Celebs Take to Oman for Serenity and Soft Adventure

Celebs are one and the same when it comes to wanting a few days off the job and a place to relax and unwind on holiday. Stay cations in the UK may be on the up but with the British weather living up to its unreliable reputation, sun-seeking celebs are hunting out destinations that have comfort, culture and constant sunshine during their precious summer holidays. Oman is hotting up as a favourite among some familiar faces offering all of these things and minimum jetlag with only a four hour time difference.

Hotels in Oman have put their best foot forward and received some raving reviews from the likes of Lulu Guinness, Christopher Biggins and Kate Silverton. The Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and in particular the Al Husn (one of three hotels in the resort) was described as “the last word in discreet and sophisticated luxury” with “a beautifully designed infinity pool” and attendants that supply not only “towels, chilled water to drink but an iced face spray” (Lulu Guinness). Whilst Lulu made the best of the spa and private beach, Christopher Biggins was enamoured with the “wonderful” food on offer from the 16 restaurants and bars within the resort as a whole, exclaiming in his Daily Mail article that “you never need to leave the resort to find a place to eat, everything you could ever need is right here”.

To read Lulu’s full article, click here or to read Christopher’s full article click here.

The beautiful Six Senses Zighy Bay Resort has attracted many people with its alluring invitation to paraglide into the resort from the mountain range above and Kate Silverton herself admits that was her initial reason for booking! However, with her four-month-old daughter Clemency, and husband, Mike, waiting patiently in the 4x4, she opted for the more conventional method of travel. Catering for the adventurous and those more attached to the private pools by the villas, the hotel “resembles a traditional Omani-village, with stone-clad villas and thatched roofs.” Proving that the first family holiday doesn’t have to be as fearsome as many think, Kate talks about “how everything we could possibly want for Clemency had been thoughtfully left for us in our villa” and that activities such as “crab-hunting, cookie-baking and Arabic lessons” were on offer to keep older children entertained. Child care facilities were also on offer for those that wanted to head out hiking or diving to explore the surrounding area.

Read the full article about Kate’s Oman experience here.

Fiona Bruce was looking for ’luxury’ in a ‘real country with a history’ and “found both – and more – in Oman”. The Chedi hotel being the “ultimate in minimalist good taste” provided a fantastic base to explore Muscat and the surrounding area. 

Dazzled by jewellery in the souks and adventuring out to Desert Nights Camp, Fiona and family had an “exhiliarating and terrifying ride in a 4 x 4 through dunes”, “dinner under the stars” and a camel ride the next morning before heading back the The Chedi for a few more days of luxury.

Fiona’s full article on her time in Oman can be read here.

Great reviews all round, it’s no wonder that these celebs are already musing about their next Oman adventure!

Oman Sail Breaks Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race World Record

photo © Mark Lloyd / www.lloydimages.com

Musandam-Oman Sail on top of the world after breaking Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Record

Off the back of Cowes Week 2014, Oman Sail along with Sidney Gavignet and the crew- including three Omani's- of Musandam-Oman Sail, a MOD70 Trimaran, crossed the finish line of the 2014 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race off the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes at 12.42.36 BST on Thursday 14th August 2014 with an elapsed time of 3d 03hr 32m 36s. The team had no idea they had broken the World Record until crossing the finish line.

Breaking the previous World Record for a multihull held by Banque Populaire 5 in 2011, by 16minutes 38seconds. As seen in the Independent.

Cowes Week was a great success for The Oman Ministry of Tourism with a huge mix of competitive sailing and social activities. The attendees were also able to stop by the Oman Exhibition Pavilion to learn more about the destination and its sailing holidays.

Images of Cowes week and the Oman team:

Cowes Week Facebook Album

Pinterest

Oman Sail's Image Gallery

photo © Mark Lloyd / www.lloydimages.com

The Sultanate of Oman's diverse landscape includes 3,165 kilometres of pristine, sandy Indian Ocean beaches, magnificent fjords in Musandam in the far north, the striking Hajar Mountains and the lush green valleys of Dhofar, in the south. Approximately the size of Germany Oman's diverse natural biodiversity will leave you breathless.

Top 5 Ultimate Ideas in Oman: Cultural and Social Interest

1. The Middle East’s new fashion scene.

2. On the trail of Sinbad the Sailor: in Sohar, Oman’s “Gateway to China”, and in the footsteps of Tim Severin’s Sindbad Voyage

3. Behind the scenes in the building of Muscat's new designer fish market - how will it change the lives of those who work and shop there?

4. Muscat as Oman’s cultural capital: Muscat Festival, Opera House et al

5. Traditional Omani food – influences and adopted flavours from Indian tamarind to Zanzibarian citrus

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Top 9 Ultimate Ideas in Oman: Adventure holidays

1. Women’s sailing in the Gulf (new trend): in 2012, 21 locals were the first women to be awarded instructor’s certificates

2. Hardcore hiking in Jabal Akhdar

3. Cycling in the tracks of the Tour of Oman

4. Kayaking and canoeing through Musandam fjords   

5. Kiteboarding on Masirah Island

6. Circumnavigation of Masirah Island by bike as experienced by the European Champion, including wild camping

7. Oman by sea: ferry travel to Musandam, along the coast, to Masirah Island

8. Hiking Oman’s exhilarating vie ferrate

9. Abseiling into Majlis al Jinn

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Top 5 Ultimate Ideas in Oman: Off the beaten track

1.Hardcore hiking in Jabal Akhdar

2. Wild camping and dune-exploring in Oman’s desert interior

3. Hunting down traces of Ras Al Hadd’s hidden air base, built during World War II

4. Discovering the traditional village of Balad Sayt, coined “Shangri-La” by the Rough Guide to Oman

5. The luxury desert camp archipelago (Desert Nights, Hud Hud and others)

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Top 7 Ultimate Ideas in Oman: Travelling With Kids

1. Wild camping and dune-exploring in Oman’s desert interior

2. Top five Omani campsites with kids

3. Oman’s fairy castle forts from Nizwa to Khasab

4. GPS geocaching in Oman

5. Hunting down hidden wadis and secret caves

6. Family travel through the gentle monsoon season

7. Wildlife spotting: the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, turtles nesting at Ras Al-Jinz, scouting out dolphins and whales, etc.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Register for the Oman Desert Marathon 2014 here

The second Oman Desert Marathon, well be held from 07 – 14 November 2014 in the Bidaya Desert, Sultanate of Oman. An exceptional marathon adventure, one of the most extraordinary sporting events on sand, and an extreme challenge in the amazing and beautiful desert scenery.

The Oman desert with its immense dunes and lush palms, is fascinating. The dunes extend beyond the horizon and the hospitality of its inhabitants is known  around the world. The spirit of the ancient caravans can still be felt in this amazing atmosphere, encouraging not only top athletes but also keen runners who are up for a challenge.

The Oman Desert Marathon is a 165 km race run in six stages.

Runners carry their equipment, their sleeping bags and their food during the adventure.

The Oman Desert Marathon was praised as “one of the top 10 desert marathons in the world,” and “one of the 100 Great Races.” 

Up for the challenge? Click here to sign up today

The Oman Ministry of Tourism is proud to have been voted by the travel trade as a finalist in the Star Middle East Tourist Office category of the Travel Bulletin Star Awards 2014!

The Awards are the only one of its kind in the UK, as candidates are purely voted for by travel agents. No pre-selected shortlists, no judging panels, just simple democracy channelled through the people that are most trusted to sell destinations. Between the end of April and early June, every travel agent across the UK is presented with an opportunity to vote for their favourite supplier in their respective categories, either in print via Travel Bulletin’s magazine, via email or online.

With only five or six finalists in each category, the awards truly reflect where you stand within the industry and the Oman Ministry of Tourism is delighted to have ranked so highly, to have been shortlisted is a significant achievement.  

New Openings Restaurants In Oman

The Cave Muscat Restaurant

Much awaited the Cave project was inaugurated in the summer. Located in Darsait, The Cave Muscat Restaurant comprises eight international restaurants including Italian, Brazilian, Mexican and Mediterranean restaurants offering recipes and cuisines from a variety of countries and nations all over the world and 20 kitchens with Indian, Chinese, Lebanese, Turkish and Omani recipes. The 2,000 people capacity complex of restaurants, the largest in the Sultanate of Oman, has been designed to match the nature of the surrounding mountains. (www.thecave.om)

Credit: Times of Oman

Constructed from soft rocks in the form of a cave, a unique restaurant complex will open its doors to the public in the coming days to satisfy their curiosity by looking inside a development where there is more than meets the eye. 

Hailed by officials as the first of its kind in the Arabian Peninsula and probably in the Arab world, the three-floor Cave restaurant complex at Darsait hills gives the guests an amazing bird's-eye view of the Muscat city. 

Dar el Ezz 

With the launch of Dar el Ezz food and beverage complex, Nizwa now has a fine dining outlet in the city. The facilities include a five star rated restaurant, an open air coffee shop and a banquet hall and has been designed to cater to Nizwa’s stop over tourist hot spots in and around the city.

credit: TripAdvisor

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Visit The Oman Ministry Of Tourism Exhibition Pavillion At Cowes Week 2014

Running this year from 2 – 10 August 2014, Cowes Week returns as one of the largest and longest running sailing regattas of its kind in the world. With over 40 daily races, approximately 1,000 boats, 8,500 competitors and a crowd of 100,000 to cheer them on, it is a key event on the radar of both sailing and water-sport enthusiasts. The Oman Exhibition pavillion will be open from 2 – 7 August, 10am to 7pm with both English and Omani representatives to provide information on all things Omani. The record breaking MOD70 Musandam-Oman Sail’s highly experienced international and Omani crew members will be competing in the Artemis Challenge and at the end of the week the seven Star Round Britain and Ireland Race.

For the first time, half of the six-strong Musandam-Oman Sail offshore crew for the Round Britain Race will be Omani sailors including regular Fahad Al Hassani, Sami Al Shukaili and Yassir Al Rahbi, members of Oman Sail's M34 squad for the Tour de France a la Voile who switched to the MOD70 earlier this year.

Sailors are well catered for in Oman: little surprise, as the country’s ancient capital, Suhar, was the birthplace of legendary Sinbad the Sailor. West of Muscat, the Millennium Resort Mussanah (www.millenniumhotels.com) offers a private 54-berth marina managed by Oman Sail (www.omansail.com). Boat rentals, sailing instruction and yacht charter are all available. At the nearby Wave (www.thewavemuscat.com), Almouj Marina is home to a 300-berth port. From here it is a short sail to the Damaniyat Islands Nature Reserve. Oman Charter (www.seaoman.com) organises bespoke sailing holidays, island-hopping day trips and – uniquely for the region – bareboat yacht charter.

Oman annually holds a range of sailing events of its own for spectators to enjoy. The Extreme Sailing Series –a type of Formula 1 on the open sea – begins its annual year-long competition around the globe from Muscat each February, and every November yachts compete in the Dubai to Muscat Race, navigating the Straits of Hormuz en route.

For more information on sailing in Oman please visit, www.omantourism.om.gov

New Openings in Oman: Hotels

The 399-room Salalah Rotana Resort & Spa (www.rotana.com); Set 2,000 metres above sea level in the Hajar Mountains, Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort (www.alilahotels.com) opened its doors in May 2014. Alongside 78 rooms, six suites and two royal villas, the resort offers its guests a cliff-side restaurant, pool and luxury spa. The 110-room Khasab Hotel in Musandam, on a peninsula created from reclaimed land (www.khasabhotel.net). 

Radisson Blu Hotel (www.radissonblu.com/hotel-sohar), Suhar offers quality lodging in up-and-coming Suhar, this new hotel is close to industrial hotspots as well as a pristine beach. Each of the 178 rooms and suites is a peaceful oasis in this fun-filled resort, which features multiple on-site restaurants and a stylish outdoor pool. Treat yourself to a spa service at the in-house wellness centre, then start the evening at the chic rooftop bar.

The View, located at 1,400 meters above sea level, is an experience where nature holds pride of place and service and hospitality is at its finest.

The View provides stylish accommodations apart from enjoying a relaxed time by the campfire or taking a dip in the infinity pool. (www.theviewoman.com).

Hormuz Grand Hotel (www.hormuzgrand.com) opened its doors in September. Located three-minutes drive from the Muscat International Airport, it provides 231 spacious rooms and 25 sleek suites offering guests the Omani traditions of hospitality, culinary delight and service. It also incorporates eight treatment rooms, steam and sauna facilities.

Other notable developments around the Sultanate include the ultra-luxurious 20-room and 12-villa Maison Cheval Blanc, sister resort to the Michelin-starred, Alpine Cheval Blanc located in Courchevel in France. Situated on the 11-km2 island of Al Sodah, this new resort will be managed under the luxury brand LVMH and is due to be completed by the end of 2015. Each unit will have access to its own private beach. 

The Sultanate's expanding hotel portfolio will soon also include Four Seasons, Banyan Tree Hotels and Hotel Missoni as part of Muscat’s Jebel Sifah project.

Construction of a new five star InterContinental Hotel and Golf Clubhouse is scheduled to commence towards the end of 2014 with a completion date at the end of 2016. The Hotel will be built on 50,000 square metres of the total built up area of land which is set in a unique hillside location with spectacular panoramic mountain and golf greens’ view. The hotel will feature 270 superior, spacious and well-appointed guest rooms and other facilities.

Al Nahda Resort & Spa has announced the opening of a 30 room desert resort, Dunes by Al Nahda, for the 2014 season. A 45 minute drive from Al Nahda Resort 7 Spa in Wadi al Abiyad, Dunes by Al Nahda will be the closest desert resort to downtown Muscat. Other hotels expected to open soon are the Fraser Place Sohar and Muscat’s Azaiba Hotel, an $80 million, five-star project.

Two properties due to be opened in the next two years at Muscat’s The Wave (www.thewavemuscat.com) are the Kempinski Hotel in 2015 and the Fairmont Hotel in 2016. It will overlook the Greg Norman 18-hole championship golf course, will house the luxurious Willow Stream Spa and a selection of gourmet restaurants. 

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

Top 5 New Openings in Oman: Places To Visit

In Muscat, Oman’s first oceanarium and aquarium are currently under development alongside the city’s cruise terminal. Permanent exhibitions will showcase coral reefs, tropical fish native to the Arabian Sea and sharks. Sections will also be dedicated to the amphibians, reptiles and birds that populate the country’s tropical coastlines.

Muscat's Natural History Museum is currently undergoing extensive renovation and expansion. The museum houses fossil remains dating from an incredible 260 million years ago, as well as prehistoric animal teeth and whale skeletons.

Muscat’s Ghalyas Museum of Modern Art will be opening six new areas: this additional exhibition space will allow the museum to exhibit pieces from their permanent collection that have never been on show to the general public.

A new, 13,000m2 National Museum is due to be completed in Old Muscat. Opposite the Al Alam Palace, its displays will cover Omani history from prehistoric times to the present day. A twisting helical staircase will connect the museum's ground-floor halls and first-floor historical galleries, and will be lined with exhibits detailing more than 10,000 years of rich archaeological history. An incredible 1,672 artefacts have been restored over the past two years in preparation for the museum’s opening. 

The Oman Botanic Garden, a new world-class development to celebrate, research, cherish and protect the unique plants, environment and botanical heritage of Oman is located just outside Muscat and is a long-term project.
The 420ha project is currently under construction; when complete it will be the largest botanic garden in the Arabian Peninsula. Visitors will experience the diverse habitats of Oman, investigate the orientation center, explore the site, discover traditional Omani skills at the craft village, learn at the field studies center, buy Omani plants at the plant shop and much more. To follow its development path see www.omanbotanicgarden.com.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

New Openings in Oman

Here’s a breakdown of new openings and events throughout the country, occurring from later this year through 2016.

And with plans for completion by 2016, the new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC, www.omanconvention.com) is set to become a true architectural landmark for Oman. The eco-friendly complex will be one of the first constructions in the world to be certified by LEED, an internationally recognised green building program. The OCEC will overlook the surrounding wadi, a natural reserve for many of Oman’s exotic bird life. Indoors, it will feature a tiered auditorium seating 3,200 people, two ballrooms and more than 22,000 square metres of exhibition space – all perfectly suited to host large-scale conventions, exhibitions and business events.

A new national railway company is also being developed in Oman. This project is the largest within the country’s transport sector. It will connect Muscat, Duqm Port and Salalah, covering over 1,000km and will likely go on to link the country with other Gulf States such as Kuwait and Yemen. Passenger trains are projected as travelling at speeds of up to 200km/hr.

Airport Expansion: The new terminals at Muscat International Airport in their final phases will have some of the best in the world, first of its kind technology and systems in place. The airport which currently handles about six million passengers a year, will have the capacity for 12 million passengers when the terminal expansion is completed this year. The new terminal at the Salalah International Airport is designed for a capacity of six million passengers. It will be built in four stages, with the first stage envisaged for completion in 2014. Stage one will expand the airport's passenger capacity to one million passengers a year.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om 

5 Fast Facts About Oman - O to V

Omanisation: The Omanisation program has been in operation since 1988, training Omani personnel to replace skilled expatriates. There is a fixed Omanisation ratio in various areas of the private sector as stipulated by the Ministry: transport, storage and communications 60% Omanisation; finance, insurance and real estate 45%; industry 35%; hotels and restaurants 30%; wholesale or retail trading 20% and contracting 15%.

Ramadan: Ramadan is the holy month of fasting during which Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours. As a sign of respect, visitors are also required to refrain from publically indulging in these activities between sunrise and sunset. As of 2007, the Oman Government permits tourists staying at selected hotels to purchase and consume alcohol after sunset (from 7pm - 2am) in allocated restaurants. Most international hotels have been granted permission to serve alcohol during Ramadan, including Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt, Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resorts & Spa, The Chedi, Inter-Continental Hotel and the Crowne Plaza.

Regions: Oman is divided into nine main regions – Muscat, the administrative and commercial capital, Al Batinah, Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Sharqiyah, AlWusta, Dhofar and Musandam. Each of the regions is then divided into smaller wilayats to assist in the administration process.

Religion: Islam is Oman’s official religion; other faiths are also respected.

Visas: Visitor visas are available at all air, land and sea arrival points for citizens of over 50 countries including European Union, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan. Visas on arrival for these countries cost RO 5 and are valid for ten days or R.O 20 which is valid for one month. Those countries not valid for a visa on arrival must obtain a visa before travel. For the latest information please go to www.omanairports.com. Further information can be obtained from the Oman Embassy. (Tel 020 722 50001)

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om

OMAN EXHIBITS AT THE MEETINGS SHOW FOR THE FIRST TIME

THE SULTANATE OF OMAN EXHIBITS AT THE MEETINGS SHOW FOR THE FIRST TIME (STAND K15)

The Oman Ministry of Tourism is exhibiting at the Meetings Show, 8-10 July 2014 Olympia, London, for the first time this year and will be joined by Oman’s newest 5* luxury Rotana Salalah Resort and national carrier Oman Air.

The new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, due for completion in 2016, is set to become an iconic landmark for Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman. Located in its own precinct, this world-class facility is perfectly suited to host international, regional and national conventions, exhibitions and business events. Amongst its features are a tiered auditorium seating 3,200 people and more than 22,000 square metres of exhibition space.

The construction of a new five-star InterContinental Hotel and Golf Clubhouse, Muscat is scheduled to commence towards the end of 2014 with a completion date being at the end of 2016. The hotel will be built on 50,000 square metres of the total built up area of land which is set in a unique hillside location with spectacular panoramic mountain and golf course views. The hotel will feature 270 superior, spacious and well-appointed guest rooms and other facilities.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Suhar offers posh lodging in up-and-coming Suhar. This new hotel is close to industrial hotspots as well as a pristine beach. Each of the 178 rooms and suites is a peaceful oasis in this fun-filled resort, which features multiple on-site restaurants and a stylish outdoor pool. Hosting an event to be remembered in the lavish ballroom or one of six versatile meeting rooms is an experience to be remembered.

All five star hotels in Oman have meeting and event facilities, ballrooms and restaurants ranging from a fully functional theatre at the Al Bustan Palace Ritz Carlton to an auditorium in the Shangri-La Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa. The Royal Opera House and grounds are also available for hire on request. Oman’s hotel stock is growing and a number of key international chains operate in the destination alongside boutique properties. Other prominent hotel brands include: Grand Hyatt Muscat; The Chedi Muscat; Crowne Plaza Muscat; InterContinental and the Marriott Resort Salalah and the Alila in Jabal Al Akhdar.

Luxury boutique hotels and camps in the desert and mountains provide excellent venues for overnight excursions. Other excursions for incentive groups include team building, sailing with or without lessons, diving with Oman Sail and land based team building with Oman’s Outward Bounds Centre. For short business trips to Muscat, dolphin watching cruises and city tours including The Grand Mosque, Royal Opera House and Mutrah Souk are of great interest. 4x4 treasure hunts and Wadi exploring with picnics are fun-filled activities if there is time to spare.

For more information please visit, www.omantourism.om.gov