Awarding Winning Oman Air

The Business Destinations Travel Awards 2012, sponsored by the UK magazine Business Destinations, has voted Oman Air, the official airline of the Sultanate of Oman, as the “Best Business Class Airline in the Middle East.”

The magazine has a readership of over 100,000 and is published every other month. It is distributed in upper class aircraft cabins, airport lounges and to experts in the travel profession. The magazine is also sold in retail outlets.

CEO of Oman Air, Wayne Pearce, said:

“We are delighted that Oman Air has been named as ‘Best Business Class Airline, Middle East’ in the Business Destinations Travel Awards. This follows on from last year’s win by Oman Air of the ‘Best Luxury Airline, Middle East’ category, so we are extremely pleased that the quality of our premium service has been recognized for the second year running. My thanks go to Business Destinations’ readers and to all our staff, throughout Oman Air, who have played a vital role in transforming the airline into the luxury carrier it is today, and ensuring the success of our outstanding and internationally recognized business class offering.”

During the course of the past two years Oman Air has won on average one international prize per month including the following awards: ‘Best Airline in the World’ at France’s leading travel show IFTM Top Resa in September 2011; ‘Best Business Class Airline Seat in the World’ and ‘Service Excellence, Middle East’ at the World Airline Awards 2011; ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ at Malaysia’s KLIA Awards 2011 and ‘Best In-flight Connectivity and Communications’ at the APEX Passenger Choice Awards 2011.

CEO Pearce added:

“Oman Air’s aim is to continue to ensure an outstanding travel experience for all our passengers and, as this award again confirms, our Business Class cabins offer the ultimate in comfort, space and service. Whatever your destination, Oman Air’s competitive rates ensure that Business Class style and luxury are surprisingly affordable.”
 

Riyadh Travel Fair

After realizing a 17% increase in tourism from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to the Sultanate of Oman from 2010 to 2011, the Ministry of Tourism in Oman has decided to participate in the upcoming Riyadh Travel Fair 2012.

Director General of Tourism Promotion at Oman’s Ministry of Tourism Ali Khaburi said:

"Saudi Arabia is a key tourism market from many perspectives. Saudi visitors are growing in number and we think they are also increasing their length of stay. The market is broadening from business and family segments with short break leisure travel becoming more prominent. We also think Salalah has significant year-round potential for the Saudi Arabian market, and growing demand for travel will lead to non-stop air services between Saudi Arabia and Salalah.”

The fair will be held from May 15 to 18 and is considered an important event for tourism networking with many countries participating. The Oman Ministry of Tourism is especially excited to showcase many of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, with an emphasis on newly opened resort hotels at Jebel Sifah and Salalah.
 

The excitement about the upcoming Facebook Inc IPO, scheduled for May 18 is about to go up several notches as Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of the Facebook empire, embarks on the roadshow this coming Monday.

In the financial world a road show is designed to drum up interest in the company which is going public among investors. Company officials travel from investor to investor, explaining the potential value in backing their company. In the case of Facebook it is hard to see how interest can increase, as it already has reached borderline hysteria.

Investors from the UAE have been watching Facebook’s developments, anxiously waiting the launching, said by many to be the most awaited tech-related IPO since Google’s in 2004.

One investor, Rai Gaga from the UAE, has already informed his fund managers to get ready for the moment.

“I have been waiting since the first announcement was made in December. I have filled out the form. Although I am not sure of getting it due to such high demand. I am planning to invest anywhere between $150,000 to 200,000,"said Gaga.
 

GCC Planning for Food Shortages with Food Storage Silos

As the population of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries continue to grow apace government officials are beginning to prepare a long-term strategy which will ensure a constant and adequate food supply under any circumstances.

Officials fear that the GCC countries’ heavy reliance on food imports could leave the countries vulnerable to food price changes and other global conditions. In the face of this concern the GCC, which together control over 40 percent of the world’s oil supply, has decided to create a food surplus which could maintain their needs for up to one year. However at least one official, Gasem Al-Assiri, the sub-regional office coordinator for the GCC and Yemen in the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) believes more needs to be done.

In an interview with the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ESCCR) Al-Assiri said that there are several reasons the GCC should be prepared with an adequate food supply on hand. He explained that the countries of the region should protect themselves against global price fluctuations of food, which, as domestic food consumption increases and eating styles change with increased affluence, can be a dangerous development if the countries are not prepared.

"The GCC states must draft a long-term plan for any food emergency whether a natural or geo-political problem," he said.

"The building of strategic reserves of basic commodities would protect the country from price fluctuations, and from problems affecting food producing countries that prevent export of agricultural goods."

Al-Assiri added that the GCC states have already begun designing silos for grain storage of up to 12 months, which should be enough reserve food to get the GCC states through any foreseeable food shortages.

"One of the most important features of this strategy would also be the establishment of an agency to monitor water and food security in GCC states, including all factors related to domestic production or food deficit, global production or prices. This will help decision makers to take the right decision and solve many problems for them," Al-Assiri said.

"We must keep in mind that the problem of food security cannot be solved domestically, but through international cooperation."
 

The advisor to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Mehsin Al-Blooshi said that the forum was expecting representatives from the investing, business, oil, energy, commerce and other industries, with such leaders as former British Premier Tony Blair and former Lebanese leader Fouad Al Sanyoura also participating.

Among the many issues that will be discussed and explored during the forum are plans for the development of new projects and infrastructure, and private sector projects. They will also explore ways to increase investment opportunities in the energy, alternative energy and water sectors and developing ports and free trade zones, according to Al-Blooshi.
 

Anti Smoking Poster from Saudi Arabia

Expected to take effect in the coming month, the GCC is placing a 100 percent “health tax” on cigarettes and other tobacco products imported into the area.

The finance ministers from the six Gulf States are meeting in May and will decide whether or not to approve the tax height said one Saudi official.

The Ministry of Health supervisor of the Saudi program which was designed to discourage smoking, Majed Al-Monief said the ministers of finance and health from the GCC states have already decided, at least in principal to raise the tariff from the present 100 percent to 200 percent.

"The new duty will be known as the 'health tax,' taking into account the huge amount of money each GCC state spends on the treatment of tobacco-related diseases as well as for the rehabilitation of smokers. The finance ministers will decide when the tax will take effect," Al-Moneif said.

"The GCC states can take a decision in this respect unanimously. The Gulf states had earlier hiked tobacco customs tariff from 50 to 100 percent, and are now moving toward making a further hike of 100 percent," he added. 

The additional funds raised via the health tax will be used to help prevent smoking and hopefully lesson the destructive impact smoking has, especially on young people.

In spite of the heavy taxes which already exist on tobacco products in Saudi Arabia, imports climbed by 57 percent in 2011 compared to 2009. According to reliable statistics 22,000 deaths occur in Saudi Arabia every year from a variety of illnesses connected to tobacco use. The World Health Organization says there are 6 million smokers in the Kingdom, approximately 25 percent women.

Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest importer of tobacco in the world with average consumption per person estimated to be 2,130 cigarettes each year. According to the WHO about 5 million people die every year due to tobacco related ailments.
 

Saif bin Amer al Shaqsi

At the Oman Affordable Housing Development Conference held at the Grand Hyatt in Muscat on April 16 it was announced that Oman’s government is planning on setting aside RO 80 million ($208 million) for social housing projects.

From the beginning of 2011 until March, 2012 upwards of 3,174 housing allocations were provided to those in need, at a cost to the government of RO 60 million, ($156 million.) About 400 soft and no-interest loans were also distributed valued at about RO 7 million ($18.2 million.)

The conference was organized by Al Alamia Conference and Exhibitions Company, the International Centre for Quality and Productivity in the Middle East in collaboration with the Housing Ministry.

The focus of the conference was to explore ways to develop the housing sector affordably, not just in Oman but in the Middle East more generally. Also discussed were ways to attract new investors, especially from the private sector, the steps needed from the point of view of government regulations to develop successful projects, new designs and models of development, new construction technologies and how to stay within budgets for projects, especially when developing affordable housing for the general public.

The conference was held under the auspices of Saif bin Amer al Shaqsi, the Under-Secretary of the Housing Ministry.
 

Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax

Neelesh Bhatnagar, chief executive officer of Emax, announced that the consumer electronics retailer is planning on opening ten more stores throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council states employing an additional 500 people by the end of 2012.

Bhatnagar said that Emax already has stores in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. The only GCC country where there is no Emax yet is Kuwait, but according to Bhatnagar they are just looking for the right opportunity to open there as well.

"Currently, we have 32 stores in the GCC and by the end of the year we'll have 40 to 42 stores,” Bhatnagar said. "Four will be opened in the UAE and the rest mainly in Saudi Arabia."

The plan is to employ about 200 more workers at the four new outlets in the UAE.

"In the UAE, we have now nine stores. We opened two recently – one in Dubai Mall and one in Fujairah City Centre. We are expecting to open another four – if not more – in UAE this year – one each in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah and two in Dubai. We are constantly looking for space, for example in existing malls we don't have stores like Deira City Centre and Ibn Battuta Mall. We have been talking to landlords and leasing people; in case something comes up there those will be incremental," the Emax CEO added.
 

Karim Merchant, CEO of Pure Gold Jewelers

Karim Merchant, the CEO and Managing Director of Pure Gold Jewelers responded to the renewed agreement with Muscat Duty Free:

“We are honored by the confidence and trust the Muscat Duty Free management has placed in us and we truly appreciate their decision to renew our agreement. Oman’s push into tourism will definitely see a phenomenal increase in passenger traffic through the Muscat International Airport and we are well placed to meet the resulting demand. The agreement is in line with our Chairman’s vision to be the exclusive retailer for gold and jewelery in the major duty frees in this region and eventually all over the world.”

In addition Merchant said, “With the support of the Muscat Duty Free management team we intend to double our business at the Muscat Duty Free in the next three years.”

Growth of traffic through Muscat International Airport has shown significant gains over the last year, with an 18 percent increase in total passenger traffic in January 2012 over the same period one year ago, in 2011.

The general manager of Muscat Duty Free, Tom Byrne commented:

“We consider Pure Gold Jewelers as one of our long-term business partners and are very pleased to have the brand on board as part of our product offers. Being the only gold and diamond jewelry outlet operating at Muscat International Airport , I am sure our customers will see a tremendous value in this partnership with Pure Gold Jewelers. Following the renovation in 2011, Muscat Duty Free has seen a very positive response from our customers and we believe that our partnership with a prestigious brand like Pure Gold Jewelers will continue to add to this success.”

The Chairman of the Omantel Board of Directors, Sultan Hamdoon al Harthy, commented on the development:

“These new appointments will bring further momentum to the realization of Omantel vision and objectives as we continue to lead the market and expand our business locally and regionally and are in-line with regional and international benchmarks in telecom industry.”

Omantel Chairman Al Harthy

“This is an important step in our progress as we put in place a vivacious senior executive team that can ensure our leadership in the market and carry us into the future. The decision by the Board to name these leaders is a testimony to the depth, flexibility and breadth of Omantel’s senior team. The Company has focused in the past few years meticulously on preparing Omani leaders to take on Omantel’s most challenging assignments. That effort is now paying off and we are confident that with their dedication, passion and innovative spirit these two leaders will be able to help not only maintain the Company’s leading position but also to enhance value to customers and shareholders,” added Al Harthy.

The CEO of Omantel, Dr. Amer al Rawas had this to say about the new appointments:

“Samy al Ghassany and Talal al Maamari have both played a significant role in Omantel’s evolution and its leadership position in the market. These two leaders took part in the Company’s transformation and growth, while holding several senior technical, commercial and corporate responsibilities with outstanding dedication and passion for success.”

The appointments come at a time when the innovative and pioneering Omantel is showing steady growth as they continue to diversify and introduce cutting-edge products into the telecommunications marketplace and other related businesses.