Taman Safari popular with Middle Eastern travellers

As one of the largest wildlife conservation and recreation institutions in Southeast Asia, Taman Safari Indonesia offers nature and wildlife experiences with Indonesian hospitality, and is highly sought-after by travellers from Oman and KSA, the group said. 

Taman Safari Indonesia Group manages eight premier destinations: Taman Safari Bogor, The Grand Taman Safari Prigen (East Java), Taman Safari Bali, Marine Safari Bali, Solo Safari (Central Java), The Beach Safari Batang, Jakarta Aquarium & Safari, and Enchanting Valley. 

Taman Safari Bogor and Marine Safari Bali are among the most popular with Middle Eastern travellers. Nestled at the foothills of Mount Gede Pangrango, Taman Safari Bogor provides an open-range safari adventure within the cool tropical forest. Visitors can feed giraffes, observe animals from across continents, and take in mountain views. 

With halal dining options, prayer facilities, and family-friendly accommodations such as Safari Resort and Royal Safari Garden, Bogor is ideal for those seeking relaxation and a connection with nature.

Meanwhile, Marine Safari Bali combines the island's rich culture with exotic marine encounters. One of its newest attractions is Varuna, an underwater theatrical dining experience that fuses artistry, technology, and halal cuisine.

"We've observed a growing interest among travellers from Oman, Riyadh, and Jeddah in exploring Indonesia's natural and cultural heritage," said Alexander Zulkarnain, ACT CMO of Taman Safari Indonesia Group. 

"Through Taman Safari Bogor and Marine Safari Bali, we aim to create experiences that not only entertain but also enrich the soul and bring visitors closer to the wonders of wildlife." 

As an active member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and the Southeast Asian Zoos Association (SEAZA), Taman Safari Indonesia is globally recognised for its commitment to wildlife conservation, including breeding programmes for endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger, Komodo dragon, panda, and rhino.

Flora D'lite offers more ways to order flowers and gifts in Muscat, Oman

Flora D'Lite, a boutique floral retailer in Oman that opened early 2021, is now taking online orders for cakes, flowers and gifts for delivery in Muscat. Services for Sohar include cakes and flowers.

According to Flora D'lite, the company offers a wide range of flowers which are sourced and stored so that they have best-quality freshness. Same-day deliveries are possible.

The company has two physical boutiques in Qurum (next to Fun Zone) and Seeb (Links, Muscat Hills) respectively, and the company plans to expand delivery services to cover more of the country before end-2021.

Book Mwasalat taxis without the mobile app

Source: Mwasalat. Taxi Butler devices will offer taxi booking
services.

Mwasalat has launched kiosks for booking taxis called Taxi Butlers. This is part of the public transport company's efforts to develop the taxi sector in Oman.

Taxi Butlers will enable taxis to be booked in advance, eliminating the need to contact taxi drivers individually, as is now the case. More than one taxi may be requested, and users can receive status updates of expected arrival times, driver details and alerts when the vehicle has arrived at the requested location.

Mwasalat taxis have handled some 150,000 trips, averaging more than 700 trips per day. The mobile app has nearly 40 thousand registered users to date.

Explore:

Taxi Butlers have been installed in phase one at Al Qurum, and Al Mouj Golf Club, and Muscat Hills. In later phases, the devices will be installed at government and private institutions and business centres in proportion to demand.

Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara launches wellness initiative

Source: Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara. The
Balance Wellness by Anantara programme includes
specially-designed vegan cuisine.

Luxury private pool villa resort Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara has launched a new wellness programme featuring an ala carte concept.

Nestled between a private beach and a freshwater lagoon in Salalah, Oman, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara allows guests to pursue their wellbeing goals in an idyllic environment. Delivering wellness packages tailored to each guest, the Balance Wellness by Anantara programme kicks off with a consultation to ascertain the needs and goals of the individual. Depending on the length of the stay, guests can then choose from a wide array of healthy cuisine, as well as activities, and therapies to suit them based on guidance from trained experts.

“In line with our fundamental approach to customer service at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, we really wanted to provide a bespoke experience for our wellness guests,” said Virginia Cogliati, Director of Spa at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara. “In addition, we have the unique offering of private pool villas in which guests seeking more solitude on their journey to wellbeing can enjoy activities and meals on their own personal pool terrace.”

Available in three, five or seven-day packages, the retreats include rejuvenating spa treatments, purification therapy and nutritious cuisine along with individual activity sessions such as yoga and hiking the mountainous coast of Salalah. Full board dining centred on nutrition is designed to encourage good health and fuel the body efficiently. Guests will also receive additional discounts on all spa and wellness treatments depending on the length of their stay.

The Balance Wellness by Anantara menu has been created by Italian vegan chef Valeria Agnelutto. Designed to detoxify and energise the system while delivering maximum flavour, dishes include Italian pasta e fagioli (beans) and chickpea burgers with rosemary and parsley and veggie mayo. The three-course meals also include  starters such as avocado tartare with cucumber and dates and raw tiramisu for dessert. Each dish comes with a detailed nutritional breakdown and is accompanied by vitamin-packed raw juice.

One highlight of the wellness programme is experiencing Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara's luxury hammam (steam bath), the only one in the region. The ritual starts with a steam bath in preparation for a black soap cleansing and kessa mitt* exfoliation to sweep impurities. Once steamed and scrubbed, a Moroccan Rhassoul** treatment nourishes and rehydrates skin. Other healing therapies include Kundalini massage - focusing on the kundalini, or "serpent" of life force energy at the base of the spine, and Shirodhara - an  Ayurvedic therapy focusing on pouring liquids on the head.

Details:

The Balance Wellness by Anantara packages at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara start from RO154.

Call +968 2322 8222 to book a Balance Wellness by Anantara package.

*Black soap is made from black olives and oil. The kessa glove, used for exfoliation, is often used in Morocco and Turkey.

**Rhassoul clay comes from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

Oman Air begins new route from Muscat to Istanbul

Oman Air, the national carrier of the sultanate of Oman, has begun a new daily flight from Muscat to the Turkish city of Istanbul. The inaugural flight, WY163, departed Muscat International Airport at 8.10 pm on June 1 after a cake-cutting ceremony at Oman Air’s exclusive First and Business class check-in lounge. 

Source: Oman Air. A Boeing 737-800 in Oman Air livery.

The new route will be operated with a Boeing 737-800 and has a flight time of 5 hours and 25 minutes. Flight WY163 will arrive at Istanbul Ataturk International Airport at 12.25 am the next day. The return flight, WY164, will depart Istanbul each day at 1.25 am, arriving in Muscat at 7.25 am.

The new route between Oman and Turkey will strengthen the existing vibrant bilateral relations between the two countries. 

Oman Air is currently undergoing a fleet and network expansion programme which will see the airline operate up to 66 aircraft to 60 destinations by 2022.

Bank Sohar launches relationship banking service

Bank Sohar has launched Al Khaas, a relationship banking service that focuses on personalised service experience through relationship managers, wealth advisors, exclusive banking centers, a dedicated call centre, superior benefits, prize draws, rewards, and more.

Al Khaas will cater to the needs of high networth individuals (HNI) by offering them a differentiated banking experience across all 31 branches across Oman. There will also be dedicated Al Khaas service centers in selected large branches. 

Sasi Kumar, Acting CEO of Bank Sohar said, “In this year aptly named the Year of You we are determined to deliver unique products and services with a firm vision focused on elevating banking experience of our valued customers. To this end, the bank has worked tirelessly to provide an experience that exceeds the highest expectations with a robust commitment to banking excellence. From expert investment advice to personalisation on an exclusive range of products and preferential services, we are positioning ourselves as partners with our valued customers enabling them to attain their financial aspirations.”

Rajeev Arora, Deputy GM and Head of Retail Banking at Bank Sohar, said, “We are proud to announce Al Khaas as a unique value proposition to our HNI customers further fulfilling our promise to our customers as the Year of You. This step truly reflects our vision to become a one-stop financial super mall having boutiques of products and services across various segments, each with a unique set of propositions. By continuously engaging and understanding our customers’ lifestyle, we aligned Al Khaas’ offering to their ambitions and visions, and we will continue on our strategy to keep enhancing and add value to their banking experience with Bank Sohar.”

Preferential banking products and services set customers of Al Khaas apart, with free customised and personalised cheque books, invitations to programmes and social events organised by the bank, higher purchase limits at point-of-sale with debit cards, Al Khaas Signature debit cards with high ATM withdrawal limits, a Signature credit card, free personal accident insurance, travel insurance, SMS, Internet, and mobile banking services, preferential pricing on deposits, foreign exchange and remittances.

Al Khaas Wealth Management delivers qualified wealth management advisors to analyse financial needs and offer tailormade investment and financial solutions. As an exclusive market proposal, Al Khaas also brings customers subscriptions to IPOs and other investment opportunities with special assistance and a faster completion of the formalities. Attractive term deposit rates further deliver a healthy and guaranteed return on investment, with relationship managers sharing the prevailing rates of interest applicable to the minimum amount and maximum period of customer deposits.

Al Khaas’ Ready Cash brings the convenience of instant liquidity through a 24x7 overdraft facility as a hybrid financial solution combining the high returns of a term deposit. Instant interest fixed deposit accounts benefit the bank’s customers in receiving interest upfront. The interest amount for the entire tenor of the fixed deposit is credited to customers’ savings accounts at the time of opening the fixed deposit. Protection and investment products further extend Bank Sohar’s customer benefits to family members through the bank’s insurance partners.

Al Khaas customers will further be eligible to participate in all of Bank Sohar’s Savings Scheme prize draws, including its exclusive draws. 

In The Year of You, Bank Sohar has released credit card and insurance products, an enhanced international remittance facility to India, new branch activations, and service upgrades. 

Details:

Call the Al Khaas call centre in Oman at 2473 0073 with questions.

Oman Air debuts premium lounge at new Muscat airport

Source: Oman Air. The new premium lounge at Muscat International Airport.

Oman Air, the national carrier of Oman, has opened a new premium lounge at Muscat International Airport. 

Oman Air passengers travelling in First Class and Business Class are eligible to use lounge facilities, which are inspired by the unique terrain found in Oman. The lounge reflects the natural beauty of the desert and the rugged landscape of the mountains. Mashrabiya (مشربية), the traditional windows screened by ornate latticework that are a traditional element of Arabic architecture, has been used to provide privacy in communal areas and add to the fluidity of the space.

Spread over two storeys, the lounge offers guests food and beverage services including dining areas and bars, a luggage room, entertainment area, a smoking room, prayer rooms, business centre, kids’ room, nap area, shower facilities, baby-changing facilities and a wellness area.

Covering 429.35 sq m with an overall capacity of 100 people, the area designated for First Class guests offers premium services including a personal chef, limousine service from the lounge to the aircraft and relaxation rooms. The Business Class area is 2,313.92 sq m and can accommodate 516.

All First Class and Business Class international guests travelling with Oman Air to Muscat International airport are also invited to enjoy the arrival lounge, which has semi-public spaces with plenty of light. 

The arrival lounge, on the mezzanine floor at the arrival side of the airport, is 237 sq m and has 90 seats. The service enables passengers travelling on short flights to freshen up after their flight, have some food or catch up on some sleep.

Maisarah Islamic Banking Services helps customers go cashless

Maisarah Islamic Banking Services has launched a mobile banking app for retail banking customers, with English and Arabic support.

Ismail Jama Ismail Bait Ishaq, COO of Maisarah Islamic Banking Services said, “In a fast-paced and evolving digital world, customers enjoy the convenience of literally having a bank branch on their phone. This new mobile banking application with many user-friendly features is certain to delight our customers. At Maisarah we are always keen to deliver state-of-the-art products and services to our clients. By investing in technology, we make it easier for our clients to do business with us in an inventive way.”

The app enables customers to view their balance and transactions, as well as request a new cheque book. They can also specify a quantity of cheque books and the point of collection. Customers can also benefit from cardless cash through Maisarah ATMs by making a request for the cash through the app and creating a four-digit cash code. Customers further can execute mobile top-ups for any mobile service provider in Oman, and pay utility bills*. 

With the app, customers can also transfer funds from their accounts to other accounts in Maisarah, as well as to a valid account number in another local bank in Oman. They can even transfer funds to a valid ATM card number of another local bank within Oman.

“Maisarah’s mobile banking app is simple, secure and efficient, and offers our customers 24x7 convenient banking experience. We will continue to offer new banking and value-added services to our mobile channel. Our aim is to offer our customers banking and value added services,” Maisarah Islamic Banking Services' Jamsheed Hmaza, Head of Retail said.

As part of its future growth plan, Maisarah plans to distinguish itself by providing outstanding customer service, developing and launching new products, investing in technology to provide the best customer experience in timely and convenient manner.

Maisarah Islamic Banking Services has 10 branches across the country including in Azaiba, Al Hail, Salalah, Sohar, Birkat Al Mouz, Greater Muttrah, Al Khuwair, Sur, New Salalah and Araqi. 

*Water and electricity at ONEC/OIFC, bills for mobile, landline, and Internet for Omantel and Ooredoo.

New road in Salalah, Oman

The Oman Ministry of Transport and Communications has opened the RO40.5 million 36 km dual carriageway along the Taqah/Mirbat road, the Oman News Agency has reported.

The dual carriageway is connected to Tawi/Ateer and the Wadi Mirbat road, as well as the road leading to the Samahram archaeological site, Ashur and Hasheer roads. The existing service road will remain in operation to connect the residential areas on both sides.

Key features along the Taqah/Mirbat road project are three bridges, three tunnels for vehicles, 11 tunnels for animals, a 150 m bridge over Khur Ruri, and two roundabouts.

The Taqah/Mirbat road project is expected to meet the needs of the growing tourism, economic and social activities in the wilayat of Mirbat, which has 181 villages and residential areas, and the wilayat of Sadah, which has 23 villages.

SalamAir introduces flights from Oman to Dubai, UAE

SalamAir, Oman’s first budget airline, has started offering daily flights between the Sultanate’s capital Muscat (MCT) and Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The new route, beginning 8 October, will complement SalamAir’s current flight to Al Maktoum International Airport in the Jebel Ali (DWC), 37km from Dubai, until October 28 when the airline has set plans re-route all flights to DXB. SalamAir will be operating daily morning and evening services to and from Terminal 2 with the first flight departing DXB at 10:50am and returning at 5:30pm.

Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said “The number of passengers travelling between Muscat and Dubai has been growing exponentially over the past several years. In addition to being the gateway to one of the world’s leading business and leisure destinations, Dubai International Airport is one of the most prominent hubs in the region, connecting people to an even wider network of destinations around the world.

"Our decision to introduce these direct flights between DXB and Muscat International Airport is a result of the increasing demand from our guests and we are confident that, backed by our easy fare options and convenient travel times, we will further help increase the connectivity between Oman and the UAE.”

The budget airline has been working closely with the Ministry of Tourism in Oman to help create memorable experiences for guests traveling to the Sultanate. A representative from the Omani Ministry of Tourism commented, “To many world travellers, Oman remains an untouched gem, offering a wide spectrum of activities ranging from family holidays, romantic getaways, unique adventures to ecotravel opportunities and cultural journeys. We are excited to be joining hands with SalamAir who will provide an alternative budget travel options to people in the UAE to visit Oman and enjoy what our country has to offer.”

SalamAir’s network includes Muscat, Salalah, and Sohar in Oman; Dubai in the UAE; Jeddah, KSA, as well as Karachi and Sialkot in Pakistan.

Interested?

With prices starting from just under AED252 (one way). Book online

Oman Air adds third flight on Muscat-to-Mumbai route

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has launched a third daily flight on its Muscat to Mumbai route. The new time slot is expected to prove popular especially with business travellers who can now take an evening flight and reach their destination early the next morning.

Launched on 1 August this year, the two hour 50 minute flight departs Muscat, Oman at 10.40pm and arrives in Mumbai at 3am the next morning. The return flight leaves Mumbai, India at 4.05am and reaches Muscat at 5.15am. 

Oman Air already has two daily return flights between Muscat and Mumbai – the outgoing flights depart Muscat at 1.20am and 9am respectively, arriving in Mumbai at 5.40am and 1.20pm. One return flight leaves Mumbai at 4.15pm to arrive in Muscat at 5.30pm, while the other flight departs Mumbai at 6.55am, reaching Muscat at 8.10am.

Mumbai is the largest city in India and its financial, commercial and entertainment capital. Drawing in around 5 million visitors a year, the city is consistently in high demand among Oman Air guests, especially those from Oman’s large Indian expatriate community.

Oman Air first launched flights to India in the 1990s and the demand for seats has grown exponentially amongst both business and leisure passengers. The new flight is the latest move in Oman Air’s programme of fleet and network expansion and follows a revised air services agreement between the governments of Oman and India in December 2016, when the number of weekly seats was increased to 27,405 seats for both countries, against 21,145 seats in the previous agreement.

The airline is growing its weekly capacity to India with frequencies increasing on five of the airline’s 11 key Indian destinations. Bombay, Delhi and Hyderabad have gone from twice daily to three times daily. Flights to Calicut have grown from once daily to three times daily while Lucknow flights are now twice daily. The airline also launched direct daily flights between Salalah, Oman and Calicut in early 2017. This latest addition from Mumbai to Muscat increases the overall weekly frequency of flights to India from 154 to 161.

Abdulrahman Al-Busaidy, Deputy CEO & Chief Commercial Officer of Oman Air, said: “The addition of this flight is part of our wider commitment to the Indian market. India is a key destination for Oman Air and the demand for all 11 of our Indian destinations has always been high. Increased frequencies offer yet more choice and convenience to our guests, who will now be able to leave Muscat in the evening and arrive in Mumbai the following morning. We are sure this new service will prove just as popular as our other Indian routes.”

Oman Air codeshares with Royal Jordanian, Malaysia Airlines

Source: Oman Air. Plane in Oman Air livery.

Oman Air, the national flag carrier of Oman, has announced a codeshare agreement with Royal Jordanian on flights between Muscat.,Oman and Beirut, Lebanon via Amman, Jordan and vice versa. Under the terms of the agreement, which became effective from June 15, the flights are operated by Royal Jordanian and marketed by both carriers.

Oman Air already has a strong partnership with Royal Jordanian built upon a shared commitment to providing excellent services to guests. This new agreement will further enhance this relationship and offer guests even more options when it comes to destinations and flight times.

Oman Air and Malaysia Airlines have also entered into a codeshare partnership. The agreement will pave the way for closer cooperation between the two airlines on other joint initiatives, including collaboration on frequent flyer programmes, ground handling, customer support, cargo and airport lounge access.

Oman Air passengers who currently enjoy direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will now be connected to more destinations in Malaysia, China and Australia. Malaysia Airlines passengers will also enjoy nonstop, direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Muscat. New destinations now open for Oman Air guests are Singapore, Hanoi in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Darwin and Melbourne in Australia, Auckland in New Zealand, Phuket in Thailand, as well as the Malaysian destinations Langkawi, Penang, Kota Bharu, Johor Bharu, Kuantan and Miri. Additionally, the existing destinations of Oman Air, namely Jakarta, Indonesia and Guangzhou, China will also be connected through this codeshare.

Oman Air’s Deputy CEO & Chief Commercial Officer Abdulrahman Al Busaidy said, “Apart from Oman Air guests benefiting from the added destinations through this codeshare, it will also present them the opportunity to experience the exemplary services of Malaysia Airlines. We are equally sure this opportunity will be welcomed by the discerning guests of Malaysian Airlines; encouraging them to experience the unparalleled services of Oman Air and visit Oman and other unique destinations in Oman Air’s network.”

Oman Air offers 14 weekly flights between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur, operating on the airline’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Oman Air, based at Muscat International Airport. is currently engaged in an expansion programme which will see the carrier operate 70 aircraft to around 75 destinations by 2023. On the other hand, Royal Jordanian has a vision to be the Airline of choice connecting Jordan and the Levant with the world. It reaches 56 direct destinations on four continents on its 27 young aircraft operated from Queen Alia International Airport.

Alizz Islamic Bank upgrades mobile app

Source: Alizz Islamic Bank. The app.

Alizz Islamic Bank has launched a newly-redesigned mobile banking app and Internet banking platform in line with its expanding role as a leader of customer experience in Oman.

The bilingual app is available for both Android and iOS devices and features advanced security capabilities as well as a self-registration system. Users can use a QR code to log in to web banking, funds transfers, utility bill payments and other transactions. The app is 3D Touch-enabled* and is the first mobile banking app in Oman to offer in app notifications for new transactions, and payment reminders.

Sadiq Al Lawati, Head of Digital and Card Business, Alizz Islamic Bank said, "At Alizz Islamic Bank our key focus is to provide the very best digital banking experience for our customers, whenever and wherever our customers need. Throughout the bank's history we have been at the forefront of digital banking in Oman and we are delighted to further reinforce this with the multitude of useful features offered to our customers via the Alizz mobile banking app and Internet banking platforms, which are available in both Arabic and English."

Source: Alizz Islamic Bank. Al Jadidi.

Moosa Al Jadidi, COO, Alizz Islamic Bank said the new mobile banking application and Internet banking platform reflect the exceptional customer experience and high standards that the bank strives to deliver every day. 

"These platforms enhance our strong relationship with our customers and take our excellence in customer service to a whole new level. With an increasingly young population in Oman who prefer more technologically advanced banking solutions, our wide range of cutting edge digital banking solutions enable our customers to benefit from more convenient and secure self-service channels, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," he said.

*3D Touch is pressure-sensitive touch technology found in iOS devices.

Alizz Islamic Bank announces 100K Facebook Likes

Alizz Islamic Bank has reached the milestone of 100,000 Facebook likes. The bank is one of only two banks in Oman to experience such popularity on Facebook.

With a strong belief in the power of social media to improve customer service, Alizz Islamic Bank has significantly enhanced its overall social media presence in the past year. In addition to its Facebook achievements, the bank has crossed the 30,000-follower milestone on Instagram. Alizz Islamic Bank is now the second-most followed bank in Oman, ahead of many of the more established conventional banks and one of only two local banks that have a Snapchat presence.

Alizz Islamic Bank's strong social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and LinkedIn continues to stand out amongst local financial institutions by emphasising the significance of the 'human touch' to start a two-way conversation with the audience, engaging with them on topics of their interest, the bank said. By integrating social media into the banks existing campaigns or creating new ones that capitalize on the spirit of the Omani community, Alizz Islamic Bank has successfully raised the profile of its brand and said marketing using social media has brought solid results.

"We are dedicated to keeping our customers at the heart of everything we do and engaging with them on their platform of choice. Our social media channels give a sense of community with our social media followers; focusing on engagement and listening to what they want. Alizz Islamic Bank is proud to be at the forefront of digital tool adoption. As people rely more and more on social media to receive information and communicate, it is crucial that we as an organisation embrace digital strategies in marketing. Social media enables us to engage with customers more efficiently and with greater precision," said Moosa Al Jadidi, COO, Alizz Islamic Bank.

"Our social media channels are not just about advertising but rather about creating a connection with our customers and providing them with a plethora of channels to interact with us, as well as provide us with feedback and ask questions. We have the best online response time amongst local banks and this is what sets us apart from others and has been central to our success on every social media platform."

Oman Air Sindbad members can now earn miles on hotel stays

Oman Air’s Sindbad programme, in partnership with Kaligo Travel Solutions, the travel and loyalty technology provider, has launched a new hotel rewards programme to enable Sindbad members to earn miles on hotel bookings at Kaligo.com. The partnership enables Sindbad’s frequent flyers to earn up to Sindbad Miles for expenditure on hotel bookings.

Mohammed Al Shikely, VP, Marketing, Oman Air said: “Oman Air is constantly looking for ways to reward our loyal guests. This new partnership will make it easier for Sindbad members to access over 465,000 hotels worldwide and conveniently book the one that best suits their needs. It will also enable them to earn additional Sindbad miles, which can then be exchanged for flights, upgrades, duty free items and a range of other services. Oman Air is committed to going the extra mile giving our guests more opportunities to earn miles and our new partnership with Kaligo shows how we are continually adding to the range of benefits we offer. We are confident that Oman Air’s new partnership with Kaligo will receive a warm welcome from Sindbad members, who will appreciate the additional value and convenience it provides.”

Kyle Armstrong, CEO of Kaligo Travel Solutions said: “We endeavour to offer Sindbad members highly valuable and convenient options to earn points through their hotel bookings. We look forward to collaborating closely with Sindbad to offer its members world class booking experiences.”

Sindbad members can earn up to 10,000 Sindbad miles for each hotel night booked through Kaligo.com. 

Interested?

To celebrate the launch of the partnership, members will earn double Sindbad miles on all hotel bookings made through Kaligo.com till 19 June. This works out to up to 30 Sindbad miles per US$1 spent on every hotel booking.

PIA adds Lahore-Salalah route

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has added Salalah, Oman to its flight destinations. The inaugural flight, PK235, departed from Lahore at 12:30pm on December 1.

Flights on the Lahore-Salalah-Lahore sector will operate twice a week, every Thursday and Sunday.

PIA is already flying to Muscat, the capital of Oman, and with these additional twice-weekly flights to Salalah, PIA hopes to further boost the link between the two countries and within the region.

PIA CEO Bernd Hildenbrand said that PIA is expanding its fleet and flights on profitable routes are being increased, especially to places where there is a sizeable expatriate Pakistani community.

Oman leads Arab countries in World Bank index on ease of doing business

The Sultanate of Oman has advanced three ranks in the World Bank 2017 Doing Business Report, ranking 66th globally. In the business sub-index, Oman was the top Arab country and 32nd globally, a jump of 127 points compared to the previous report.

Doing Business studies quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights across 190 economies. Ten indicators are measured on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

The Sultanate made a progress in the Starting a Business Index by removing the requirement to pay minimum capital within three months of incorporation and streamlining the registration of employees. In the  Trading Across Borders index, Oman has reduced the time for border and documentary compliance by introducing a new online portal that allows for rapid electronic clearance of goods.

HE Dr Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, commented on this success saying: “We appreciate all the efforts made to achieve this international recognition and improve the Sultanate's business environment. The latest changes and updates in the Invest Easy portal played a major role in this success as we cancelled the request to provide proof of the company's capital at the beginning of the registration, the Article 5 and Article 11 in the commercial agencies Law and simplify the procedures for business registration records by allowing 76 electronic services through the portal.”

Dr Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, said: “This advanced ranking of the Sultanate is an international recognition from a leading organisation, The World Bank, that the provision of electronic services in doing business in Oman is moving steadily towards a big success internationally.”

Al Ruzaiqi added: “The Invest Easy project of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is one of the pioneering projects in this field and it deserves this international recognition. It is designed to provide electronic services to investors and entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises through a single window; in addition to simplifying and streamlining procedures and make the process of investing and doing business in the Sultanate easier with high quality and more transparent.”

Salma Khalfan Al Burtmani, Invest Easy Project Manager at ITA, said: “Invest Easy is a leading e-transformation project that has been implemented with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in order to facilitate the business environment in the Sultanate to be done online through a single window.

“This is the first portal that uses the e-signature service over the mobile phone provided by the National Digital Certification Center at Information Technology Authority. Through this service the beneficiary can complete some transactions completely after activating the electronic certification on mobile sim card.”

ITA is the agency in Oman charged with implementing Digital Oman, a strategy to transform the Sultanate of Oman into a knowledge-based economy for the achievement of social and economic benefits to Omani society.

First, business class Oman Air passengers can customise digital content for in-flight consumption

Source: Oman Air. The Media Box, with local and Arabic media added, is now available to first and business class Oman Air passengers departing Muscat, Oman.

Passengers can now enjoy digital news and entertainment in the recently-renovated first-class and business-class lounges for Oman Air in Muscat, Oman. 

The Media Box - one of the largest e-paper media libraries, developed by Media Carrier - will be available. Customers compile a personalised set of on-board reading material from a portfolio of international magazines and daily newspapers. The range has been extended through a collaboration with United Media Services (UMS), a media and communication company in Oman and UAE, to include local and Arabian media from the region.

The Web-based platform supports any Internet-enabled device, smartphone or tablet. Passengers register in the lounge using the free Wi-Fi by entering their name and flight number and then download their chosen reading material. Newspapers and magazines are then presented in unabridged form, in the same layout used in print versions, on their personal devices. An analysis of downloads is expected to reveal which media are favoured by different passenger segments and can be used to create a more targeted service in the future.

Abdulaziz Al Raisi, EVP–Products & Brand Development, says: "Oman Air is committed to continuously finding new ways to surprise and delight our customers, increase convenience and make their passenger experience even more enjoyable...As a result of their excellent, longstanding expertise, the media and sales professionals from Media Carrier/UMS impressed us with their e-paper media library. This service will be warmly welcomed by our premium customers at Muscat, and further extends Oman Air’s innovative digital strategy.”

Media Carrier specialises in marketing and distributing digital content. It supplies the travel industry with e-papers through the Media Box, and counts Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and Air Berlin as well as more than 1,000 hotels around the world as customers.

Muscat-based UMS works predominantly in the Arabian region and has been responsible for supplying Oman Air with newspapers and magazines in the Middle East, including Gulf countries and the Indian sub-continent, since 2009.

Oman Air disinfecting plane interiors with Virus-Guard

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has adopted Virus-Guard’s disinfectant wipes. Designed for protection against swine flu, H1N1, H7N9, Ebola, Mers and Zika, Oman Air’ staff members now use the wipes to disinfect aircraft galleys, lavatories and door handles.

“We are committed to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for our passengers and employees,” said Miguel Serra, VP of ground operations at Oman Air. “Our partnership with Virus-Guard helps to ensure that we are taking all of the necessary steps and precautions for swift and coordinated action against international health threats.”

In February, Oman Air announced that its leadership was monitoring the Zika virus situation in South America, posting additional information on its website from the World Health Organization and offering refunds and rebooking assistance to pregnant women scheduled to travel to the region.

Oman Air's use of Virus-Guard products is one of several necessary steps the airline is taking to minimise the threat of the Zika virus, as well as reduce the risk of the spread of this and other viruses and bacteria.

Virus-Guard disinfectant wipes are a ready-to-use product that provides long-term efficacy, and is an easy-to-use solution for eradicating germs. The wipes contain benzalkonium chloride, sodium pyrithione and polycondenstaes, a combination commonly used in hospitals and other medical treatment facilities. The wipes do not contain aldehyde or phenol. All Virus-Guard products are, biocompatible, approved for Airbus and Boeing craft, and boast a long-time antimicrobial effect.

“The number of infections by micro-organisms has grown tremendously,” said Alex, founder of Virus-Guard. “We are working diligently with our aviation industry partners to implement infection control measures and protocols. Our goal is to help these industry leaders to quickly adapt in order to continue to make customer safety their top priority.”

Oman Air flies to Najaf, Iraq from mid-September 2016

Oman Air has announced further expansion to its global network with a new destination in Iraq. The flights will operate from Oman Air’s hub in Muscat to Najaf, in Iraq with four weekly flights from 15 September 2016. This is Oman Air’s first destination in Iraq.

Boeing 737-800 aircraft will depart Muscat International Airport at 2.30pm and arrive at Najaf International Airport at 4.35pm. Return flights will depart Najaf International Airport at 7.50pm and arrive in Muscat at 11.40pm (all times quoted are local).

The launch of the new route is in response to airline's significant customer demand and also demonstrates Oman Air’s commitment to continuing an ambitious network expansion programme, first unveiled in 2014. Following the launch of the new route, Oman Air’s network will include 51 destinations in 28 countries. It is anticipated that the network will include 75 destinations by 2020.

Oman Air’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President Commercial, Abdulrahman Al Busaidy said: “Oman Air is undertaking an ambitious growth programme to develop our network and ensure international connectivity. We are committed to ensuring that our customers have greater choice and the opportunity to discover new destinations with Oman Air. We are therefore delighted to be launching this exciting new services to Najaf. As our first destination in Iraq, Najaf offers excellent potential for travellers visiting friends and family, and for pilgrims.”

Interested?

Tickets for the new services are bookable online. Prices start from RO186 for a return economy seat to Najaf.