
Crown Prince of Dubai leaves Oman
Muscat: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and his accompanying delegation left Muscat on Monday, following an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman.
HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth led the farewell party for Sheikh Hamdan at the Private Airport.
Sheikh Hamdan was also seen off by Sheikh Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, Dr. Laila bint Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development, Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence and Salim bin Musallam Al Kathiri, Head of the Sultanate of Oman Commercial Office in Dubai.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times of Oman
42 minutes ago
- Times of Oman
Oman gifts a plaque to WTO commemorating Sayyid Bilarab's visit
Muscat : The Sultanate of Oman presented a commemorative plaque to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) commemorating the visit of His Highness Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said to the organisation's headquarters in Geneva on June 21, 2023. This mural is a symbolic gift from His Highness to the organisation, an initiative that embodies the depth of bilateral relations and mutual appreciation between the Sultanate of Oman and the organisation. It highlights three main themes: Historical civilisation, natural diversity, and a bright future, in an artistic representation that reflects Omani values, openness to global issues, and sustainable development. This initiative was supervised by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, with the participation of the Omani Society for Arts, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth. This initiative reflects institutional cooperation and affirms Oman's active presence in international forums through arts and culture. Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said: 'This initiative expresses the Sultanate of Oman's appreciation for its constructive relations with the World Trade Organisation and embodies its commitment to promoting cultural communication and dialogue with various countries around the world through art.' He added: 'This initiative comes under the guidance and follow-up of His Highness Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said, who attaches special importance to the arts as an effective tool in promoting cultural dialogue and building bridges of communication between the Sultanate of Oman and the world." The minister emphasised that HH Sayyid Bilarab support for this project reflects his belief in the role of culture in consolidating Oman's presence on the international stage and underscores the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to presenting a bright image of its cultural and human heritage. Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Culture at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said: 'This artistic initiative embodies a civilisational, cultural, and artistic dimension that reflects the Sultanate of Oman's vision of using the arts as a bridge for global dialogue and understanding, and a belief in the importance of culture and the arts as a tool for representing national identity in various forms.' He expressed his pride in presenting the commemorative plaque to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, which is part of the institutional partnership and cooperation supporting the integration of national efforts to represent the Sultanate of Oman in international forums, enhance its national and cultural identity, and disseminate it globally, in line with Oman Vision 2040. He said : "This plaque, which reflects Omani civilization, natural diversity, and a vision for the future, has highlighted the creative energies of young Omani artists and contributed to conveying the message of authentic Omani art to the World Trade Organisation, thereby affirming the role and importance of the arts in building cultural and diplomatic relations." Idris bin Abdulrahman Al Khanjari, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, explained that this cultural initiative reflects an important cultural and diplomatic dimension in the Sultanate of Oman's relations with the WTO. It also demonstrates the Sultanate's commitment to the approach of human communication through the arts. Al Khanjari expressed his pride that this painting will remain present at the WTO headquarters as a symbol of mutual appreciation and the strong relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the WTO. The Ambassador explained that the painting will be hung in a central hall in the WTO building, called the "Salle des Pas Perdus," which serves as a living museum of pluralism, art, and shared history, with its walls echoing the footsteps of generations of diplomats. It is worth noting that an art competition was organised with the participation of six Omani artists, taking eight months of continuous work under the supervision of a specialised art committee and in coordination with relevant authorities. The painting by Omani artist Salem bin Khamis Al Salami was honoured by His Highness Sayyid Bilarab to represent the Sultanate of Oman and is on permanent display at the World Trade Organization headquarters, as an artistic blend that combines Omani cultural identity with global openness.


Times of Oman
3 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman launches its first tourist hot air balloon project in Turkiye
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has launched its first tourist hot air balloon within the "Oman Balloons" project in Cappadocia, the Republic of Turkiye, as part of the promotional phase of the project. This initiative comes within the efforts of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism to develop and diversify the tourism product while strengthening Oman's position as a unique regional and international destination. The project aims to attract international expertise in hot air balloon tourism and localize it in Oman, contributing to the growth of tourism experiences and providing new options for both domestic and international tourists. It also aligns with the ministry's support for private sector-led tourism initiatives and enhances public-private partnerships to achieve tourism development goals. "Oman Balloon No. 1" will begin its first flights within the Sultanate of Oman from the Wilayat of Bidiyah in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, offering a unique experience to explore breathtaking landscapes from the sky, showcasing Oman's diverse tourism attractions. The balloon has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority in Oman and features a design suitable for Omani weather conditions, with a capacity of up to 20 passengers in addition to the technical crew consisting of a pilot and an assistant. The "Oman Balloons" project is one of the qualitative initiatives supported by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism due to its active role in promoting experiential tourism and providing panoramic views of tourist sites. This contributes to highlighting Oman's natural and cultural richness from an innovative perspective while attracting a broader segment of visitors seeking unique travel experiences.


Times of Oman
3 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Nakhal Fort becomes a hotspot for tourists
Nakhal: Nakhal Fort is one of the key tourism landmarks in South Al Batinah. The fort received, during the past few years, the attention and care of citizens and tourists, something that contributed to the cultural movement and tourism and empowered the youth and the participation of women and supported the crafts of the local community and tourism in the Wilayat of Nakhal. The operation of the fort in 2023, when the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism signed a 25- year agreement on the management of the fort with Nakhal Ahlia Investment Company, which gave the company the right to transform the fort into a tourism and entertainment destination that cope with the topography of the area and the Omani identity. The operators have, since 2023, launched different programmes and activities to change the fort into a must-visit destination throughout the year. Saud bin Khalfan Al Kindi, Chief Executive Officer of Nakhal Ahlia Investment Company, said that the number of visitors from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman to the fort amounted to 11,274 during the first quarter of 2025 including 1,731 Omanis and 9,543 visitors from other countries, in addition to 5,986 children aged below 7 years and school students who visited the fort free of charge. He said that the number of activities / events organised amounted to 10 covering all community programmes up to the end of March 2025. Following the agreement signing, the Nakhal Fort has changed into a ground for the cultural festivals and celebrations. After the completion of the renovation works, the fort hosted the First Nakhal Fort Forum, he said, adding that the activities at the fort also included interactive educational programmes for the youth and children. Nakhal Ahlia Investment Company boosted the efforts accorded on the fort through partnerships with institutions concerned with education and heritage and joint cooperation agreement signed in April 2025 with Oman Memory Centre for the launch of a permanent exhibition at the fort to shed light on biographies of Omani figures in the Wilayat of Nakhal. The exhibition would acquaint the visitors with over 100 prominent personalities including judges, scholars and book copy writers who were well known during the past centuries for serving the national heritage and their valuable manuscripts, documents and possessions. Organised by Oman Film Society, the fort also hosted the Al Batinah International Film Festival and also organised fine art exhibitions. The Omani women association participated, along with the members of the local community, in the different programmes and activities of the fort. Al Kindi said that Nakhal Ahlia Investment Company intends to introduce new cultural initiatives, workshops, seminars and forums.