Hi Weekly - February 26, 2016

OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 54,000 COPIES

VOL 10 ISSUE 9 / FEBRUARY 26, 2016

ANSWERING THE CALL OF MUSCAT’S NOCTURNAL CRAVINGS PAGE 18

Audited by

THIS WEEK IN OMAN

WATCH THE ACTION

G INTO THE GO WILDS OF WUSTA

Head to the America’s Cup fan zone at The Almouj to get in on the excitement of the ferocious sailing competition.

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Take a trek down to the remote wildlife reserve in Wusta to see some of Oman’s most iconic residents.

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BRUNCH IT UP In addition to the plentiful brunch offers on Fridays, Trader Vic’s has opened up a new Saturday brunch option for Muscat diners.

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 9 FEBRUARY 26, 2016

Give us a shout with questions, comments, compliments, complaints, or just to say “Hi” Founder Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com Chief Executive Editor Scott Armstrong felicia@timesofoman.com

Executive Features Editor Felicia Campbell Features Production Editor Swati Dasgupta

swati@timesofoman.com Senior Editors T. A. Ameerudheen Faisal Mohammed Naim ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

Chief Sub-Editors Mohammed Shafeeqe, Ashish Dubash

faisal@timesofoman.com

ashishdubash@timesofoman.com Multimedia Editorial Assistants Shruthi Nair, Asmaa Al Balushi, Salim Hamood Al Afifi

shafeeq@timesofoman.com

salim@timesofoman.com

shruthi@timesofoman.com asmaa@timesofoman.com

Chief Creative Officer Adonis Durado Associate Art Director Waleed Rabin Graphic Editor Antonio Farach Design Editor Sahir K.M. Lead Designer Ali Jani Designers Antonio Ismael Sandiego Geri Batara Sonny Gregory Fernandez

Director of Digital Television Joe Morrison Photography MMG Photographers

richard@timesofoman.com

Chief Sales Officer Richard Pakenham

aziz@timesofoman.com

Head Of Advertising & Marketing Aziz K. Baker Production Manager Shafi Shaik On The Cover Photography by Shabin E Design by Ali Jani For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

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Tell us what you’re doing this weekend: Tweet us @HiWeekly_Oman; tag us in your weekend instagram photos @hiweekly_oman; or share with us on FB/hiweekly

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 9 FEBRUARY 26, 2016

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THE WEEKEND LINEUP Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend

25 26 27 THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

10am Break a Leg

10am House Hunt

8.30pm War of the DJs

Don’t miss this year’s Oman Salsa and Zouk Festival, three days of dance workshops, competitions, and crazy after parties.

Attend the 2-day International Property Expo, India’s Biggest Property Pavilion, which will be showcasing designs from the most reputed builders from cities throughout India

Battle it out with other aspiring DJs or just enjoy the clash as a spectator and defacto guest judge at Rumba Lattina this Saturday.

7pm Tickle your Funny Bone

Fancy a hearty laugh? Then head over to the standhe up comedy night at the InterContinental Palm Lane InterCo where some of the best wh comedians in Oman will be comed cracking jokes.

Palm Lane InterContinental Int Muscat +968 2468 0000 intercontinental.com/muscat interco

Al Falaj Hotel +968 2470 2311 realtyindiaexpo.com

Rumba Lattina The Cave, Darsait +968 9531 8629 omanbynight@gmail.com

8.30am Catch a Puck Go witness the UTSC Gulf Hockey fiesta where teams eams from all over the GCC C will be competing in a mega tournament at the Sultan ultan Qaboos Sports Complex. mplex.

Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Bausher usher +968 24599 2197

Photography: ography: Supplied

Al Nahda Resort and Spa +968 9932 6632 oiszf.com

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Have you been to the Festival?

What did you eat? Tag us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 9 FEBRUARY 26, 2016

KHALEEJI HAPPENINGS Broadcasting the best events in the GCC (February 26, 27) 01

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Friday, February 26 DXBEACH presents TIËSTO (Dubai)

Spend a day at the beach dancing to one of the world’s best DJs, Tiesto, headlining the DXB beach 2016 at Zero Gravity beach in Dubai. Tickets priced at AED225 for Early Birds, AED275 for Regular, and AED400 for Poolside. This 15-hour outdoor party is 21+.

Time: 12pm – 3am Zero Gravity, Skydive Drop Zone, Al Sufouh Road, Dubai, UAE +971 4399 0009 0-gravity.ae

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Saturday, February 27 Kuwait International Trade Fair (Kuwait City)

Attend Kuwait’s leading trade fair at the International Fair Grounds, where all manner of household consumables and home supplies will be on display during this event designed to provide consumers and investors the opportunity to get to know Kuwait’s market better.

International Fair Grounds, 6th Ring Road, Mishref, Kuwait City +965 2538 7100 kif.net

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Visit Museum of Islamic Art and explore the meaning of the image of women in the Qajar period in Iran. The exhibit will feature photographs, contemporary artworks, and a variety of historical objects. The exhibition will be on display until 11th June, 2016.

Time: 12pm – 8pm Museum of Islamic Art, Doha Port, Doha, Qatar +974 4422 4444 mia.org.qa

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BALINESE MASSAGE Balinese massage uses a combination of gentle stretches, acupressure, and aromatherapy oils to stimulate the flow of blood, oxygen, and energy to promote deep relaxation and wellness.

OMR25; +968 2460 3225; essence-spa.com

GREEN COFFEE BODY SCULPTING

HIMALAYAN WARMSTONE MASSAGE

THE FRANKINCENSE MASSAGE RITUAL

BAMBOO FUSION MASSAGE

Coffee-based resculpting gel reduces puffiness, bloating, and improves blood circulation while boosting metabolism to promote a firmer silhouette.

OMR49; +968 2673 5555; sixsenses.com

Heated river stones are placed on the 7 chakras to promote relaxation, ease muscular tension and soothe away stress in a natural way over 90 minutes.

OMR85;+968 2452 4400; ghmhotels.com

A gentle foot bath is followed by a scalp massage using frankincense, lavender, and petitgrain oils, which is said to ease daily stress and reduce visible signs of ageing.

OMR25; +968 9981 1849; ayanaspa.com

Men who want to experience absolute bliss in the form of warm bamboo canes gliding the back, neck, and shoulders, should head to the male-only spaloon.

OMR25;+968 2466 2906; spaloonoman.com

Photography: Supplied

hiweekend@timesofoman.com

Saturday, February 27 The Imaginative World II (Kuwait City)

Unleash your inner creative rebel at the Imaginative World II workshop at ART centre of the arts in Kuwait, where you will learn and experiment with your imagination using graphs, scripts, and paints. Contact official organisers for further details.

Time: 5pm – 8pm Block 1, Street 6, Plot 21, Al Usaimi Complex , Kuwait +965 2228 2130 artkuwait.com.kw; info@cobacreations.com

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PAMPERING BODY TREATMENTS

Saturday, February 27 The Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2016 (Doha)

This show is one of the most exclusive in the world, so hit up the exhibition to buy, learn or shop for fine jewellery and unique pieces, watches, gemstones, and diamonds from more than 500 renowned international brands. The event takes place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre all weekend, closing on 27th.

Time: 12pm – 10pm Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, West Bay, Doha, Qatar +974 4033 1111; djwe.qa; decc.qa

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FIVE TO TRY

Saturday, February 27 Qajar Women’s Art Exhibition

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Where are you escaping to this weekend?

Show us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly

W IL D L IF E R E S E R V E

INTO THE NOT-SO-EMPTY QUARTER

A L W U S TA More than 450 Arabian Oryx live alongside Reem Gazelles in the Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve, located in the largest, yet least populated governorate of Oman. It is a trek to reach them, but well worth it to see these spectacular Arabian creatures.

STORY OLGA AYMERICH PHOTOGRAPHY GILES KEUN

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

14.00 Pack some cold beverages, coffee, snacks, and get your playlist ready for a long drive. That is going to be your sole mission for the next six hours. Your destination: Duqm.

09.00 Check-out, buy some road snacks, and re-fill your tank; petrol stations are scarce on the 37 road. Drive north and stop along the way, about 20 minutes into your drive, to take in the splendour of Wadi Nafun (coordinates 19.833874, 57.660505).

Continue, following the signs to Nafun beach for a quick swim to refresh before your long-haul drive.

21.00 Check-in at the Crowne Plaza Duqm, enjoy a local seafood platter at Al Safi Seafood Restaurant, and call it a night.

FRIDAY 08.00 Grab a coffee and get back in the car to take the 37 road from Duqm until Habhab, turn right onto the unpaved road from Habhab to Jaluni for about 30 kilometres. You will reach a fence and marked entrance of the Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve (+968 9325 1581/ +968 9921 3388).

10.00 Spot the gazelles, best believe they have already spotted you. The babies are so cute, you’ll end up with loads of pictures.

11.00 Watch the majestic white Arabian Oryx playing, eating, lounging, and circling around.

13.00 Meet your Bedouin guide, for half day he will show you his local Bedouin way of life, culture, and explain the desert ecosystem and its rare wildlife.

19.00 Drive back to the hotel for a nightcap and bite at Frontier Restaurant before bed.

10.30 Take the 37 road back to Muscat, enjoying its captivating landscape, which transforms from white sands to green bush to reddish rock.

18.00 At the end of the road, reach beautiful palm-lined Muscat.

—HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

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What’s on your Oman “to do” list?

Tweet us @HiWeekly_Oman; tag us in your weekend instagram photos @hiweekly_oman; or share with us on FB/hiweekly

TO D LIST

Get On Board WHAT’S SUP?

Stand up paddle boarding, also known as SUP,

Jump onto a paddle board this weekend to enjoy Oman’s fantastic sea, sun, and sky. You’ll have fun and get a great full body workout.

Story Mohammed Shafeeqe

only became a recognised recreational and competitive sport in the last decade, though the past time can trace its roots to mid century surfers who used their boards as de facto boats when the waves were too gentle to ride. The activity is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: participants stand upright on a surfboard and use a paddle to move through the water.

A wide range of variations from leisurely flat water paddling to SUP Yoga have sprung up as the sport gains traction around the world. It is a fun way to enjoy the water and an incredible workout.

Here in Oman there are many great places to practice SUPing on your own as well as training centres, like Watersports Oman, who offer private and group lessons, and SurfSUP, who offer classes, board rentals, and a variety of aquatic SUP sightseeing tours.

Murtadha Al Lawati, the owner of Surf SUP, feels that Oman is an ideal place for SUPers to enjoy a wide range of styles. “In the region, the water is perfect for such a sport. Oman in particular offers so many different options from wadi’s to beautiful coves and of course the abundance of natural life. Take Qurum Park for example, we take so many people on tours inside the waterways in the mangroves and it takes you to a whole different side of Oman.”

WHY SHOULD IT BE ON YOUR “TO DO” LIST?

Besides being a fun activity and great new way to enjoy the placid waters of the Oman Sea, SUP provides a really great overall workout as it is simultaneously aerobic and strength building.

The sport requires balance and strength in order to remain upright and propel yourself in the water, and when you are paddling in the ocean and there are a lot of waves, which intensifies the challenge. Almost every muscle in the body is used at some point, but the core, back, and abdominal muscles are constantly at work to maintain balance. SUP is a very low impact exercise, so is unlikely that you will do damage to the tendons and ligaments of your joints, so SUP is particularly useful for runners that are experiencing shin splints or knee and hip pain or who are simply looking to cross-train. It provides good cardio and, according to Murtadha, it’s the best way to relieve stress. “I have personally found that stand-up paddling has always been an excellent stress coping method for me. Once I get out on the water and start paddling, I can literally feel my body and mind relaxing as I get into the paddling rhythm.”

So, did SUP make your list? Tell us about it in the comments section on Facebook/HiWeekly or send us your action shots.

—shafeeq@timesofoman.com

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 9 FEBRUARY 26, 2016

Surf SUP Surf SUP offers SUP classes, board rentals and SUP Tours. +968 9609 3939 Facebook.com/surfsupoman Instagram: @surfsupoman SUP Tours Qurum Nature Reserve SUP Tour There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of this nature preserve without disturbing its tranquility than a Stand Up Paddle Board. Qurum Nature reserve SUP tour starts with a 30 minute beginner’s course in the lagoons at the nature preserve which is followed by a guided tour through the exotic waterways of the reserve.

Bandar Al Khayran Nature Reserve Tour The tour through this geological marvel offers a unique opportunity to explore Oman’s marine life and underwater scenery, experience close contact with nature and view the diverse marine life in its natural habitat. Bandar Al Khayran is famous for its breathtaking beauty of wild beaches, coral reefs and exotic marine life. The Bandar Al Khayran SUP tour starts with a 30 minute beginner’s course in the lagoon at the local fishing village and is followed by a guided tour through the reserve. The tour will last about 2 hours.

Wadi Arbayeen The SUP tour will take you through a picturesque setting of mountains on one side and beautiful plantations and villages on the other. The tour will last for 2 hours and end with a light meal and time to enjoy the crystal clear waters of Wadi Arbayeen.

Best spots for SUPing Al Mouj Muscat Shatti Al Qurum Daymaniyat Islands Bandar Al Khayran Wadi Bani Khalid Wadi Arbayeen

Yanket Cove Tour The SUP tour will take you from a bay into a cove that lasts for about 6kms surrounded by mountains on either side.

Price: OMR35 per person (excluding transport) Duration: 160 minutes

Watersports Oman Watersports Oman offers individual and group SUP lessons. +968 9269 4962 watersport-oman.com; info@watersport-oman.com SUP Lessons Beginner group lessons (1 hour) OMR10 per person Beginner individual lesson (3 hours) OMR45 per person Advanced individual lesson (1 hour) OMR18 per person

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FIRST LOOK

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A SATURDAY SOJOURN STORY SCOTT ARMSTRONG

riday brunch has become widely embraced concept in Muscat, with diners now enjoying a number of options across the capital, all offering mountains of food and free-flowing beverages for a set price. But what to do if you are hankering for that particular leisurely midday indulgence on a Saturday? It is, after all, still the weekend.

As of last week, Trader Vic’s restaurant at the InterContinental has answered the call for Saturday brunch, with a new, somewhat different, concept. Available from noon to 3pm, this brunch isn’t a free-for-all fight at the buffet, rather it features a menu of choices served to you at your table to save you the fuss of getting up. Included in the package is a selection of hot and cold appetisers, including Polynesian inspired salads and some of their signature nibbles like chicken skewers in peanut sauce; a South Pacific themed choice of main course, like crispy duck, Singapore noodles, and steak in pepper sauce; and dessert for OMR25.

Of course there is plenty of liquid refreshment, with an unlimited speciality drink package available for OMR37. A live band adds a cheerful ambiance and right now the restaurant’s terrace provides al fresco dining option. With sit-down service and menu options comes a dress code – gentlemen will have to hide those knees and slip on the slacks to enjoy this Saturday brunch.

— scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com

TRADER VIC’S InterContinental Hotel Shatti Al Qurum +968 2468 0080 tradervicsmuscat.com

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The much-awaited fourth leg of the America’s Cup World Series will be held in Muscat on Saturday and Sunday. Spectators can watch the intense action just off the Almouj Golf beach. Here’s all you wanted to know about the competition itself and the activities happening this weekend inside the Event Village.

WATCH THE AMERICA’S CUP AT ALMOUJ GOLF STORY T.A. AMEERUDHEEN

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SOFTBANK TEAM JAPAN After leaving Team New Zealand, Dean Barker didn’t waste much time in finding a new position— settling in as skipper and CEO of the new Japanese team, SoftBank Team Japan. As Barker embarks on his fifth America’s Cup campaign, he has a unique opportunity with a new challenger. One of the pieces is Chris Draper, who raced with Luna Rossa in the last America’s Cup. Barker will skipper and helm, with Draper managing the sailing team and trimming the wing on board.

ORACLE TEAM USA It is the defending champion of the America’s Cup, after winning the last two editions in 2010 and 2013. Skipper Jimmy Spithill is now looking to lead his team to a third consecutive victory. Under the watch of sailing team manager and tactician/ helmsman Tom Slingsby, Oracle Team USA has also shifted towards a younger crew, with new sailors like Louis Sinclair and Andrew Campbell joining some of the rookie holdovers from the last campaign like Kyle Langford and Kinley Fowler.

GROUPAMA TEAM FRANCE It the latest French challenger to the America’s Cup, but the first in the multihull era, a type of sailing that is popular in France and in which French sailors excel. Perhaps none more than skipper Franck Cammas who is a six-time ORMA World Champion, as well as a record breaking machine – he holds or has held at least seven speed sailing records, including the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest non-stop lap of the planet. As someone who has won nearly every significant challenge he’s taken on, Cammas now has the America’s Cup in his sights.

COME WATCH THE ACTION FROM EVENT VILLAGE Oman Sail and the America’s Cup Event Authority have made elaborate arrangements for the spectators to watch the race.

Public can access the Event Village on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Entry to the Event Village is free.

A main stage where a jumbo screen will feature event highlights and the racing on Saturday and Sunday broadcast live from the water. There will be live commentary from the race course and entertainment shows.

KIDS ZONE A Kids Zone will have activities for the whole family to enjoy including a Red Bull Soul Flyer Show, pottery making demonstrations, henna, and face painting, and for the more energetic — Sumo wrestling, mini golf, camel riding, model sailing, and football trickster shows.

FOOD COURT There will be a well stocked food and beverage area for the public at the village.

THE COMPETITION Six teams vie for honours in the America’s Cup, the oldest and toughest international sporting competition. After three events in 2015, Emirates Team New Zealand had a 10-point lead over second placed Oracle Team USA with Land Rover BAR in third, Artemis Racing in fourth, Soft Bank Team Japan in fifth, and Groupama in sixth.

LAND ROVER BAR The British team is a new challenger for the America’s Cup, but that description belies the experience on board. Team principal and skipper Sir Ben Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, is on his fourth America’s Cup campaign after helping Oracle Team USA win the Cup in 2013. Now stepping into a new role, as Land Rover BAR (Ben Ainslie Racing) Team Principal, Ainslie has set his sights on bringing the Cup back to Britain where it all began in 1851.

EXHIBITIONS You can also visit exhibitions of Sea Oman, the Ministry of Tourism Oman, Sail Racing, Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Red Bull, and BMW. —ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

THE CONTENDERS EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND The team came within one win of taking the America’s Cup home in 2013. There was a lot of soul-searching in the aftermath and long-time skipper Dean Barker has been replaced by Peter Burling, a dynamic young sailor who is simultaneously running a 49er campaign for the Olympic Games in Rio. Along with his crew Blair Tuke (also now a member of the Emirates Team New Zealand crew), Burling hasn’t lost a major 49er competition in nearly two years.

EVENT VILLAGE TIMING (Free entry) Saturday, February 27 11:00 to 19:00 Sunday, February 28 11:00 to 19:00

Photo courtesy of Oman Sail

ARTEMIS RACING A team of Olympic champions, from manager Iain Percy (two gold medals in 2000 and 2008) to helmsman Nathan Outteridge (gold medal in 2012, who won a gold medal at the London Olympic Games in the 49er class alongside teammate Iain Jensen, Artemis will be bringing their second challenge for the America’s Cup. The team has re-calibrated its design and sailing team to better compete in the new class and the venue of Bermuda.

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A NEW TR ADITION STORY SALIM AL AFIFI

Omani designer Mohsin Al Manji celebrates his heritage by giving it a supermodern twist.

I

was sitting in a cafe on a Wednesday afternoon, enjoying my hot caramel and glancing at the shoes of those coming in and out. I am a firm believer that your style starts from the bottom up, but it wasn’t until that moment that I really began to ponder the fact that it is not only women whose heels or flats make or break their outfits, for Omani men, the shoe game is just as serious.

As a modern Omani man, finding the perfect sandal for my thoub is crucial, but it isn’t always easy to find contemporary options when it comes to this traditional accessory. This was the inspiration behind Mohsin Design, a design house whose specialty is inspiriting traditional attire with modern aesthetics.

Launched by Mohsin Al Manji in 2013, the

Photography: Supplied

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brand includes traditional accessories, female dresses, and mens’ dishdashas, but their real forte is attention-grabbing, designer na’aal sandals. Statement sandals worn with patterned dishdashas give the person wearing them an air of creativity, confidence, and individuality, and that is what Mohsin Design is all about.

The originality of Mohsin na’aal is unrivalled.

The designer uses locally obtained materials such as zari, a type of gold thread used decoratively in making Indian clothing, albrism, another specialty thread, and silver; he experiments with unconventional textiles, like car-seat leather; and he uses inscriptions to enhance the standard shape and design of the footwear. With such a distinctive look, it’s no wonder that the brand has gained notoriety around the region, and is quite recognisable in Muscat and around the Gulf in countries such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The designer is a Muscat native, whose family originally is from the As’Sharqiyah governorate.

He was born with a passion for fashion and in 2005 he began his creative journey working as a presenter on Majan television, where he really began to learn about the ins and outs of consumer fashion. As a presenter, he had to pay special attention to his appearance, making an effort to look great on the screen and to leave a lasting impact on his audience. Mohsin’s love for design made it easy for him to mix and match pieces that complemented his appearance and he began experimenting with wearing bold colours to stand out and make a statement.

But when it came to finding shoes as unique and daring as his outfits, there were limited options. So he decided to try his hand at creating his own. He worked his magic, embellishing

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STYLING TIP Mohsin’s traditional sandals can also be attired casually. I’d pair them with a casual blazer or a short-sleeved shirt, and shorts, but I’d avoid wearing them with long pants or with socks; not so appealing.

a few pairs for himself, and the response was overwhelming. People loved the shoes, some even demanded he make a pair for them, so Mohsin decided to take the leap, leaving the media industry for a chance to start a business based on his imaginative designs.

With countless challenges facing young male designers in town, such as lack of support and restricted resources, it can be difficult for them to thrive in the fashion industry. But these things did not stop Mohsin from fulfilling his dream. He poured his heart into his craft, working the pieces to perfection as if they were going on his own feet. “The piece that goes out to people with your name on it represents you,” said the designer, adding, “it gives them an idea of who Mohsin Al Manji is as a designer.”

Mohsin Design draws from elements that express Omani identity, from sandals inspired by bisht, the flowing cloak made of wool that Omani men wear around their waist, to sandals designed with the colour palate of an Omani fortress. Every piece has a touch or a glimpse of Oman, which may be the secret to his success when it comes to modernising the traditional sandal without letting go of its true essence.

He started out making customised sandals for his private clientele before expanding to introduce other stylised accessories like wallets and silver-inscribed as’sa, a slim wooden stick carried by Omani gentlemen. He went on to produce edgy menswear and women dresses for his loyal customers, as well as traditionally-patterned high heels, though his distinctive sandals remain the core of his business.

In addition to creating a thriving business, he has achieved a staggering amount in a mere two years — winning best project and section at Bandira; winning the Zubair Small Enterprises Centre award; participating in the Huwiyati Atturathiya (My Heritage Identity) exhibition at the Higher College of Technology; and taking part in an exhibition at The Sultan’s School. And he continues to push himself to find new ways to celebrate his heritage in a fashion-forward way.

Beyond designing, styling for Mohsin has always come naturally, and he realised through his interactions with clients that some men in Oman lack sense of fashion, so he seized the opportunity to establish himself as a stylist for the traditional Omani apparel.

Matching a crisp, white dishdasha with a kuma cap or wrapped mussar is relatively simple, but finding sandals that enhance your look can be a pain. So to make styling fool-proof, Mohsin Designs began offering complete outfit

sets that include dishdasha, mussar or kuma, and matching sandals. He is now working on creating wedding sets for couples and themed packages for weddings. Among his future plans are opening a physical shop and expanding the Mohsin Design brand in Oman and the Gulf before launching it globally. These stylish na’aal were the answer to my style prayers, and as I admired them, I asked the innovative designer what his secret was. He replied, “Work hard from the heart.” —salim@timesofoman.com Sandal prices range from OMR15 to OMR30 To place an order, contact Mohsin Design, +968 9890 0500, instagram.com/mohsin_design

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DINING

AFTER

DARK STORY MOHAMMED SHAFEEQE | PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E.

D

o you ever find yourself feeling peckish at midnight? Getting 2am cravings for a kebab? Or perhaps you are a night owl who enjoys having an exceedingly late dinner, or something in between. Here in Muscat, there aren’t many options aside from international fast food chains, but we’ve stayed up all night searching out local restaurants and coffee shops that are open 24-hours. What we found were seven restaurants serving up food so good that they’re worth a visit any time of day or night, but that we really love for the fact that they keep on serving delicious meals until the wee hours of the morning.

So say goodbye to closed doors and last orders; it’s time to satisfy those midnight munchies.

—shafeeq@timesofoman.com

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AL HAIKAL RESTAURANT RUWI, GHUBRA

One of the oldest restaurants in the area, located near Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Ruwi, this Pakistani joint has been serving traditional Peshawar-style cuisine for 33 years. There’s nothing grand about Al Haikal when it comes to its interior decor and it is far from fine dining, but what they do, they do very well: excellent, extremely affordable Pakistani food.

There’s a menu, but it’s better to just ask the staff what is available when you arrive, and what they recommend. A testament to the popularity of the restaurant’s mutton dishes, Haji Shabbir Ahmed, who runs the place, says that around 100-150kg mutton is served daily and on weekends that number goes up

to 250kg. The mutton kadai curry and the tender, flavourful, fried chapli kebabs are the most sought after dishes on offer, so if they are available, they’re worth an order along with naan and roti breads. Crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, they are perfect for making sure you get every drop of the delicious sauces. Biryanis are also plentiful and popular. Al Haikal have 16 branches in Oman, though only the Ruwi Branch and the one in Ghubra (New Al Haikal), are open 24-hours.

Ruwi: +968 2470 8447, +968 9922 6044 | Ghubra: +968 9824 5899 Ruwi Location: 23°35’43.8”N 58°32’40.9”E Instagram: Haikal-Ruwi

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OLD TURKISH RESTAURANT & COFFEE SHOP AL KHUWAIR This bustling 20-hours (closing from 4am8am) restaurant near the Hotel Radisson Blu in Al Khuwair, has an extensive selection of dishes including mixed grills, pizza, pastries, and one of the best chicken shawarma sandwiches in Oman. Open till the wee hours, the outside dining area provides the perfect dining space during the cooler seasons, though the majority of the latenight business is takeaway, which you’ll bear witness to as a long queue of cars and honking drivers, grows as the night goes on.

The garlic-mayonnaise slathered shawarma, the generous mixed grill, the esh-bol-bol pastry made with labneh, cheese, and honey, and the meat, labneh, and cheese stuffed azzizza are worth a try.

Call: +968 9945 2747, +968 2448 7822 Location: 23°35’24.6”N 58°25’42.9”E

AL MAS RESTAURANT BOWSHAR INTERNATIONAL HOTEL

GHUBRA This 24-hour restaurant is located inside Bowshar International Hotel, across the highway from Oman Avenues Mall in Ghubra. The menu’s emphasis is certainly Continental, but skip over all of that and go straight for the biryani. With hamour fish, chicken, mutton, beef, and prawn variations, the biryanis all feature a distinctly IndoArab masala mix that is flavourful, but not very spicy, even when ordered “hot”. There is no ambience to speak of, so most late-night customers come to take their rice, salad, and yoghurt parcels to-go.

Call: +968 2449 1105 Location: 23°35’27.0”N 58°24’25.6”E bowsharhotel.com

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ROYAL TEA FAST FOOD GHUBRA

Located a few metres beyond the Indian School Ghubra when travelling from the Sultan Qaboos Street, this Middle Eastern coffee shop just opened on January 1, 2016. They serve popular Arabic snacks like sandwiches, burgers, mathafi-chicken combo, tikka wrap, egg wrap, parantha, chappati, and chicken tikka along with hot masala tea,

shakes, and fresh juices, round-the-clock. The food is not mind-blowing, but it is clean, reasonably good, and especially perfect for late night junk-food cravings. Home delivery within the area is also available.

Call: + 968 9486 9301, + 968 9023 6111 Location: 23°35’26.8”N 58°23’47.0”E

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AL RAIHAN COFFEE SHOP AZAIBA

The 24-hour coffee shop adjacent to the Al Maha petrol station in Azaiba is a perfect snack stop when making a late night drive to the airport from southern parts of Muscat. There is a scattering of outdoor tables and chairs, but most opt to take their sandwiches, burgers, falafels, tea, coffee, juices, and fresh coconut to go with them. The place is always buzzing with commuters and area residents looking to satisfy their midnight munchies.

Call: + 968 9725 0005 Location: 23°35’04.5”N 58°23’42.7”E

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TAKSIM RESTAURANT AL KHUWAIR Located at Souk Al Khuwair opposite Hotel Radisson Blu, Taksim Restaurant claims to be the only place in Muscat where you can order a fresh fish grill 24-hours a day. Their staple seafood offerings include jumbo shrimps, hubbar (squid), hamour, kalmar, king fish and lobster. Besides the seafood, the restaurant serves a selection of typical Arabic and Turkish dishes including a particularly good mixed-grill platter teaming with shish taouk, lamb chops, and lamb skewers. There are also plenty of fresh juices to choose from as well as Turkish coffee, which goes great with the syrup-soaked vermicelli and cheese dessert, kunafa. The outdoor seating has surprisingly nice ambience, thanks to high bushes that separate it from the parking lot.

Call: +968 9564 3600/ +968 9778 2510 Location: 23°35’13.4”N 58°25’44.0”E

CAPITAL PALACE TEA AL KHOUD For those living in the northern parts of Muscat, this all-hours coffee shop is one of the only places you can go to satisfy almost any late-night craving from wraps and sandwiches, like their Arabic club, a sausage roll stuffed with chips, to faloodas, fresh juices, and shakes, to serious sweets like the banana split boat, though their specialty is karak tea and honeydrizzled Omani bread. There is a tiny space for dining with a single table inside and three small tables outside and they offer home delivery within the area.

Call: +968 9147 3110 Location: 23°39’29.0”N 58°06’49.9”E

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THE IDEA WAS TO CREATE A SPACE FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO COME TOGETHER, SHARE CHALLENGES, AND RELATE WITH EACH OTHER STORY SHRUTHI NAIR

H

ow many of you have received an email from alatoolmuscat.com? I don’t know about you, but my email box is flooded with various discount offer emails from them, and I don’t think the Alatool brand would be alien to anybody who has lived in Oman for a considerable amount of time as it is almost inconceivable that someone wouldn’t have come across pamphlets, advertisements, vouchers, or emails from them at one point or another. It was the near omnipresence of this start-up company that made me stop and wonder what other burgeoning businesses are in the works here in the Sultanate, and what challenges and opportunities are present for young entrepreneurs.

Startup has been defined by different people in different ways. It is a phenomenon that has taken the world by storm especially since the dot-com industry boomed, and it has continued even after that bubble burst. According to Merriam-Webster, “start-up” means “the act or an instance of setting in operation or motion” or “a fledgling business enterprise.” The American Heritage Dictionary suggests it is “a business or an undertaking that has recently begun operation.” And then there are renowned CEO’s and company founders who have their own interesting ways of defining a startup based on their experiences and expertise. But all these definitions were a little too western for my understanding, which is why I decided to get in touch with someone in Oman who could give me a more local perspective.

I began with Startup Oman, a website I accidentally came across while researching kickstarters in the country, tooling through the highly interactive website (which I noticed gets updated on a regular basis) and getting in touch with Sherry Colbourne, the managing partner.

According to Sherry, a startup is a company that is experimenting with a new business model and being disruptive to a business environment that they are trying to get into. The startup scene in Oman is in its infancy compared to many countries like UAE. “When we say ‘Dubai’ you can talk about a business community. We obviously can’t replicate Dubai because of the drastic differences in the ecosystem, but we certainly can try to create an active business environment. In fact there is no startup ‘scene’ per se in the country right now because there is no community as all the startups in Oman are currently scattered around.

And that exactly is the mission of Startup Oman; to bring the various startups and SMEs together under one umbrella,” she explained.

Startup Oman is a platform founded and run

by Ali Kamal Daud, and Sherry Colbourne as a platform for entrepreneurs and stakeholders to come together to form a community where they can exchange ideas through an online forum. “It is the only platform in Oman by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs,” she added.

To understand the Omani startup situation better, I decided to get in touch with Jessica Asher, the founder of alatoolmuscat.com, a first-of-its-kind, award-winning e-commerce site that offers discounts on everything from local products to services.

Mahmood Zayed, managing director of Startup Oman says that there are currently about

20,000 startups and small and medium enterprises in Oman

Alatool means quick / fast – right now. And that’s what the deal depicts —buy now as time ticks away. When asked about her inspiration behind starting alatoolmuscat.com she simply said that it was new media. So interestingly, it wasn’t the product but the medium that resulted in the revolutionary business model of alatoolmuscat.com. Jessica, who has been a marketing professional all through her career has worked in all roles starting from events to advertising to public relations and even media, but she says that digital marketing is what she got hooked on. Jessica started alatoolmuscat. com in 2012, at which time it was the first ecommerce platform offering value for money deals, and offers on various products and services only using digital platforms. The site created bridges between buyers and sellers, multiplying the businesses’ sales almost immediately, but because it was not a traditional brick and motor model, initially consumer acceptance was slow.

The company stuck to their model and continued to build a reputation for themselves. Now alatoolmuscat.com has around 89,000 unique organic subscribers.

Since alatoolmuscat.com was a digital startup, and the customers don’t get to see a physical store, I was curious to know all about how they function. I visited the humble company office, Socioholics in Wattayah, and met the sevenperson team. The company has an operations and admin team that take care of customer satisfaction from the marketing level to purchase; a deal and content team that work with marketing to actually write and launch deals; and a digital marketing team who are responsible for alatoolmuscat.com. The fresh young bunch of passionate, hardworking individuals seem to have a lot of fun at work, and have a proven track record as a team.

Jessica says that each day offers new surprises, excitement, and challenges for them.

For instance, once they launched a deal wherein a meal and drink at a reputed seaside restaurant were offered for less than OMR10 and the deal resulted in 500 new customers in a week for the restaurant. “That’s when we realised how pleasantly unpredictable the market can sometimes be,” Jessica laughed. They

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Managing partner: Sherry Colbourne; Director of Business Development: Inez Baricevic; Managing director: Mahmood Zayed

have also had incidents where consumers try to buy the deals for fun — assuming that they are “too good to be true” and aren’t real offers and the customers are pleasantly surprised when the deal goes through and is accepted at the participating business.

Though the term startup is not officially used in Oman, the community of young entrepreneurs, like Jessica, is certainly growing. With interesting ideas, unwavering willfulness, and undying passion, a lively generation of business men and women in Oman have been nurturing their startups and transforming into full-fledged businesses slowly but steadily.

Jessica Asher strongly feels that the startup scene in Oman is rapidly growing. She feels that a lot of entrepreneurs are getting the right support from various organisations both strategy and monetary wise which has resulted in creating an aspirational drive among the youth in Oman.

Startup Oman is at the forefront of fostering this community. Basically, the idea was to create a space for entrepreneurs to come together, share challenges, and relate to one another,

because, according to Sherry, experience has taught her that there is always a tremendous potential for peer to peer learning in this field.

Since she was an expat with an idea, she had to go looking for an Omani partner, which is how she met Ali Daud, who showed an equal amount of interest and keenness and also had the right kind of knowledge about the market and resources. Thus their journey started.

Now they have regular meetups and chats over Caribou coffee where they invite young, aspiring entrepreneurs and the ones who have already made a mark for themselves in the business world, and give them a common platform to interact with and learn from each other.

I asked Sherry if Startup Oman is a startup itself. She said that it most certainly is. Sherry came to Oman with her husband from a very strong business ecosystem in Toronto. A few months in Oman and she started volunteering with people who were helping other entrepreneurs and realised that the entrepreneurs here are seeking to find like minded people and trying to get connected. That’s when she thought it would be nice to have an online plat-

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Founder and group business head: Jessica Asher

form where people could come and check in what’s going on and the events happening and make startupoman.om a place of knowledge.

The Omani market has come a long way in the last decade when it comes to entrepreneurism. The universities are promoting entrepreneurship courses and many private companies are sponsoring incubators, programmes, and startups. Mahmood Zayed, managing director of Startup Oman says that there are currently about 20,000 startups and small and medium enterprises in Oman and those numbers keep growing. Meeting the vibrant founders of these next generation startups gave me a sense of inspiration and an eagerness to see what will be next for Oman’s young, dynamic entrepreneurs who are ready to experiment, pioneer, and create something truly unique.—shruthi@timesofoman.com Attend the next startup grind with Rabea Ataya, Founder and CEO of Bayt.com on the 28th of February at Muscat Hall, Bank Muscat.

For details and upcoming events, visit startupoman.om.

Alatool started in 2012 and it reached

89,000 unique organic subscribers to date

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Designer Showroom Mazayen (mazayen.net) modern jewellery showroom opens in Al Khuwair. - Photography Shabin E

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Basketball Tournament The 12th annual 3-on-3 street basketball tournament held at Ras Al Hamra Recreation Centre.

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Mall Opening Landmark Group opens Centrepoint, Home Centre & Max Stores in Nizwa Grand Mall.

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SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column, and area.

Level | Very Easy

5

1

Level | Easy

7

3

8

8

3

4 2

1

5

2 7 6 3

2 9

5

1

8

1 3

6

5

9

4

9 2

7

8

1

4 3

4

7

5

8

Level | Moderate

9

4

1 7

9

5

7

1

1

5

3

7

9 8

6 6

3

8

6

3

9

6

9

7

5 3

6

1

2

5

6

3

3

Level | Difficult

4 2

9

6

4

2

8

8

7

1 6

2

4

6 1

8

9

5 3

9

4

3 6

8 1

2

3

8

6 5

2

4 4

2

2

4

1

5 2

5 4

9

3 7

9 7 8

2

3 4

2 8

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