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

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

OMAN MINISTRY OF TOURISM SUMMER UPDATES 2014

OMAN MINISTRY OF TOURISM SUMMER UPDATES 2014

Oman Ministry of Tourism are delighted to be exhibiting at the Meetings Show 8-10 July 2014 at Olympia, London for the first time and this year and will be joined by the new 5* luxury Rotana Salalah Resort and 1001 Events DMC. Where buyers and exhibitors will be inspired to do business, develop industry knowledge and network with the best in the industry.

As a highlight of the South coast’s summer season the British Beach Polo Championship sponsored by Oman Ministry of Tourism will return to Sandbanks, Poole for its seventh year on 11 and 12 July 2014.  Supported by some of the best arena polo players in the world, the hotly anticipated beach festival promises excitement and glamour both on and off the pitch.  England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be competing, with England keen to retain the title after a gripping final against Wales last year.

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

                                       

FAM Trips to Oman 18 - 21 June 2014

Two FAM trips hosted by Oman Air and Ethiad Airways left for Oman on the 18 June with a packed itinerary including hotel visits, a boat trip with Oman Sail, visits to the Grand Mosque, Opera House and Galleria, tours of culture in Nizwa and the breathtaking Jabal Akhdar mountains. Staying overnight in the brand new Alila Resort Jabal Akhdar, a half day tour covering the Frankincense Route, Mirbat and Job's Tomb and finishing with a visit to the Omani heritage museum Bait al Zubair. 

Phil from Personal Travel Agents commented, “Just a quick note to say thanks for arranging a great trip, and for including me in it! I have been trying to get to Oman for a long time now and was not disappointed when I eventually got there. Loved everything about it to be honest, apart from the heat which I realise needs to be taken into account when advising clients. I certainly feel much better equipped to sell it now.” 

Jeanette Coughlon, Travel Counsellors said, “Just wanted to drop you a quick line to say thanks so much to all involved for giving me the opportunity to visit Oman - I really appreciate the invitation to participate and experience first-hand this part of the world in which we're seeing increased interest.”

10 Fast Facts About Oman - E to L

Electricity: The electrical system is based on 220/240 AC volts with British-type plugs.

Facilities for the physically challenged: Most hotels and public places provide facilities and make special arrangements for physically challenged visitors.

Getting around: Oman has a modern network of roads and motorways. Several car-hire companies offer a range of vehicles, including four-wheel drives for visitors who are heading off-road. Taxis are the easiest way to get around Muscat. It is best if you agree on the fare beforehand, as taxis are not metered. Most hotels can arrange transport for guests, including limousines or bus services for larger groups. The world’s fastest diesel-powered passenger ferries, the Shinas and Hormuz catamarans (www.nfc.om), link Muscat directly with Oman’s northernmost peninsula, Musandam. They are the first of a fleet of five high-speed vessels that will improve access to more remote areas of Oman for residents and tourists alike.

One of the most popular ways to see Muscat is aboard one of the city’s new Big Bus Tours (www.bigbustours.com). Tourists and locals alike may explore the city on double-decker buses. The hop-on, hop-off tours stop at 12 Muscat landmarks, including the Royal Palaces, Muttrah Souk and the new Royal Opera House.

Getting there: Muscat International Airport is located 30km from Muscat city centre. It offers both international and domestic flights. Flying from Heathrow, award-winning national carrier Oman Air (www.omanair.com) offers daily, 7 hour, non-stop direct flights from London to Muscat. Oman Air is also the country’s domestic airline, offering 42 flights a week to Salalah in Dhofar, and daily flights to Musandam (Khasab Airport). Many other international airlines fly into Muscat, including British Airways (direct), Gulf Air via Bahrain, Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi, Emirates Airlines via Dubai and Qatar Airways via Doha, as well as Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa and Swiss Air. Qatar Airways also fly’s to Salalah via Doha. 

Government: Oman is known formally as the Sultanate of Oman. The country is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who ascended to power in 1970 and his appointed cabinet.

Health: While tap water is safe for drinking, most Omanis opt for locally bottled mineral water. Most hotels have medical help available and the country possesses a modern medical infrastructure in terms of private and government medical facilities.

Hotels: Oman currently offers over 12,792 rooms including many three, four, five and one six-star properties including leading hotel brands: Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan Palace, Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah, Grand Hyatt Muscat, Intercontinental Muscat, Crowne Plaza, The Chedi among others. This is set to increase to 19,415 by 2015.

Most recently the Juweira Boutique Hotel (www.juweirahotel.com) was designed by Egyptian architect Adel Mokhtar, this five-star resort is based at Salalah Beach. As well as more than 100 elegant guestrooms, the hotel boasts 21 luxury suites. All rooms and suites possess private sea-facing terraces. The Duqm City Hotel a 117 room business hotel equipped with comfortable rooms and business amenities opened its doors at the end of 2012 catering for business travellers seeking affordable and contemporary Omani hospitality along with the 4 Star, 200 room Duqm Crowne Plaza both ideally located from which to visit the Duqm Rock Gardens. A dozen eco-friendly luxury tents were added to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve’s (www.rasaljinz-turtlereserve.com) accommodation options in early 2013. An 800-metre walkway links the spacious tents, located atop a picturesque hill, to the reserve’s Scientific and Visitor Centre.

Language: Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken.

Local Time: GMT + 4 hours

Location: The Sultanate of Oman is the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. The United Arab Emirates splits the country, with Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula separated from the larger Omani mainland by approximately 100km. The warm waters of the Arabian Sea lap the country’s East Coast. 

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

8 Fast Facts About Oman - A to C

Alcohol: Alcohol is served in licensed hotels, clubs, bars and international restaurants.

Awards: In May 2010 Khasab Fort, located in Musandam, was awarded a prestigious award for excellence at the Museums & Heritage Awards ceremony. In 2011, the country was awarded Business Destinations’ Best Destinations for Cultural Tourism in the Middle East 2011 Travel Awards. Muscat was coined Arab Tourism capital for 2012 by the Tourism Ministers of the Arab League Nations and named one of 2012’s top ten cities to visit by Lonely Planet. Condé Nast Traveller voted Oman one of 2013’s top holiday destinations to watch. The Guardian names Muscat DiveCentre as one of the top 100 holiday beach 2014. ABTA Magazine names Oman as one of the top 12 destinations to watch in 2014. In September 2014 Oman’s UK office won the Travel Bulletin Star Award as Star Middle East Tourist Board.

 

Business hours: Oman’s weekend begins on Friday afternoon and continues through Saturday, in line with the majority of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Government offices are closed the whole of Friday and Saturday. The Omani work week runs Sunday to Thursday. Banks, embassies and consulates are open from 8am to noon, Sunday to Thursday. Most shops and malls open from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 9pm. During Ramadan, shops close later at night.

Climate: The coolest time to visit Oman is between October and April, with daytime temperatures between 25°C and 35°C and night time temperatures around 17°C to 19°C. The weather is hotter and more humid in summertime, which stretches from April to September. For year-round mild weather, head to the Southern Dhofar region, which also enjoy a refreshing monsoon season between June and September. Air-conditioning is the norm in vehicles and most buildings, including hotels, conference centres, exhibition halls and shopping malls.

Clothing: Lightweight summer clothing in cotton or blends is ideal most of the year. Sweaters or a light jacket may be needed for the cooler evenings. The dress code in Oman is comparatively relaxed, but legs and shoulders should be covered outside the hotels, where revealing and inappropriate clothing may be considered offensive

Currency: The rial (RO) is the Omani currency and is divided into 100 baisas. The rate of conversion is £1 = RO 0.65 or $1 = RO 0.39 as of August 2014. Banks and exchange bureaus are found throughout Muscat.

Credit cards: All major credit cards are accepted in major hotels, stores and larger shops. However, cash is primarily used in traditional souks, and bargaining power is increased with the ready availability of hard currency. ATM machines are available in some hotels, Muscat Airport, cities and larger towns throughout the country.

Customs: No customs duty is levied on personal effects brought into Oman. It is forbidden to import drugs and pornographic material. Duty free shops are available at Muscat International Airport on arrival and on departure. The shops sell a variety of products including alcohol and cigarettes.

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