Latest Oman News & Updates

1 year ago

Omani Designer Who Went Viral With 1900s Gulf Video Game ‘Learned Everything From YouTube’

Forget Ivy League colleges or expensive gaming schools abroad. For self-made Omani game designer Almohannad Alwhaibi, his classroom was a laptop screen and his teachers were the countless creators uploading tutorials on YouTube. “I actually learned everything from YouTube,” he tells Gulf News over Zoom video from his living room in Oman. “YouTube has everything. If you use it the right way, it can change your life.” Seven years after embarking on his self-taught journey, he has gone viral with a trailer for his new game — not because it mimics glossy titles from the West or East, but because it does the opposite. His demo celebrates Oman itself, from the rugged landscapes to characters dressed in traditional thobes, and that cultural authenticity has struck a chord with gamers across the Gulf. The project, built entirely from scratch, has sparked pride and excitement for its originality and homegrown spirit. Battling the dark days Like most creative journeys, his was not without struggle. With a degree in computer science, Almohannad sometimes wondered if he should take a safer, more conventional path. “There were times when I really wondered, ‘What am I doing with my life?’” he recalls. So what did he […]

1 year ago

Oman Arrests Four Asian Expats Over Armed Robbery At Gold Shop

Omani police have arrested four masked men of Asian nationality accused of staging an armed robbery at a gold shop in the Wilayat of Seeb, northwest of Muscat , authorities said. In a statement on its X account, the Royal Oman Police said the suspects stormed the shop, threatened and assaulted employees, and fled with gold jewellery valued at 150,000 Omani rials (about $390,000), along with cash. The operation to track down the suspects was carried out by the Muscat and North Al Batinah police commands, in cooperation with the Directorate General of Criminal Investigations. All stolen items were recovered, the police said, adding that legal proceedings are now under way against the men.

1 year ago

2.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Madha In Oman, No Effect Felt In UAE

A 2.2 magnitude earthquake struck Oman on Thursday, the National Centre of Meteorology said. The tremor was recorded at a depth of 5 km in Madha – Oman at 5.13am UAE time, according to the NCM’s National Seismic Network. View this post on Instagram A post shared by المركز الوطني للأرصاد- الإمارات (@ncmuae) The tremor was not felt in the UAE and had no impact on residents, the NCM confirmed.

1 year ago

Oman: Woman Arrested For Trying To Smuggle 12.6Kg Of Marijuana

Omani authorities have arrested a Chinese woman at Muscat International Airport after discovering she was attempting to smuggle 12.66 kilograms of marijuana into the Sultanate, Customs officials said. Customs officials at the airport uncovered the narcotics tightly concealed inside the passenger’s personal bag during routine screening, Oman Customs said in a statement. “Muscat International Airport Customs successfully thwarted a Chinese passenger’s attempt to smuggle 12.66 kilograms of marijuana, which was hidden carefully in her personal belongings,” the statement read. The passenger was immediately detained, and authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, highlighting the Sultanate’s strict enforcement of drug laws. Oman Customs stressed that the seizure demonstrates their ongoing commitment to preventing illicit trafficking at entry points across the country.

1 year ago

Omani Rescuers Save Two Stranded At Sea After Boat Drifts Off Shinas

Rescue teams from Oman’s Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) in North Al Batinah rushed to the aid of two people after their rubber boat drifted off the coast of Shinas, officials said. The CDAA said in a statement, accompanied by video footage shared on its X account, that the individuals were unable to steer the vessel back to shore and had been left stranded at sea. Responders managed to reach the boat and bring both people safely back to land. The authority confirmed they were in good health following the incident, underscoring the importance of rapid maritime response in safeguarding lives along Oman’s busy coastline.

1 year ago

At OR2m, Oman Sees Sale Of Priciest Penthouse

A new record has been set for the costliest penthouse deal in Oman. A penthouse at The Arc at The Sustainable City – Yiti landed a buyer for just over OR2 million (just over Dh19 million). “This transaction was part of a surge in early demand that has driven total Phase 1 sales past OR10 million – all within weeks of unveiling the project last month,” the developer said in a statement. The penthouses offer ‘uninterrupted views’ of the sea, mountain, and marina. The residence is approached through a private entrance lobby. “Every detail is meticulously curated، from bespoke interiors with designer fittings to hand-selected, premium materials,” the statement added. The outdoor terrace comes with a pool, and there is also a dedicated gated parking reserved solely for the penthouse owner. This is said to be a ‘first-of-its-kind luxury in Oman’s residential market’. The Sustainable City – Yiti is set to be ‘Oman’s first community designed to meet net-zero emissions targets by 2040’. Spanning nearly 1 million square metres, the development aims for 100% water recycling, 100% waste diversion from landfills – and getting 80% self-sufficiency in food production.

1 year ago

Renowned Saudi Poet Saud bin Maadi Al Qahtani Dies After Mountain Fall In Oman

Popular Saudi poet Saud bin Maadi Al Rufaydi Al Qahtani died on Monday after a sudden fall from a high cliff in Jabal Samhan, Dhofar Governorate, in Oman. The Saudi Embassy in Muscat immediately followed up on the incident, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to assisting its citizens abroad. In a statement, the embassy said it is working in coordination with the relevant Omani authorities to complete the procedures for repatriating Al Qahtani’s body to Saudi Arabia. Al Qahtani was climbing in the rugged terrain of Jabal Samhan, one of the most renowned yet challenging mountain ranges in Dhofar, when he slipped. He sustained severe injuries and was rushed to hospital, but doctors were unable to save his life. Hailing from Al Qahta in the Al Baha region, Al Qahtani was celebrated for a poetic style that wove together the richness of Arab heritage with modern sensibilities, earning him a prominent place in the literary scene across the Gulf and the wider Arab world. Over the course of his career, he published more than 15 poetry collections that enriched the Arabic library and performed at numerous festivals and literary gatherings at home and abroad, where his powerful presence and unique poetic […]

1 year ago

Rains Expected To Continue In Oman Till August 21

Starting August 17, large parts of Oman have come under the influence of a low pressure trough expected to last until August 21, 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said. The low-pressure system is expected to bring multiple days of rain, thunderstorms, downdraft winds and rough sea conditions across the country. Some provinces in eastern and southern Oman have witnessed medium to heavy rainfall, leading to the flooding of wadis in some areas. The CAA said that the latest weather updates and analysis of the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre indicate that Oman will be affected by a trough of upper air with clouds advection over most of Oman governorates. There are chances of isolated rain of varying intensity and occasional thunderstorms over Al Wusta, Dhofar, South Al Sharqiyah, North Al Sharqiyah and parts of Al Dakhiliyah.. Details of daily weather condition: On Monday, 18 August 2025, Continuous cloud advection and chances of isolated rain with thundershowers over Al Wusta, Dhofar, South Al Sharqiyah , North Al Sharqiyah and parts of Al Dakhiliyah. The rainfall will intensify over Al Wusta, Dhofar and South Al Sharqiyah. Rainfall between 15-35mm may lead to the overflow of some wadis. Fresh downdraft winds […]

1 year ago

Tragic Road Accident In Oman Claims Three Lives

Three people were killed and others injured in a rolling over car accident in Jabal Akhdar on Friday evening, the Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) has confirmed. “Rescue and ambulance teams from the Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate dealt with a vehicle rollover accident that occurred in Al Jabal Al Akhdar Governorate, resulting in the death of three people, said the . CDAA. A CDAA official told Gulf News that a car crashed into a mountainside while descending from Jabal Akhdar, resulting in the three death and multiple injuries. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to navigate a steep turn. The authority stated that the brakes failed to respond in time, causing the car to crash into the mountain. “The driver did not realise he was approaching a sharp, steep turn, which caused him to lose control,” the official said. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to navigate a steep turn. The official stated that the brakes failed to respond in time, causing the car to crash into the mountain. “The driver did not realise he was approaching a sharp, steep turn, which caused him to lose control,” the official said. […]

1 year ago

Oman Braces For Rain From Sunday

Oman’s national meteorological service has warned that a low-pressure trough will sweep into the Sultanate beginning Sunday, August 17, bringing several days of unsettled weather to multiple regions. In a statement issued late Thursday, the Oman Meteorology Department said the system is expected to generate extensive cloud cover and scattered showers across the governorates of South Al Sharqiyah, Al Wusta, Dhofar, and parts of the Al Hajar mountain range. The National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Centre, which is closely tracking the weather pattern, urged residents and visitors in affected areas to remain alert for changing conditions. The rain could vary in intensity and duration depending on location, but the system is forecast to linger for several days before gradually weakening. While no flood warnings have yet been issued, the public is advised to avoid low-lying wadis during periods of heavy rain and to monitor official channels for updated forecasts.

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Omani Designer Who Went Viral With 1900s Gulf Video Game ‘Learned Everything From YouTube’

Oman Arrests Four Asian Expats Over Armed Robbery At Gold Shop

2.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Madha In Oman, No Effect Felt In UAE

Oman: Woman Arrested For Trying To Smuggle 12.6Kg Of Marijuana

Omani Rescuers Save Two Stranded At Sea After Boat Drifts Off Shinas

At OR2m, Oman Sees Sale Of Priciest Penthouse

Renowned Saudi Poet Saud bin Maadi Al Qahtani Dies After Mountain Fall In Oman

Rains Expected To Continue In Oman Till August 21

Tragic Road Accident In Oman Claims Three Lives

Oman Braces For Rain From Sunday

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