,000 rooms by more than 25%, the company said. Cavendish Maxwell’s latest Oman Hospitality Market Performance insight and analysis reveals that 3-5 star hotel revenues rose to OMR141.2 million (US$367 million) in the first half of 2025, an increase of 18.2% on H1 last year. Room revenues contributed OMR83.7 million (US$217.5 million) – up nearly 22%. The strong hotel performance has led to 4.8% growth in hospitality sector employment in the country, with 10,800 people now working in the industry. 3-5 star hotels welcomed 1.1 million guests between January and June, up 9.2% from 2024. Khalil Al Zadjali, Head of Oman at Cavendish Maxwell, said: “Oman’s hospitality sector is entering a new era, driven by population growth, evolving travel patterns and strategic Government investment. H1 2025 recorded impressive increases in visitors, hotel bookings, revenues, room rates and employment, and we expect this trend to continue in the second half of the year, and beyond. “Oman’s population grew by 4.5% last year and 5% in 2023, with similar increases predicted through the decade. Domestic travel has risen in line with population growth, with Omanis taking longer trips and spending more per visit. While Gulf visitors still account for more than 25% of arrivals into the country, the number of visitors from further afield, including Europe, India and China, is increasing. With tourism expected to contribute 5% to GDP by 2030 – and 10% by 2040 – the sector is set to …