Oman

MUSCAT, Jan 12 (NNN-ONA) – New Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, said, he will follow the steps and approach of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, and will complete the progress achieved in the Omani renaissance process.

He stressed that, he will pursue a policy of distancing the region from conflicts and disputes, achieving economic integration, and supporting the Arab League and cooperation with brother countries to achieve its goals.

11 Jan 2019; MEMO: Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East’s longest serving rulers who maintained the country’s neutrality in regional struggles, died on Friday and his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was announced successor in a smooth transition, Reuters reports.

MUSCAT, Jan 11 (NNN-ONA) – To the people of the beloved homeland in all its districts, to the Arab and Islamic nations and to the world at large.

04 Jan 2019; MEMO: Omani Sultan Qaboos Bin Said has approved the 2020 budget with an expected deficit of 2.5 billion Omani rials ($6.5 billion), the official news agency of Oman reported on Wednesday.

MUSCAT, Oman, Jan 2 (NNN-ONA) – Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, issued on Wednesday, a royal decree that approves the country’s general budget for the fiscal year 2020.

According to a statement by the Omani Ministry of Finance, the revenue of the general budget for 2020 was estimated at about 10.7 billion Omani riyals (about 27.8 billion US dollars).

The public spending was estimated at 13.2 billion Omani riyals.

The statement added that, the budget revenue increased by six percent from the estimated revenue for 2019.

MUSCAT, Dec 25 (NNN-ONA) – Oman’s minister of foreign affairs, Yusuf bin Alawi, and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, held talks in Muscat to discuss economic cooperation.

According to an official Omani foreign ministry statement, the talks reviewed bilateral relations and means to push them forward, as well as, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Zarif arrived with an official delegation in Oman on Monday evening.

MUSCAT, Dec 8 (NNN-ONA) – The Omani authorities said on Saturday, that, the number of tourists visiting Oman in 2018, grew two percent, year on year, to 3.2 million.

The number of tourists from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, topped the list with 45.4 percent, followed by Asian visitors with 21.3 percent and European visitors with 19 percent, according to a bulletin issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

MUSCAT, Oman, Dec 5 (NNN-ONA) – Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman and visiting Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, on Wednesday discussed bilateral relations.

The British prince is currently in Oman for a three-day visit.

“The meeting took place at the Bait Al Baraka Palace, in the Omani capital, Muscat.”

During the meeting, they reviewed the strong ties of cooperation binding Oman and Britain.

MUSCAT, Oman, Nov 4 (NNN-ONA) – Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, has been re-elected Sunday, as the chairman of Oman’s consultative assembly, Shura Council, for the third consecutive term.

He secured 47 out of 86 votes, while his nearest rival, Yaqoub Al-Harthy, received 14 votes.

On Oct 27, Oman witnessed the Shura Council elections, in which 637 candidates, including 40 women, competed, and 86 members won, including two women.

MUSCAT, Oman, Sept 5 (NNN-ONA) – Labour and Social Affairs and Development Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), agreed on the recruitment of labour from non-GCC countries and empowering the different able groups.

The fifth meeting of the GCC social affairs ministers, hosted in the Omani capital Muscat, discussed a host of issues of common concern, a statement by the Omani Manpower Ministry said.