Oman

Located some 230 km north-west of Muscat, Sohar is the sultanate’s third largest city and an emerging economic centre in its own right. While the Port of Sohar, a deepwater industrial seaport in operation since 2004, is a key component of Sohar’s expanding economy, the nearby Freezone Sohar is becoming especially vital as well. The free zone is...

As the authorities in Oman ramp up efforts to expand the country’s tourism sector, a combination of government and private investment is flowing in to build necessities like accommodation and infrastructure. There were $2bn worth of tourism projects in the pipeline in March 2012, according to the state-backed tourism investment firm Omran, with projects ranging from five...

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of most global economies. Although the exact parameters vary by country, SMEs are non-subsidiary, independent firms, which employ fewer than a given number of employees. Under the EU definition, an SME is considered as an enterprise with up to 250 employees and turnover of no more than €50m or a total balance...

A rapidly rising student population has resulted in growing pressure on educational infrastructure. One response to this challenge seen in other jurisdictions is an increase in the provision of e-learning, a diverse sub-sector that encompasses activities including web-based training and teaching systems, learning management software, discussion...

Dominating both the Governorate of Dhofar – where it is the largest employer – and the regional transhipment trade, the Port of Salalah has become a strong link in developing Oman’s maritime transportation.