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