19 hours ago
Temperatures in Oman dropped below freezing over the past 24 hours, with Jebel Shams recording minus 0.1 degrees Celsius, according to data from the Civil Aviation Authority’s meteorological stations. The reading from the country’s highest peak, which stands at approximately 3,000 meters above sea level, was the coldest temperature registered across the sultanate during the monitoring period ending January 20, 2026. Jebel Shams, known as the ‘Mountain of the Sun,’ is located in the Al Hajar mountain range in northern Oman and is a popular destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts, particularly during the winter months when cooler temperatures provide relief from the region’s typically hot climate. Other mountain areas also experienced notably cold conditions. Saiq, another high-altitude settlement in the Al Hajar Mountains known for its terraced farms and rose gardens, recorded 4.8°C. Yanqul, situated in the foothills, saw temperatures drop to 9.5°C, while Dhank registered 12.4°C. Lower-lying areas remained considerably warmer throughout the night. The historic city of Nizwa, a former capital of Oman located about 164 kilometers from Muscat, registered 11.5°C. As Sunainah recorded 11.6°C, while the ancient town of Bahla, famous for its UNESCO World Heritage fort, saw 12.3°C. Um Al Zamaim experienced similar conditions at […]
5 days ago
The forthcoming Unified GCC Tourist Visa represents one of the most concrete steps yet toward functional regional integration in the Gulf. While often compared to Europe’s Schengen system, the initiative is best understood as a targeted response to a long-standing structural problem: bureaucratic fragmentation that discourages multi-country travel in a region that increasingly markets itself as interconnected. Under the new framework, visitors would apply once through a unified digital platform and gain access to all six GCC states, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, on a single short-stay visa. Current planning points to a 30-day validity period, with a projected fee in the range of $90–130. The intent is to facilitate multi-destination itineraries that have so far been constrained by separate national visa regimes. This shift aligns directly with the region’s economic diversification strategies, where tourism has emerged as a critical non-oil growth sector. By lowering administrative barriers, the GCC is effectively repositioning itself as a single interlinked tourism space, rather than six adjacent but disconnected markets. Why the launch has taken time The repeated postponements of the unified visa’s rollout reflect not a lack of political commitment, but the complexity of aligning security […]
6 days ago
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has announced the establishment of a Unified GCC Civil Aviation Authority, marking a major step toward closer cooperation in the region’s aviation sector. The new authority aims to harmonise aviation laws, safety standards, and operational procedures across the six GCC member states: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The move is expected to improve safety, efficiency, and connectivity across the region’s air transport network. Under the unified system, pilot licences issued in one GCC country would be recognised across the region, while maintenance and safety standards would follow a single framework. This approach is designed to reduce duplication, cut costs for airlines, and simplify regulatory processes. According to aviation industry leaders, regulatory harmonisation will benefit everyone involved. Passengers can expect smoother journeys, airlines will face fewer administrative burdens, and governments will gain stronger oversight aligned with global best practices. An early example of this cooperation is the “One Stop Travel” programme, launched in December 2025. The initiative allows passengers to complete immigration and security checks at their departure airport only, beginning with flights between the UAE and Bahrain. Looking ahead, officials say the success of the Unified GCC Civil Aviation Authority will […]
1 week ago
An Asian national woman is facing legal action for allegedly insulting the Omani currency after posting a video on social media, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said. The police said the General Directorate of Investigations and Criminal Research has confirmed that legal action is underway against the woman, who allegedly shared a video showing the misuse of Omani currency. In a screen grab shared by the police on social media, the clip’s caption reads: “POV: How my family thinks I make money.” Authorities are investigating the incident under laws protecting the Omani currency from public disparagement.
1 week ago
Three members of a Bangladeshi family were killed in a tragic road accident on a highway near Salalah late on Friday night. The crash occurred when their car lost control after colliding with a stray camel, according to local media, citing Bangladesh’s Daily Ittefaq newspaper. The accident took place at around 8pm as the family was travelling back to Muscat after visiting a shrine in the southern Omani city. The victims were identified as Bilkis Akter, her son Mohammad Sakibul Hasan, and her son-in-law Mohammad Didarul Alam, from Fatikchhari in Chittagong. The family had been living in Oman for several years. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. Mohammed Sakibul’s wife and their young son, who were also in the vehicle, sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they remain under medical care.
1 week ago
On the sixth anniversary of his accession to the throne, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman has issued a series of royal directives aimed at strengthening social welfare and supporting citizens’ living conditions, reaffirming his commitment to the prosperity and wellbeing of the Omani people, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported on Sunday. The measures form part of a broader effort to address key social and economic needs, ranging from employment and housing to education and social protection. Among the directives is the allocation of OMR50 million for economic and development-oriented projects designed to generate job opportunities for citizens. The funding will be channelled through the governors’ programmes under the 11th Five-Year Development Plan (2026–2030), with the total budget for these initiatives rising from 220 million to 270 million rials. In the education sector, financial assistance will be provided to more than 73,000 school students during the two academic semesters. The support will be delivered through the National Social Protection System of the Royal Oman Police, with funding doubled from allocations of the Social Protection Fund. Sultan Haitham also ordered amendments to certain provisions of the Social Protection Law, including those related to widows and orphans. The changes are expected to benefit […]
1 week ago
Oman has launched “Sahm”, the Middle East’s first locally assembled strategic cargo drone, marking a new step in the sultanate’s push to develop advanced logistics and unmanned aviation capabilities, Oman news agency reported. The heavy-lift drone was unveiled at the Military Technological College during the “Sky Bridge” event, held under the patronage of Eng. Saeed bin Hamood Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. Senior defence officials and industry representatives attended the launch. Sahm is designed for long-range cargo missions and can carry up to 250 kilograms over distances of up to 300 kilometres, making it suitable for transporting supplies to remote and hard-to-reach areas. During the launch, the drone completed a demonstration flight carrying 100 kilograms of medical supplies over a distance of about 100 kilometres, successfully navigating mountainous terrain to Al Jabal Al Akhdar. #سلطنة_عُمان تدشن الطائرة المُسيّرة "سهم" وذلك ضمن فعالية "جسر السماء" التي أُقيمت بالكلية العسكرية التقنية بـ #مسقط.https://t.co/gGTMwWsYIZ#العُمانية pic.twitter.com/BjpdMink87 — وكالة الأنباء العمانية (@OmanNewsAgency) January 8, 2026 In parallel, Oman also announced the Middle East’s first operational drone cargo service for the oil and gas sector. Led by Omani drone company ESBAAR, in partnership with Sinan Advanced Industries and Masar Petroleum, the service aims to speed up the delivery of critical equipment to remote energy […]
1 week ago
A court in Oman has convicted 59 foreign nationals on charges of rioting, vandalism, incitement, and spreading material harmful to public order, ordering prison sentences, permanent deportation, and confiscation of mobile phones, the Public Prosecution has announced. The Public Prosecution confirmed that the court delivered its verdict on Thursday, January 8, 2026, marking the conclusion of legal proceedings stemming from a large-scale disturbance late last year. How the chaos unfolded The case dates back to December 25, 2025, when the Royal Oman Police (ROP) responded to a residential complex in Sa’al, Bidbid. According to police reports: Legal Verdict and Penalties The Misdemeanor Division of the court found the 59 defendants guilty of multiple charges, including joining unlawful assemblies, inciting gatherings, damaging property, and misusing digital platforms. The court applied Articles 123, 121, and 367 of the Omani Penal Code, along with Article 19 of the Cybercrime Law. 🔷 #الادعاء_العام pic.twitter.com/2J1fXsvKwW — الادعاء العام (@oman_pp) January 10, 2026 The sentencing includes:Prison sentences: Terms ranging from three months to one year, depending on the severity and number of convictions for each individual. Deportation: All convicted individuals face permanent deportation from Oman upon the completion of their prison sentences. Asset confiscation: Mobile phones used […]
2 weeks ago
Oman has approved the establishment of the Oman Global Financial Centre, a new international financial hub aimed at attracting foreign investment, expanding advanced financial services, and strengthening the sultanate’s position in regional and global capital markets. The decision was taken during a Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, as part of a package of measures to improve the investment climate and accelerate long-term economic diversification. Competitive platform with autonomy The centre will operate with legislative, administrative, and regulatory autonomy, under a modern financial, legal, and judicial framework aligned with international standards. It is designed to provide a competitive platform for global banks, investment firms, and specialised financial institutions seeking a base in Oman and access to regional markets. According to the Oman News Agency, the project was developed after extensive reviews of global and regional financial-centre models. It is expected to create an enabling environment for commercial and Islamic banking, insurance, asset management, and related support services, while promoting knowledge transfer and the creation of high-value jobs in the financial sector. Supporting economic diversification Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance and head of the supervisory committee for the centre’s establishment phase, said the initiative […]
2 weeks ago
As the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) enters 2026, economic policy across the region is shifting decisively from ambition to execution. Tighter external conditions, rapid technological change and a more fragmented global trading system are reshaping priorities around trade, artificial intelligence, workforce adaptation and fiscal resilience. According toPwC Middle East, governments across the GCC are increasingly focused on delivery after several years of large-scale capital mobilisation and policy reform. Jing Teow, Partner, Economic Policy and Strategy, PwC Middle East, said: “Having already mobilised capital and policy at scale, GCC governments are now focused on delivery. In 2026, the priority is strengthening economic resilience through more secure trade and investment relationships, effective AI deployment, managed workforce transitions and disciplined fiscal policy in a more challenging and fragmented global environment.” Building broader and more diverse trade bridges GCC economies are accelerating trade diversification to secure access to growth markets and raw materials as global trade becomes increasingly fragmented. Trade negotiations have advanced with China, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand and Mercosur, while talks with the United Kingdom have moved into final drafting and could conclude in 2026. Deeper engagement with Malaysia, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), alongside progress […]
45 minutes ago
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