Turtle-Watching Tourists Crowd Shores of Oman

Greenback's in Oman

Peak Season Now

The peak of turtle-watching season has reached Oman. For the best view of this spectacular sight it is recommended to visit Ras al Hadd on the Indian Ocean between the months of July and October to witness the landing of more than 50,000 sea turtles that will be breeding and laying their eggs.

Protected Harbor

Ras al Hadd is a beautiful protected harbor which is a primary breeding ground for mainly Greenback turtles who lay an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 egg clutches each year which is probably the largest number of any country along the Indian Ocean.

Greenbacks are Rare

Rare Baby Greenback Turtles Heading for the Sea

Greenbacks are among one of the sea’s most endangered species, and it is for this reason that the Sultanate of Oman has closed all 275 of its turtle nesting beaches in an effort to protect the delicate habitat in which the turtles need to breed.

The protected beaches are strewn with turtle pits which reach high above the waterline. Greenback turtles are the sea’s fastest turtles, reaching swimming speeds of up to 32 km/hour (20 miles per hour.)

Shura Elections Attract Record Number of Women Candidates

Shura Council

Out of a total of 1306 candidates who will be competing for the 84 seats of the seventh term of the Majlis Asshura, a record number of 82 women will participate.

Elections Evolving

Oman held open elections for the first time in 2003. In those elections 13 women competed for the 83 seats on the Shura, with only two of them succeeding. Since that time the process of electing the Shura council has changed, and today every citizen older than 21 has the right to vote.

The last elections were held in 2007, when the advisory Shura council increases its number of seats from 83 to 84. In that year 717 candidates vied for membership, 21 of them women. None of those women made it to the Shura that year.

Reforms Incorporated

This year’s election will incorporate changes which Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed granted as part of reforms which came in the wake of the “Arab Spring” unrest which spread throughout many middle eastern countries, including Oman. The newly elected Shura will have, for the first time, legislative and regulatory powers as part of its membership in the greater body of the Council of Oman.

Hi-Tech Campaigning

Last year candidates were, for the first time, allowed to hang campaign posters, banners and advertisements in newspapers and other local media outlets. This year there are even more reforms in the campaign methods, including the use of SMS messages, electronic media for advertising, use of the internet to get the word out about each candidate and more.

Elections will most likely be held in October, but a precise date has not yet been established.

Oman Posted Strong Revenue Growth in 2010

Revenues Up

Compared to what was expected for 2010 there has been a significant increase in the real budget revenue as well as expenditures in Oman over the past year.

Government revenue expanded by 24% to RO 7916.5 million in comparison to the expected budgetary estimate of RO 6380 million.

Expenditures, Too

Government expenditures also rose, by 11% to 7965.3 million from RO 7180. These figures were supplied by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO.)

The exceptional growth in income was credited mostly to an increase in the price of crude oil in the international marketplace.

Price of Oil Up

According to the CBO, Oman’s average price for crude oil increased by 35.2% to a high of $76.64 per barrel in 2010 up from $56.67 per barrel.Exports rose by 10.6% as well.

The production of natural gas also rose during 2010, by 7.2%, which also contributed to the rise in government revenues.

Oman’s Human Rights Committee Examines Abuse Cases

Oman’s National Committee for Human Rights will be dealing with as many as 200 reported cases of rights abuses in the time period from January to May of 2011.

Committee Directly Deals with Abuse

The abuses complained of include human trafficking and other civil rights violations. The committee is investigating the allegations directly but in coordination with the relevant government bodies.

New Head of Committee

Jihad Al Taye is the secretary-general of the committee. He was appointed at the recently held second session of the panel, replacing Rasheed Al Huraibi, who is the new head of the Tender Board.

The committee also conducts visits to prisons, keeping close watch over the treatment of the inmates to assure their rights are protected as well.

Citizens Can Feel Secure

Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said

The deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers, His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, has proclaimed that citizens of Oman can feel confident in the knowledge that their rights as citizens of Oman are safe and secure.

“The human rights in the Sultanate are secured by the principles of the Basic Law of the State and national laws and regulations, as also by the Sultanate’s joining a number of international conventions and charters,” Sayyid Fahd reiterated.

Human Rights Top Priority in Oman

The Human Rights Committee was created to guarantee that the right of citizens will always be protected by the state, emphasized Sayyid Fahd.

The committee has urged the government departments to correct any inconsistencies or irregularities concerning human rights under their purview.

The committee is also aligned with international human rights organizations with which they exchange opinions and information.

Oman Pledges Support to Syrian Leadership

Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman sent a message of support to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria via the Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi during his visit to Damascus this past week.

Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi

The Syrian president and the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem met with bin Alawi to discuss the latest events taking place in the region with an emphasis on the developments now in Libya and Yemen.

Crisis in Syria Discussed

The leaders discussed the volatile situation in Syria as well. President al-Assad told Alawi about the violence which is being perpetrated by armed, organized groups who are specifically targeting Syria’s security and its citizens.

President al-Assad explained to the Omani delegation that he is confident that Syria will be able to deal with the present crisis and come out stronger and more united when control is regained.

Oman Pledges Support for Syria

Bin Alawi was also told about the reforms which Syria is beginning to institute by the Syrian leadership. The Omani Foreign Minister pledged total support of and confidence in Syria from Oman, explaining that Oman stands together with Syria against the destabilizing efforts of the opposition and the terrorism they are committing against the Syrian people.

In recent months the Syrian president has received letters from several kings and leaders of Arab countries pledging their complete and total support of the security and stability of Syria.

Omani Men Find Marriage Huge Financial Burden

One of the demands posed by demonstrators during the “Arab Spring” in Oman was to create a fund to help Omani men finance the lavish weddings and high dowries which are expected by the bride and her family.

Shura Council Offers Partial Solution

Omani Bride

The parliamentary-like body in Oman known as the Shura Council has offered to create a “Marriage Support Fund” which will distribute interest-free loans to those that cannot afford the cost of a wedding and dowry. There is also a plan to offer counseling and advice which will help to encourage the couples to spend less on their weddings and bring the bride-prices down.

One demonstrator, Abdullah Alabri, 27 explained the painful situation for Omani men.

“We have reached a stage where we cannot get married. We kept competing with our peers and now we are begging the government for help.”

Interest Free Loans

Couples making less than 500 rials per month will be eligible to apply for the 4,000 rial loans. This amount however will probably not do too much to alleviate the overall cost of marriage for most people.

Lower Dowry Prices Needed

A wedding in Oman can cost upwards of 30,000 rials, with large numbers of guests, luxuries venues and sumptuous meals. A dowry can cost an additional 15,000 rials, while deeply inside Oman the dowry can cost as much as 30,000 rials. The bride-price is set by the woman’s parents with the bride having little to say about it, in general.

“High dowries are demanded in the interior cities such as Buraimi and Ibri due to existing tribal ideas and social pressure,” said Abdul Jalil, an Omani who works at a petroleum company.

“A low dowry arouses suspicion that something is ‘wrong’ with the girl, making higher dowries a matter of pride,” he added.

Double Taxation to End between Oman and the Philippines

The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of the Philippines are in the process of negotiating an agreement which will end double taxation between them in order to boost bi-lateral trade.

Tax Agreement Coming Soon

Spokesman for the Philippine embassy in Muscat, Omar M. Pangarungan explained that the countries are about to begin their second round of talks to produce an agreement which both countries can feel good about.

Oman is anxious to begin the second round of negotiations in the hope that an agreement can be hammered out soon. Pangarungan said that although trade between the two countries is at the moment minimal, there exists a huge potential for an abundance of bi-lateral trade.

“Philippines is keen on improving its trade relations with the Sultanate,” the Filipino diplomat reiterated.

Cultural Exchange Agreement Also

Omar M. Pangarungan

In addition to the trade agreement, another mutually beneficial treaty is in the works. The two Muslim nations share much in the way of culture and heritage and they therefore decided that it is in their mutual interest to have a more open flow of cultural benefits between them

“The draft of the agreement has already been finalized and the signing is expected anytime from now,” said Pangarungan.

“Once the signing is done, the channels of exchange of scholars, preservation of heritage, artists, etc., will open,” he said.

Filipino Scholars Wanted in Oman

It is especially of interest to the Sultanate to have Filipino scholars welcomed at Sultan Qaboos University. Many innovative scholars from the Philippines travel to the United States and other western countries, influencing the academic world there. It would benefit Oman to have such intellectuals spend time in the Sultanate.

Oman Increases Scholarships by Forty Three Per Cent

The Omani Minister for Higher Education, Dr. Rawiyah bint Saud Al Busaidiyah announced at a joint press conference with the Manpower Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri and the Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University Dr. Ali bin Saud Al Bimani that His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said recently ordered an increase in the number of educational grants by 8,500 to graduates of high schools to continue their studies within and outside Oman.

Forty Three Per Cent Increase

The additional grants awarded represent an increase of 43% to the original plan, bringing the total number of grants for higher education in Oman to 28,400 for the 2011-2012 academic year.

“The royal grant has made students, parents and all Omani families happy,” al Busaidiyah said.

Qaboos University

Fifty Seven Percent of Students Receive Grants

Approximately 51,000 students, both men and women, have applied with the Higher Education Admission Center in expectation of continuing their studies this coming year. With the latest announcement taken into consideration the percentage of students studying for higher degrees this year will be 57%, a significant increase over last year’s 35%.

Dr. Al Busaidiyah added that the ministry of education has been able to increase the number places as well as scholarships this coming year at state run institutions like SQU and Colleges of Applied Sciences.

In addition, the Manpower Ministry will admit more students into the Colleges of Technology which are under their control.

“Raising the number of students receiving higher education will lead to more qualified Omanis entering the job market, thus decreasing the size of the expatriate workforce especially in specialized and technical jobs. This in turn will contribute to the growth of the national economy,” al Busaidiyah said.

Sustainability Seminar Held in Muscat

The Health Minister of Oman, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saieedi, and many other Ministry employees were on hand for a seminar on Project Management and Sustainability Methodology in Muscat on Wednesday.

Sustainability Through Management

The goal of the seminar was to introduce ways to achieve sustainability through the efficient use of management, with a special emphasis on usage in the Health Ministry. Of special concern were IT projects which have already been approved and given the go-ahead by a different ministry of the Sultanate, where several Omani employees were trained, accredited and registered as experts in this particular method of management.

Middle East Precedent

This training and accreditation is the first such approval of the use of this methodology in the Middle East, and the accreditation is recognized internationally.

Other institutions in Oman, both in the public and private spheres, are working now to get similar accreditation of international standing.

Approved in UK, Too

In addition, the United Kingdom Trade Ministry has also approved this particular methodology to achieve sustainability as a management tool for many different projects in which they themselves engage.

DHL Express Expanding in Oman

Better express delivery service can now be expected as DHL Express, the world’s largest express delivery company, upgrades its fleet of trucks in Oman.

DHL Expanding in Oman

The investment of DHL in 19 new delivery trucks is valued at an estimated RO 175,000 ($455,000) and is expected to greatly increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of deliveries throughout the Sultanate.

This new capital investment is designed to demonstrate DHL’s commitment to meeting and even surpassing their customers’ needs and expectations for fast and reliable delivery service in Oman.

“Our business in Oman is continuing to experience growth and as we expand, the continued investment in our vehicles will provide us with the capacity required to meet our customers’ demands,” said Michael Nistor, country manager of DHL Express Oman.

“DHL continues to build on our reputation as a leading and innovative logistics company, which is fully committed to offering our customers the highest standards of service, convenience and quality.”

First Gateway Facility in Oman

Recently DHL Express invested RO85,000 ($221,000) in a new gateway facility in a prime industrial area in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. DHL was the first express company to start a gully-bonded gateway facility in Oman, and now the expanded fleet seals the seriousness of the commitment DHL Express has to its investment in Oman.

The managing director of DHL Express, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, Gary Kemp, said, “This investment reinforces our commitment to Oman. We continue to strengthen our position as a preferred logistics partner to our customers in Oman. “

“It is our commitment to understand our customers and deliver quality logistics solutions at industry leading transit times,” he added.