Summers in Dhofar are unique for the Gulf region. In mid-summer, the south-east monsoon, known as the khareef, flows in from the east on seasonal winds coming off of the Indian Ocean. A moist white haze settles across the city of Salalah and the surrounding area, tempering...
The Middle East Tourism
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Articles & Analysis | A climate for growth: Cool summer temperatures draw regional and local visitors to Dhofar from The Report: Oman 2013
Articles & Analysis | A broad push: Efforts are under way to expand offerings in segments ranging from MICE to golf from The Report: Oman 2013
While Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Manama and other port cities in the Gulf developed on relatively flat, sandy terrain, the ancient port settlement of Muscat grew around several peaks, which continue to define the city’s unique appearance. The country’s interior is ever more rugged. To the north, the Hajjar Mountains, which separate Oman from the UAE, dwarf the peaks of Muscat...
Articles & Analysis | Active engagement: Enhancing sporting infrastructure and investing in cultural activity from The Report: Oman 2013
Oman’s cultural heritage is renowned throughout the region and beyond, and much of the government’s effort in relation to it has been exerted on its preservation and ensuring that the sultanate’s young population is imbued with the richness of its past. The nation’s youth are also the principal target of a drive to enhance Oman’s sporting...
At the base of the Arabian Peninsula, occupying a landmass slightly larger than Italy, Oman is the largest country in the GCC after Saudi Arabia. In recent years, the non-OPEC oil exporter’s economy has been undergoing a steady transformation, reorienting from oil toward a more diverse set of service and industry-based economic activities. So far, progress has been promising. In 2011 oil and gas accounted for 38.8% GDP.
The tourism sector is enjoying increased attention. In 2012 it accounted for some 3% of GDP, saw growth of nearly 4% in the same year, and contributed to the creation of some 70,000 jobs in 2011. In the broader Middle East region, tourism job creation actually shrank by 0.6%. Going forward, the government’s priority is to diversify tourism offerings, via a number of initiatives to promote the...
Economic update | Dubai: Supporting health tourism
10 Dec 2012
New visa regulations designed to allow foreign visitors undergoing medical treatment to stay for up to nine months are expected to reinforce Dubai’s appeal as a health tourism destination, and are part of a long-term plan to further build on the solid health care industry that has been developed.