Oman-Business-Finder-January-2021 by Oman Business Finder

CLICK HERE

New Horizons of Oman Tourism Chairman & Managing Editor: Ahmed Rashid Al Shukaili Editorial Director: Muhammed Shakir Business Officer: Rashid Bin Ahmed Marketing Head: Issa Bin Mohammed Al Nabhani Creative Head: Ahmed Al Fari Digital Support: Amira Al Shukaili Cover : Ministry of Heritage & Tourism Layout: Midhlaj Eettil

Editorial Office: Oman Business Finder, Ghala, Muscat, Oman Contact: +968 9126 0908, +968 9903 8484

Website: www.omanbusinessfinder.com Email: info@omanbusinessfinder.com

Published by: NextaOne Business Solutions Disclaimer: every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information. The publishers cannot accept any consequences rising from the use of information provided.

This icon means to click next to it and browse the related contents

Tourism industry is the largest industry worldwide and is the main source of economic development and source of income generation for many countries across the world. Oman being the second largest country in the Middle East possessing wealth of natural resources, has everything to offer to the tourists. It has a long coastline with pristine beaches, beautiful mountains, and world’s best deserts with rolling sand dunes. With breath taking Khareef festival of Salalah, Musundam in the Khasab region which is referred to as Norway of Arabia and Bhala with its forts and castles being listed in the UNESCO world heritage monuments, Oman is one among the best ten countries of the world for tourists to travel. The tourism industry in Oman is comparatively new and a relatively small part of the total economy but has been growing quite rapidly. The exploration of a tourism development is dependent upon a number of different inputs. These include the institutional environment in which tourism enterprises function, the profile of the tourists in terms of personal characteristics and associated tourism needs and desires, and tourism products on offer. However, one cannot afford to ignore the impact of tourism on hospitality industry which will have a snowball effect for generation employment for locals. This in turn calls for further strengthening tourism education and training. Hence, the tourism sector will need to carefully chalk out its strategy and be adaptable to the demands of the evolving global economy based on the emergent trends. With pristine beaches, magnificent deserts, ragged mountains and a history that spans over 7,000 years, the Sultanate of Oman is going be most attractive tourism location in middle east. In near future, tourism sector of Oman would be touching new horizons of growth and success. This issue of Oman Business Finder features Oman Tourism.

-Editor

Throughout 2020, we face unprecedented crisis and challenges. The global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the stability of the world economy and the cohesion of the global community. Responding to the threat, let us hold together all kinds of efforts for progress towards a better future. We should think of implementing bold and innovative measures that will change the fundamentals of business in order to be strong enough to withstand a crisis of any magnitude. No one can predict what the post-COVID-19 era will be like. Even the amidst of an unprecedented pandemic, let us continue our efforts for “Progress of Humanity” with the goal of providing freedom of movement to everyone, connecting people with quality time, and improving the daily lives of all humanity. It’s time to be hopeful, have new dreams and make some new resolutions for the new year in everybody’s life. It’s time to connect with each other and make new year wishes. It’s time to move on and embrace what’s new. The new year means a lot of new dreams, new business ventures and new achievements. Let us move forward under the great leadership of his majesty Sulatan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. W is h e s a H a p p y N e w Ye a r t o E v e r y b o d y f r o m O m a n B u s in e s s C o m m u n it y !

CLICK HERE

W is h e s a H a p p y N e w Ye a r t o E a c h a n d E v e r y O m a n i!

Experience Oman: Exploring Growing Tourism Possibilities

Ahmed R ashid Al Shuk aili

MBA, Founder of NextaOne & Oman Business Finder

he Sultanate of Oman is a country of breath-taking natural beauty, interwoven with a kaleidoscope of history and legends. As the oldest independent state in the Arab World, Oman has embraced modernization and progress while retaining the core aspects of its culture and heritage – making it the perfect travel destination for those seeking an authentic Arabian experience. According data made available ahead of Arabian Travel Market, Tourism arrivals to Oman will increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5 per cent between 2018 and 2023 to 3.5 million. Experience Oman (www.experienceoman.com) project with the motto ‘beauty has an address’, by Sultanate of Oman is one of the outstanding endeavors towards growing tourism possibilities of Oman. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has successfully united all tribes since his ascension in 1970, ensuring that the country and its people work together to build the country. Oman has a population of just over 5 million people. It is an Islamic country which is very accepting of other religions and cultures, allowing anyone to practice their faith freely without prejudice. It is this kind of peaceful and accepting culture that makes Oman one of the safest and most livable countries in the world. Omanis are very welcoming of visitors from other countries, a fact that is reflected in the generous hospitality extended to guests. The Sultanate of Oman is the only country in the world composed mostly of oceanic crust and rocks that originate from the Earth’s mantle. Evidence of continental drift can be witnessed in many of the unusual rock formations and topography around Oman, including the coastline around Muscat. Oman’s culture is deeply rooted in the Sultanate’s proud heritage and history of seafaring, trading and exploration. Today, long-standing traditions blend seamlessly with modern day living, with the latest fashion and electronics brands sold alongside traditional handmade crafts, jewelery, and even goats and cattle at souqs around the country. Oman is a wonderland for travelers with a keen interest in geology. Geological stories can be found just about anywhere, from Oman’s highest mountain, Jebel Shams, to the mega-dunes of the Empty Quarter (Rub Al

Khali) and the Rock Garden at Duqm.The Sultanate of Oman is the only country in the world composed mostly of oceanic crust and rocks that originate from the Earth’s mantle. Evidence of continental drift can be witnessed in many of the unusual rock formations and topography around Oman, including the coastline around Muscat. Experience Oman project showcase major highlights of Oman Tourism. It has been categorized as Heritage and Culture, Customs and Traditions, Wildlife and Nature and Sports and Adventure. Experience Heritage and Culture Oman is a thoroughly forward-looking nation, but proud of it’s distinctive architecture, customs and traditions crafted over centuries. Omani culture is both ancient and modern, with new ideas to complement the old. Oman’s rich history of trade comes alive as the remains of proto historic settlements pinpoint ancient trading places. Striking fortresses recall a time when rivals tussled for territory, while ancient irrigation channels reveal Oman’s ancestral ingenuity. Visit souqs or museums to witness skills as traders and craftsmen. Talents of Omanis range from creation of pottery, textiles and silverware to being camel-rearers, horse-breeders and boat-builders.

Best Heritage Sites by Experience oman Project Sultan Qaboos Mosque Opulent, spacious, and serene, Muscat’s magnificent centrepiece is the only Omani mosque that is routinely open to both Muslim and non-Muslim visitors. Muttrah Souq (Muttrah Street) Haggle your heart out at Oman’s most famous souq, near Port Sultan Qaboos. This maze of indoor stalls offers an abundance of silverware, antiques, frankincense, garments, and spices. Al-Aflaj Irrigation Systems Dating back to 500 AD, this spectacular system uses gravity to channel water from underground sources for agriculture and domestic use. Forts Oman’s forts offer a powerful culture with stunning views of historic towns. Built in the 3rd millennium BC, Bahla Fort is a must-see site. Experience its ancient alleys, 13km extended wall and its picturesque terraces. Frankincense Trail Obtain an overview of local history at Salalah Museum of the Frankincense Land, and head out to explore the surrounding Boswellia groves and archaeological sites. Al-Ayn Beehive Tombs These fascinating Bronze Age burial chambers date back to a time when local communities were becoming sophisticated and hierarchical through trade.

Wildlife and Nature As part of Sultanate’s commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism, Oman takes great care to conserve the habitats and geological features which make Oman’s landscapes unique. Pack your swim wear, boots and binoculars, and prepare to be amazed. The arid region of Wusta is home to the endangered Arabian Oryx. Oman’s nature reserves and wild animal sanctuaries protect Oman’s nature reserves and wild animal sanctuaries protect important coastal and desert habitats, totaling almost 30,000 square km. important coastal and desert habitats, totaling almost 30,000 square km. Oman’s location in the northern reaches of the Indian Ocean makes Oman’s coastal waters a haven for dolphins, whales and birds. Close to the coast, Oman’s coral gardens are teeming with colorful fish and it’s protected coves are crucial breeding grounds for endangered marine turtles. Oman’s mountains and deserts are home to rare land mammals including wild goats, sand cats, Nubian ibex and the Arabian Oryx, which is an icon of the Gulf. Oman’s natural heritage is extraordinarily precious and it is utmost privilege to share it with all who visit.

Best Places to Experience Wildlife and Nature Dolphin: Khasab Take a dhow cruise through the ruggedly scenic, fjord-like khors of northern Musandam, where humpback dolphins are commonly seen at play. Turtles: Ras Al-Jinz Visit Sharqiya turtle reserve on a summer’s night, and watch in amazement as female turtles haul themselves upon the sands to dig their nests. Whales: Mirbat This picturesque southern town has a small fort looking out to sea. If you are on a sailing trip, you may see humpback whales in the waters nearby. Fishing: Daymaniyat Islands Dive into The Aquarium, as the island’s best scuba site is known, to see flitting fish, dazzling branch and delicate seahorses. Bird: Masirah Islands Well over 300 species including kingfishers, plovers, terms and flamingos have been counted on Masirah wetlands and mudflats. Dessert Mammals: Wusta This arid region is home to the endangered Arabian Oryx, a striking-looking gazelle, as well as the Nubian ibex, desert foxes, sand cats and caracals.

Sports and Adventure Oman is a superb destination for an outdoor holiday where adventure is limitless. Oman’s dazzling blue waters and spectacular landscapes will leave you spoilt for choice. It has since evolved to include yachting, cycling and motor racing, which really gets everyone on their feet. If you love getting splashed by the waves, you will be in your element - Oman’s beach resorts and marinas offer watersports galore. Oman’s world class golf courses are bound to bring out the best in your game. With championship standard courses surrounded by impressive scenery, a relaxing round of golf will feel like an adventure in Oman.

Best Places for Sports and Adventure Sailing Mussanah Marina, Oman Sail’s marina at the Millennium Resort Mussanah, has dinghy, yacht and powerboats, skippered charters and bareboat rental services. Sail to the fabulous Damaniyat Islands off the Batinah coast, or go island-hopping and discover hidden beaches in sheltered and secluded bays. Cruising For a taste of leisure sailing, book a short, skippered cruise from Muscat, Sur, Khasab or elsewhere. Enjoy drinks and lunch or canapés onboard, while the crew take care of everything. Kayaking Rent a kayak for an hour or two, or join a long-distance kayaking tour to explore Oman’s lovely inlets, fjords and fishing villages. After which, you can camp on the pale, sandy beaches. Wind Surfing and Kite Boarding Oman’s modern marinas offer training and most beach hotels have equipment for hire. Kiteboarding is still relatively new to Oman but guarantees a high-octane experience at al-Sawadi, Duqm and Masirah Island. SURFING Year-round breakers and manageable summer temperatures make Oman one of the best surfing destinations in the Middle East. Head for the southeast coast to Salalah, where quality surf breaks onto the sandy beaches of the Arabia Sea. Diving and Snorkelling Whether you are a snorkeller, a seasoned scuba diver or a novice diver who’s keen to learn, you will be dazzled by Oman’s underwater world, which host reefs, dropoffs, and coral-lined fjords. The Damaniyat Islands, are home to diverse selection of underwater flora and fauna.

Visa Procedure

How to Reach Oman

Obtaining a visa to Oman is easier than ever. Avoid queues at the airport by simply visiting: https://evisa.rop.gov.om/ and apply for the visa online. Most nationalities are included, and the process is easy.

By Air Oman is well plugged into international air networks, either through the national carrier Oman Air or through other Gulf airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad and lowcost carrier Salam Air, so it’s possible to reach Muscat from most major air-hubs in Europe, North America and Australasia with only a single change of plane. www.omanair.com www.salamair.com

Money 1,000 Baisas make up 1 Omani Rial. 1 Omani Rial (OMR) is approximately = USD 2.60. ATMs are widely available and major credit cards are accepted.

How to Roam

By Land

Oman’s white-and-orange city taxis are handy for short hops. The prices differ according to the distance of the destination. mwasalat.om

You can drive to Oman from the United Arab Emirates. The journey from Dubai to Muscat takes approximately four hours. You can also travel by bus with mwasalat.om, the leading public transport company in the Sultanate of Oman

Connectivity Visitors can avoid roaming charges by buying a local SIM from outlets at the airports or retail shops. Free Wi-Fi is available at multiple locations.

By Sea Port Sultan Qaboos in Mattrah (Muscat) is Oman’s main port for cruise liners, inter-city ferries and local boat trips. Oman’s National Ferries Company runs a high-speed catamaran ferry service from Shinas to Khasab, Dibba and Lima and connects Shannah to Masirah Island.

Dress Code Oman is a Muslim country and visitors must respect local customs. You are advised to wear long, loose, modest clothing. Women should cover their head with a light shawl when visiting the mosques or traditional rural communities.

CLICK HERE

Best Time to Travel The most popular months to visit Oman are November to March. However, you can also visit in the summer, for the turtle-watching season in Sharqiya, which lasts from June to August. From late June, southern areas enjoy temperate climate and lush scenery along the coastline. Readers can visit experienceoman.com website specifically prepared for this project promoting Oman Tourism. Moreover, you can use #expereinceoman hashtag in social media in order to promote Oman Tourism. Also, the website provides opportunity for travellers to share their experiences with Oman tourism in which ever format they want to share. For more details readers can log into: www.experienceoman.om

Click on Screens

Hala Suites Hotel: A Success Story to Inspire

Najma.I Abdulrahman

tarting a business might be the scariest decision of your life. It involves so many risks that you might be tempted to back down. There’s no doubt that becoming an entrepreneur is difficult, but there are so many success stories out there that it is impossible not to feel inspired when stumbling upon them. Yes – you will face some internal questioning every now and then, but once you’ve figured out how to overcome it, everything should run smoothly. One of the safest, most profitable business ideas approached by new entrepreneurs is launching a new hotel. The travel sector will never die, that’s for sure. You only have to decipher the secret behind defeating your competition. For that, you must pay attention to their mistakes and triumphs. The history that’s already written will serve as a guide on building the future. Keep yourself so documented about what you’re interested in that nothing scares you any longer.

O n e o f th e safe st, m o st p ro fitab le b u sin e ss id e as ap p ro ac h e d b y n e w e n tre p re n e u rs is lau n c h in g a n e w h o te l. Th e trave l se c to r w ill n e ve r d ie , th at’s fo r su re. Yo u o n ly h ave to d e c ip h e r th e se c re t b e h in d d e fe atin g yo u r c o m p e titio n .

Talking about valuable information, here is success story from hotel industry which will inspire you and will diminish your entrepreneurial fear. Hospitality: A Passion Hospitality has always been a passion for Hala Suites Hotel. With its star rating of 3.5 property opening in November 2019, still offering the affordable price yet premium customer care like five stars hotels has continuously made Hala Suites a very successful small eco-friendly hotel in Al-ghubrah, Muscat, Oman. Hala Hotel Suites had been constructed since 2019 and opened its door to welcome the very first guests by starting up with only 60 cottages in November. Right after the opening, Hala Suites Hotel has continuously earned the great reputation and been listed as a talk of the town, a new rising star and a new player that rocks the hospitality business. The talents have created the great impact on the high level of customer care given to the valued guests, partners and within the team. Hala Suites Hotel based on all organic guests’ experiences and reviews from all the platforms. Hala Suites Hotel will be a small hotel offering a harmonious stay experience with nature, reflecting authentic Oman tradition and cultures whilst uplifting our service to the international standard.

Business with Values and Vision Hala Suites Hotel continuously developed each of its new ventures in a way to best preserve nature. It always highlighted the Oman identity whilst uplifting service standard to be international that suits all the mankind. At Hala Suites Hotel, its talented team had provided such exceptional customer care from the beginning of the journey till the very end. The Hotel Management focus on specific values which makes the venture most respectable one. Firstly, “Benefit”. Hala Hotel Suites not only aim to achieve benefit for its owners, partners, and team members but we also focus on the benefits of our guests to receive best stay experience. Secondly “Service Mind” The only reason that made Hala Hotel Suites a star shining hotel is definitely because of our main focus on our team’s service mind. Taking great care and being details oriented in every possible aspect. Thirdly, “Nature Living”. Hala Hotel Suites aims to be a hotel pursuing a positive and satisfying existence in a style that respects and seeks to achieve harmony and balance with nature. Fourthly, “Responsibility for Society”. At Hala Hotel Suites, management believe that what made us unique is not only because of our location, but also because of its nature, products, and people. Moreover, HalaHotel management believe in being responsible for our surroundings. While creating a customer experience, most important part is creating a feeling of staying in a real Home Away from Home. In order to create a friendly stay experience for all visitors of all the nations

and in order to give respect to local culture and norms of the situated location, Hala Suites Hotel is operated based on the Dry Hotel Policy with surrounded with Restaurant holding the Halal Certified food. Hala Suites served a lot of visitors since it opened, generating over rooms nights, achieving an average occupancy rate over 70%. This is one of the major secrets behind this success story. Caring Employees Hala Suites Hotel employ a number of people, whom it considers as its most valuable asset than any other thing. We are proud to say that we offer very competitive benefits for the team and this includes a very competitive salary, competitive welfare and benefits. Every 2 years, Hala Suites management arrange the very exciting annual leave for the team one by one to go to their country. Moreover, it provides all the opportunity to progress in the career. Although many came with limited education or experiences in hotel business but as long as they have talent and ambition, hotel always provide the trainings for all of them. Management meeting with our General Staff and could express in how the Hala Suites Hotel is run and how together we could continue making it a better one.

Contact

Email: halahotelsuites@gmail.com | Phone : +968 99429421 / 98983602

CLICK HERE

Old Muscat Tourism: Promoting Oman Tourism

Khalid Ahmed Nasser Al R awahi

man is an Arab country located on the south-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Tourism in Oman grew considerably during the 2000s, and a 2013 report predicted that it would become one of the largest industries in the nation. In 2018, Oman attracted about 4.2 million tourists from around the world, of which 898,000 were from other Arab nations, A massive increase from 2.1 million in 2017.The beauty of the emerald

O ld M u s c a t T o u r is m is o n e o f th e su cce ssfu l b u s in e s s v e n t u re s O p e ra t in g b a s e d o n M u s c a t, s e r v in g O m a n t o u r is m a ll t h e w a y . T h e c o m p a n y a s s o c ia te d t h e n a m e O ld M u s c a t To u r is m w it h a n in te n t io n to p u t M u s c a t r ig h t a t t h e c e n te r o f t h e to u r is m m a p o f t h e S u lt a n a t e .

beaches, the rich Arab history in the ancient forts, the lush green mountains, unique wildlife and endless deserts will give you an Arabian adventure unlike any other country in the Gulf Coast. You will find local bazaars or souks filled with handicrafts and the most famous item of Oman, Frankincense. Kind-hearted, helpful and law-abiding people add up to make this country a must-visit place. Oman has various tourist attractions, particularly within the realm of cultural tourism. Muscat was named the best city to visit in the world by American travel guide publisher Lonely Planet,and was chosen as the Capital of Arab Tourism of 2012. Tourism industry is the largest industry worldwide and

is the main source of economic development of many countries. It is also the main source of income generation for countries like Mauritius, Spain etc. Oman being the second largest country in the Middle East possessing wealth of natural resources has everything to offer to the tourists. It has a long coastline with pristine beaches, beautiful mountains, and world’s best deserts with rolling sand dunes. With breath taking Khareef festival of Salalah, Musundam in the Khasab region which is referred to as Norway of Arabia and Bhala with its forts and castles being listed in the UNESCO world heritage monuments, Oman is one among the best ten countries of the world for tourists to travel (International Travel Magazine).

Muscat: Capital of Oman Muscat is the capital and is the most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. The city lies on the Arabian Sea along the Gulf of Oman and is in the proximity of the strategic Straits of Hormuz. Low-lying white buildings typify most of Muscat’s urban landscape, while the port-district of Muttrah, with its corniche and harbour, form the north-eastern periphery of the city. Muscat’s economy is dominated by trade, petroleum, qualified natural gas and porting. Old Muscat Tourism Old Muscat Tourism is one of the successful business ventures operating based on Muscat, serving Oman tourism all the way. The company associated the name Old Muscat Tourism with an intention to put Muscat right at the centre of the tourism map of the Sultanate. It truly aims to utilize the rich cultural heritage and natural diversity of Muscat. Old Muscat Tourism has a vision of being internationally

recognized premier provider of innovative and exceptional tour products and services while maintaining high quality services. Moreover, it wants to showcase the cultural and natural wonders of Oman in tour packages, thereby making it a destination of choice both by local and international travelers. In that way, Old Muscat Tourism aims to work on creative ideas

and explore new areas of tourism for Oman and to be in forefront of bringing up the number of tourist arrivals to the country. Now, Old Muscat Tourism has entered all areas of Oman tourism by their unique services. Right from the entry of a traveler to Oman, it provides all the services including, hotel booking, car rental, tour packages and travel guide

Services by Old Muscat Tourism

Why Old Muscat Tourism?

Major tourism services by Old Muscat Tourism include:

Within a short span of time, Old Muscat Tourism has served thousands of travelers coming from various parts of the world. Instant response, Good cooperation and partnership with the hotels and suppliers, Innovative program ideas, perfect planning, good performance & exceed Expectations and Quality service are major features which make Old Muscat Tourism, pioneer of Oman tourism.

Fixed round trips and tailor-made packages Musanadam Packages Salalah Packages Cruise Line Itineraries Self-Drive packages Honeymoon Packages Day Excursions Hotel Bookings Self-Camping Trekking and Cycling Golf and Diving Packages VIP Premium Services Transfers Meet & Assist at the airport Apart from all this Old Muscat Tourism provide lunch or dinner gathering at anytime and anywhere in Oman. Being a successful venture in Oman tourism sector, anybody can trust and start for Oman along with Old Muscat Tourism.

All of its clients will obtain personalized and outstanding service throughout their travel experience/events. This what made this venture successful.

Contact Website:www.oldmuscattourism.com Email:Contact@oldmuscattourism.com Contact Number: +968 2453 9342, +968 9299 4493 +968 9202 0049, +968 9935 2886

Madayn Features World-Class B usiness Cities Across Oman Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani (CEO, Madayn)

tatistics released by the end of 2019 indicate that the total investment volume in the industrial cities pertaining to the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates - Madayn increased to RO 6.67 billion (USD 17.3 billion) by the end of 2019, marking a growth rate of 1.54 per cent compared to the same period in 2018. The foreign capital accounts more than 48 percentage of the investments. The total number of companies and factories operating in Madayn’s industrial cities has touched 2,313 by the end of 2019. More than 61,000 manpower

work in these industrial cities, with an Omanisation percentage touching 34 per cent. Since its establishment in 1993, the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates - Madayn has contributed to the development of Oman’s economy and the industrial sector. Today, Madayn manages and operates eight industrial cities in Suhar, Raysut, Nizwa, Sur, Al Buraimi, Al Rusayl, Samail, Ibri in addition to the Knowledge Oasis Muscat, the flagship technology park in the country, and Al Mazunah Free Zone. Madayn has officially begun the establishment process of Ibri Industrial City in the wilayat of Ibri in Al Dhahirah governorate on a total land area of 10 million square meters. Located on the road leading to the border between Oman and Saudi Arabia, Ibri Industrial City aims to bring together a variety of industrial, commercial and service activities including light and medium industries, commercial establishments, administrative offices, industrial workshops and warehouses. In addition toIbri Industrial City, Madayn has also announced three new industrial cities in Thumrait in Dhofar governorate, Shinas in North Al Batinah governorate, and Al Mudhaibi in North Al Sharqiyah. A new industrial city is also forthcoming within the industrial and logistics complex in Marmulto represent a fruitful cooperation between Madayn and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). According to the signed agreement, Madayn will finance, develop, operate and attract investments to latter industrial city in the oil and gas sector. 2040 Vision Madayn has developed its 2040 Vision to be in line with the objectives of Oman 2040 Vision by acting asone of the key players

in the Sultanate’s industrial development process. Madayn aims to play a major role in supporting Oman’s economic diversification and growth as well as be along the lines of the national priorities of Oman 2040 vision. Madayn Vision 2040 emphasizes on the significance of enhancing the quality of services in Madayn’sworld-class business cities and maintain the national identity. Madayn Vision 2040 shall be achieved by contributing to sustainable economic and social development and encouraging Public-Private Partnership to help develop, manage and operate the business cities. It is worthwhile to mention that Madayn follows live-work-play development model, which emphasizes on the key role played by social infrastructure, sustainable development and PPP, and underlines the opportunities for private investments in infrastructure development through Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. Madayn shall continue with its vision of enhancing Oman’s position as a leading regional centre of manufacturing, ICT, innovation and entrepreneurship excellence, and its mission of attracting industrial investments and providing continued support, through regionally and globally competitive strategies, good infrastructure, value adding services, and easy governmental processes. Investment Opportunitise Through its investment arm - Shumookh Investment and Services, Madayn works closely with local and international partners to develop new and innovative projects that will result in the growth of industries in the Sultanate. Moreover, Madayn focuses on the PPP approach through Oman Investment and Development Holding Company (Mubadrah), which was established to develop, manage and operate the existing industrial cities as a main developer, and attract local and international developers as key operators of the new industrial cities. Madayn aims at attracting local, regional and foreign investors to set up their businesses within its industrial cities in various areas such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, mineral processing, plastic industry, medical equipment, electronic industry, packaging industry, paper products, automotive industry, furniture, textile and garments, electrical products, solar energy, downstream petrochemical products, building materials, chemical industry, and ICT. Madayn also welcomes private investments in social infrastructure such as residential complexes, hospitals and clinics, hotels, food courts, sports centres, schools and colleges, transport and parking, and shopping centers.

Contact Mail us: invest@madayn.om Website: www.madayn.om | Call now: +968 2417 0700

PMA international LLC Partner in progress

DEALERSHIP FOR HYUNDAI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY IN OMAN

Salim Khalifa Sulthan

MA International, subsequent to its inception in 2018 has established partnership with Hyundai Construction machines and Forklifts as their authorized dealer in the Sultanate of Oman. During this limited span of two years,

PMA international has established Hyundai brand as one of the top sought after brands in the Sultanate with a dominant market share. In 2020, market share of Hyundai brand is much higher compared to all other makes sold in the Oman market. In addition to Hyundai, PMA International LLC is offering other reputed brands of construction machines to the customers in the Sultanate of Oman through its professional dealership network. The company has already estab-

lished as a one stop solution for all construction machinery needs by representing products with the highest level of reliability and productivity. PMA International is offering multiple categories of Hyundai machines including different capacities of track and wheeled Excavators, Front End Loaders, Backhoe Loaders, Skid Steers, Hydraulic hammers, Forklifts etc. To enhance machine performance, Hyundai is also offering superior range of genuine spare parts and complete range of lubricants.

Hyundai Heavy Equipments; constriction machines and services Construction equipments An indispensable part of Hyundai’s world quality construction equipment is its fleet of rugged range of Mini and big Excavators. Hyundai’s range of construction excavators is packed with sheer power to perform even the toughest jobs effortlessly. This reliable equipment combine safety, comfort, efficiency and durability to give you complete control over your daily operations and allow fast cycle times. All machines feature efficient boom swing function to allow maximum flexibility in tight spaces Forklift equipments: Hyundai offers a wide range of forklifts to suit your diverse load handling requirements. When you add a Hyundai forklift to your team, you can expect nothing but the best performance across various parameters. Faster operation cycles, ease-of-operations and optimized fuel consumption are just some of the benefits of these cutting-edge forklifts. With these machines on your side, you can always be assured of high productivity and profitability in your operations.

Spare Parts: Genuine parts are the small things that make our machines deliver big! Be it power, efficiency or durability. Just like a piece of a puzzle, each Hyundai part is a perfect fit for the respective Hyundai machine which performs at its highest level even in the toughest conditions. Even from a maintenance point-of-view, it is much easier for our technicians to repair the parts as they know them inside out!

Contact Hyundai Heavy Equipments Oman Mail: sales@pma.om Mobile +968 93210187 Office +968 24277545

Why Every B usiness Needs a Website? Bu sin e ss H ac ks

Muhammed Shakir MBA, Cofounder of Nextaone & Oman Business Finder

business’s online presence, regardless of industry, can have a massive impact on its success. In this day and age, some businesses still don’t realize that a majority of their customers will visit their website before making a purchase. Having a strong online presence, particularly a website, can be make or break for generating more revenue. Yes, the quality of your website impacts results, but the purpose of this article to stress the importance of making sure you have a website. One of the main reasons you should have a website for your business is to increase your organization’s credibility. Chances are there are several providers offering a similar service to yours. One way you can stand out is by having a website that looks good and clearly communicates quality information to your consumers.

Benefits of a Business Website Advertisement goes limitless No burden of Printing or tension of reaching to the destination. New customers each hour Can update with a new face Can expand globally Can extend the local reach Can reach to employees with just a click Set up an email address Two-way communication Internet identity of the company Selling products and serving Keep in touch with customers until the product reaches their end When changing locations, Customers can connect via website Can serve the customers to get the product or services Obtain the rating from customers Can improve the service seeing the ratings The satisfied ratings can attract new customers Marketing will grow tremendously Company will be accepted globally That will assist to grow reputation of company Your brand name visibility will be increased Websites have become an essential to business today. I strongly recommend creating one if you haven’t done so already. You can improve it over time, but the key is to start. If you are in need of getting a professional and creative website for your business Please feel free in keep in touch with us!

Contact Whatsapp: +968 9126 0908 | +968 9903 8484 Email: info@omanbusinessfinder.com Website: www.omanbusinessfinder.com

Ericson Launched Graduate Programme in Oman

Business News

Ericsson has launched a graduate program in Oman to offer young talent support and learning and career development opportunities. With excellent training and progress through every step of a candidate’s career, the new Graduate Program will provide on-the-job, project based, online and classroom learning to facilitate digital progress in line with performance indicators of Oman 2040 Vision. Graduates will gain valuable work experience, skills and knowledge that will assist them in advancing their career. They will also have a chance to work with cutting-edge technologies, including, and not limited to 5G, Internet of Things, Cloud Technology and Data Centres. Abdullah Al-Balushi, Country Manager of Ericsson Oman says: “The newly-launched graduate program in Oman is designed to boost the technical competence and knowledge of successful candidates. It will help them engage with commercial projects, gain experience, develop capabilities and enhance their future career opportunities at Ericsson. Graduates who join Ericsson will enjoy unique opportunities to learn, grow, make connections, and to make a real difference.” The program will not only let graduates work with teams on live projects, they will also be able to attend training courses and are assigned dedicated mentors to provide guidance. In addition, they will get exposed to working in a large global matrix driven organization in terms of the ways of working, understanding vision, mission, strategies, corporate culture and values of the company. Recruitment has been finalized with the recruited candidates coming from various areas of study, including Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, and Information Systems. Source: Ericson Company

Port of Salalah Committed to Mineral Strategy of Oman

Port of Salalah, with annual exports of 9 million MT of Gypsum in 2019, is the world’s largest exporter of gypsum and is working on expanding its capacity to meet the future market demand of this commodity as well as limestone exports. The proximity to prime mining and quarrying locations has enabled the port and the exporters to grow the export volumes. Port of Salalah collaborates closely with the exporters on improving and adding to its portfolio of services. In addition to the deepwater berths of up to 18m of depth that can receive cape-size vessels thereby giving its customers increased flexibility, Port of Salalah has also been investing in new equipment and resources to improve productivity and reliability. Oman has been blessed with a diverse range of mineral deposits ranging from copper to gypsum and limestone and the government has initiated several measures to unlock the vast opportunities and potential of this sector leveraging its strategic location on the global trade lane and proximity to destinations that have a high demand for these products like India and South East Asia in addition to traditional markets in the Far East. The Government of Oman has invested and plans to continue investing in logistics infrastructure in the Sultanate

Oman’s Ministry signs strategic partnership with Microsoft on digital transformation in education.

20 October, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The Ministry of Education today signed a partnership agreement with Microsoft to accelerate digital transformation in education across the sultanate. The collaboration will work towards empowering teachers with skills and technological capabilities to improve learning outcomes, and better prepare students for jobs of the future. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Majid bin Saeed bin Suleiman al Bahri, Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Education, and Sheikh Saif Hilal al Hosni, Country Manager Microsoft, Oman and Bahrain. H.E. Majid bin Saeed bin Sulaiman Al Bahri said “This agreement comes as a result of our continued partnership with Microsoft and is part of the building blocks of a deeper collaboration to provide training to all teachers in the Sultanate. This effort will contribute to enhancing their skills and technological capabilities, while supporting the education transformation in the country.” The agreement will focus on four main pillars. These include Leadership and Public Policy; Teaching and Modern Education; Smart Environments; and Technology. Through these pillars, Microsoft will work together with the Ministry of Education by making its tools and competitions available to support the development of the education digital transformation plans based on the ministry’s needs.

Business News

to ensure that Oman plays an active role in global commerce and progress its vision. “Oman is witnessing rapid changes in the year 2020. A reform in the government structure and new legislative laws are opening the opportunity for foreign investments which will lead to increased profits due to economic diversification. The country’s mineral wealth is being realised, thus focusing on investing in the downstream capabilities will increase the business generated from local raw materials. Port of Salalah has an extensive client portfolio and a well-equipped general cargo terminal that caters to the country’s largest mining companies as well as provides services related to importing and exporting raw materials,” stated Mark Hardiman, CEO of Port of Salalah. Demand for Oman Gypsum continues to be strong for importers in South East Asia and the Far East. A diverse group of mining companies like Kunooz Gypsum. Global Mining, Dhofar Mining, Zawawi Minerals, Al Jood Natural Resources already operate mines in Dhofar while Majan Mining has a strong presence in Limestone exports. Combined with Limestone exports, makes Salalah Port the key logistics Hub for exporting both commodities to India, South and South-East Asia, Japan, East Africa and South Africa. Salalah Port is also emerging as the export hub for the value-added business of Limestone, Gypsum Board, and Gypsum Powder.Trade and manufacturing have been hugely impacted globally by the pandemic and the same has had an impact on the demand for aggregates in the 2nd quarter of this year. Despite these challenges, the mining companies have managed to recover the volumes in the last quarter and overall gypsum volumes for 2020 are expected to be close to volumes handled in 2019. Strategically located on the trade crossroads between Asia and Europe and serving the markets of East Africa, the Red Sea, the Indian Subcontinent and the Arabian Gulf – the Port of Salalah is operated by APM Terminals as part of the APM Terminals global terminal network. The port operates both a container terminal and a general cargo terminal. Source: Times of Oman

T h e h ig h e s t n u m b e r o f s e lf-e m p lo y e d p ro fe s s io n a ls (1 9 .6 % ) w o r k in t h e c o n s t r u c t io n /t r a d e s fi e ld . O n ly 9 % o f e n t re p re n e u r s h a v e a B a c h e lo r ’s D e g re e in b u s in e s s . S t u d ie s s h o w m id d le -a g e d m e n s t a r t t h e m o s t s u c c e s s fu l b u s in e s s e s . # 1 re a s o n w h y b u s in e s s e s fa il is t h e re ’s n o m a r k e t n e e d . O n ly 9 % o f e n t re p re n e u r s h a v e a B a c h e lo r ’s D e g re e in b u s in e s s . 6 2 % o f b illio n a ire s a re s e lf-m a d e . 2 6 % o f e n t re p re n e u r s t u r n t o t h e in t e r n e t fo r b u s in e s s -re la t e d a d v ic e . B u s in e s s a n d fo o d a re t h e t w o m o s t p o p u la r in d u s t r ie s fo r e n t re p re n e u r s h ip .

CLICK HERE

Souqmazoon - Your one -stop e -shop for Omani Products

Adel Al Hubaishi

mall to medium-sized firms (SMEs) have the potential to make substantial contributions to national economies and in most cases are also the driving force behind innovation and competition in many economic sectors. This is especially true in countries like Oman, that are looking to diversify the economy. However, while there are a wealth of initiatives from the government to support the establishment and growth of SMEs,one question still remains – What can be done to help these smaller businesses benefit from the ever-shifting buyer’s habits towards an electronic environment. Although the ready availability and falling costs of portable smart devices, coupled with advancements in internet technology, have had a major effect on the ability of SMEs to compete in electronic commerce, the impact has been a mixed blessing for many firms. The breadth and speed of the changes brought about by the Internet, together with the sudden shift in purchasing habits as a result of the ongoing global pandemic, has radically altered the business landscape. Firms now need to plan effective strategies to realize the benefits of an electronic environment, which can be intimidating to many smaller firms. This is where Souqmazoon.com stepped in.

The Website

Souqmazoon.com was launched earlier this year as an e-marketplace designed primarily to support SMEs and products ‘Made in Oman’. The innovative new website was aimed at redefining convenience by developing into a customer and vendor-centric, digitally enabled company, together with an efficient delivery and service system. Furthermore, the e-marketplace intends to add value to its customers by extending a seamless shopping experience while helping customers maintain social distancing, considering the current COVID-19 situation. Right from its launch, the website has certainly stood by these promises.

Promoting Omani Products On the vendor side of things, the website makes it easy for SMEs to start selling their products online. All they need to do is complete a simple registration process. Once registered, Souqmazoon will offer SMEs strategic support to sell their products online by offering an online shelf space, along with guidance from a dedicated Vendor Relations Management team. On the consumer end, the e-marketplace allows users to gain access to a wide variety of products across multiple categories. By offering a broad range of Omani products, Souqmazoon encourages shoppers to support SMEs and to buy locally-sourced products. To access the website, users can utilise either Souqmazoon’s desktop portal or its mobile app, both of which have a secure payment gateway and provide all kinds of support through a well-established paymentgateway partner. They offer a secure payment mode ensuring a seamless checkout experience and encrypted security for personal information. The Souqmazoon app is available for download on both the Android and iOS platforms. In order to ensure smooth operations and to provide the best possible e-marketplace experience to both its vendors as well as consumers, Souqmazoon works with a select set of prominent Omani institutions. They come together to provide a seamless ecosystem that supports the Souq’s operations, delivering a secure and efficient selling and buying experience. These key stakeholders include Asyad Express for logistics, Bank Muscat for the Payment Gateway, Oman Data Park for the hosting of the website, and Qaid Al Ard Modern Projects LLC as the technology partner.

Robust SME Partnerships

In addition to the key stakeholders, Souqmazoon has also established strong partnerships with key SMEs where possible. These include Muaawana, who serve as the vendor management agency; Badr Al Bayan, who serve as the translation agency; CA Group, who provide Souqmazoon with accounting services; and Mandoob, who work alongside Asyad Express as a logistics partner. • Muaawana Muaawana was established by Ali Said Al Rashdi in 2015 and has its roots in facility services and management. Over the years, as a result of the number of outsourced jobs and orders they managed for clients, they gained significant knowledge and experience in the local vendor-consumer dynamics. This made them uniquely qualified to handle vendor management for the website. At Souqmazoon they aim to attract new vendors to join the platform, support them through the registration process, as well as train them on how to use the portal efficiently. They also offer support to any existing vendor whenever required, coordinating any requests between the management, technical team and delivery agencies. They are also required to regularly follow up with vendors and delivery agencies to ensure parcels reach customers. • Badr Al Bayan Badr Al Bayan is one of the leading and most prestigious translation agencies in Oman. They have beenproviding language and communication services for individuals and corporates for over ten years, including leading companies in oil & gas, education and training, publicity, hospitality, retail, banking among others. The agency got the opportunity to work with Souqmazoon through their affiliation with Al Zubair SEC, when they were invited to support the upcoming e-commerce platform. They provide Souqmazoon with complete translation services between Arabic and English, as well as consultancy on any matters related to language communication.

• HLB CA Group HLB CA Group, a member of HLB International, is a fast-growing professional services firm in Oman. The firm was formed to serve the assurance and advisory needs of businesses in a wide range of industries. They provide a full range of auditing, accounting, internal audit, taxation and advisory services to public and private companies in all industrial sectors. They are a group of highly efficient auditors and are assured to provide cost effective and value-added service to clients. The group was recently signed on by Souqmazoon to provide the website with accounting services, and has already begun the preliminary procedures and are currently in the process of gathering data from the e-marketplace. They will be also be responsible for all accounting aspects of the business, including recording of all transactions in the cloud-based online ERP, preparation of monthly financial statements, preparation of company reports, and more. • Mandoob Mandoob is a 100 per cent Omani company, started by a group of Omani entrepreneurs in 2015. It was launched as a door-to-door delivery service in the country, aimed at enhancing Oman’s domestic last mile fulfillment sector. They joined Souqmazoon as a logistics partner alongside Asyad Express, wherein they handle deliveries of packages above 5kgs, while Asyad handles the delivery of smaller packages.

Click on Screens

Growth and Future Working together with its partners, Souqmazoon.com, in the short time since its launch, has already proven to be an extremely efficient and convenient e-marketplace for purchasing Omani products and has received an encouraging response from the local market. The immense value it offers to both shoppers in Oman as well as its vendors, has led to a significant growth in the website’s customer base in just a few short months. Souqmazoon has also achieved an increase of SME registrations by 60 per cent, and growing. Team Souqmazoon’s intensive marketing efforts during the soft-launch and postlaunch phases to promote the platform and its vendors had driven the progress recorded in the early weeks. The team’s constant endeavour is to help vendors promote their products by communicating special discounts and offers through Souqmazoon’s marketing campaigns. Moreover, Souqmazoon continues to play a major role in guiding its vendors on how to best promote their products, run discounts and extend offers. The website’s success over such a short period of time is a sign of things to come. With the number of vendors and consumers continuing to grow, Souqmazoon is on its way to becoming the premier marketplace for locally-produced products in Oman and is sure to have a significant positive economic and societal impact in the coming years.

OMANINFO Most valuable informations and facts from Oman, a country occupying the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula at the confluence of the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

Oman Safest Country in the World. *The World Travel Risk Map for 2021 Report

Oman, safest and least risky travel destination in the world *International SOS Consulting Report

Omani Beaches are Famous for Green Turtles Eggs

Oman has more than 500 forts and castles

Muscat Clock Tower is Oman’s Oldest Monument

The Al Said family is the longest-ruling royal family in the whole of Arabia.

Traditional Ornamented Doors of Oman Are Unique.

Oman is the only country to have a women-only Souq. It takes place every Wednesday in the city of Ibra.

CLICK HERE