Latest news with #AlLawati
Observer
26-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
RAM launches 'Future Readiness Award'
MUSCAT: The Royal Academy of Management (RAM), in partnership with the globally leading organisation in management thinking, Thinkers50, has announced the launch of the Future Readiness Award, which recognises leaders who demonstrate excellence in preparing for future challenges and opportunities, supporting national visions, and driving innovation and resilience across institutions. The launch of this award stems from RAM's strategic vision of cementing Oman's position in future readiness and empowering individuals, institutions and nations to anticipate emerging shifts and navigate complexity with agility, while advancing prosperity amid accelerating change and transformational societal and technological dynamics. Future readiness encompasses several dimensions, most notably fostering a culture of innovation and creativity, developing strategic foresight skills to anticipate the future, and instilling a mindset of adaptability and resilience to ensure sustainable success. Dr Ali bin Qassim al Lawati Dr Ali bin Qassim al Lawati, President of RAM, stated on this occasion: 'Preparing future leaders is not limited to adapting to change, but extends to the ability to anticipate it, guide its direction and lead effectively through it." He confirmed that the Royal Academy of Management as part of its strategic plans places special emphasis on nurturing this type of leadership through enriching structured dialogue, exploring global trends and transforming enlightened ideas into applied solutions with tangible impact. Dr Al Lawati added: 'This award reaffirms our shared belief with Thinkers50 that ambitious ideas, when grounded in practical reality, have the power to redefine how institutions prepare and lead the future.' From his side, Des Dearlove, Co-founder of Thinkers50, emphasised the need for leaders at all levels to adopt a strategic approach focused on building organisational resilience to effectively confront rapid and unforeseen transformations, alongside the ability to anticipate future developments and apply anticipatory innovation through the capacity to forecast change and develop creative solutions ensuring continuity of growth and institutional success. Submissions will be considered by the Assessment Committee carefully selected based on criteria such as global standing in the field of future readiness, geographical diversity, and diverse expertise from both the public and private sectors, as well as academia. The committee was established in collaboration between the Royal Academy of Management and Thinkers50.
Observer
24-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Tourism-integrated real estate poised for strong growth
Tourism-integrated real estate projects in Oman are poised for strong growth and will be one of the major contributors to the GDP besides being a job creator, thanks to the country's strategic focus on sustainable tourism. In addition, this sector is a promising and enabling sector for implementing investment opportunities, supported by the readiness of the basic infrastructure system of roads, electricity, water, sewage which is all set to grow in leaps and bounds, according to Muriya Tourism Development. Muriya is a Joint venture between Orascom Development and Omran Group; and is the largest and most diversified private integrated real estate and tourism developer committed to contributing to the development of the Sultanate of Oman. Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of the recently held Oman Real Estate Exhibition, Wael al Lawati, CEO of Muriya Tourism Development said that tourism-integrated real estate in Oman is poised for strong growth, driven by the rising demand for destinations that combine lifestyle, hospitality and investment. 'The fact is that tourism-integrated real estate projects in Oman are heading towards strong growth and will be one of the major contributors to the GDP besides being a job creator. This is possible because the country has been paying a very strategic focus on sustainable tourism,' he said. Through a successful partnership between the internationally acclaimed builder of fully-integrated towns, Orascom Development Holding (ODH) and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN), the leading executive government arm for tourism development in the Sultanate of Oman, Muriya has been developing many ITC projects at an investment of over $750 million in Oman and they include Hawana Salalah and Jebel Sifah, which include hotels, marinas and recreational facilities. These successful partnerships have been a major contributor to the tourism sector and have resulted in 1,200 operating hotel rooms in 6 years, 420,000 hotel guest nights in 2019, over 1,000 homeowners, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs; and supporting local businesses, contributing to Oman's economic diversification and tourism growth. 'Through Muriya, we strengthen Oman's international presence as a high-potential tourism and investment hub while supporting job creation and community engagement through sustainable developments,' Al Lawati said.
Observer
21-04-2025
- Business
- Observer
Newly launched Dhamani platform to ease insurance claims
MUSCAT, APRIL 21 The recently inaugurated Dhamani platform marks a major leap forward in the digital transformation of Oman's healthcare and insurance sectors. Designed as a national digital information exchange, the platform facilitates seamless, real-time communication between healthcare providers and insurance payers. Speaking exclusively to the Observer, Dr Hatim al Lawati, Digital Economy Consultant at the Financial Services Authority (FSA), emphasised that Dhamani is not a standalone system but a comprehensive infrastructure for streamlining claims processing. 'Previously, there was a lot of fluctuation and delay, some claims took up to two years to process,' Dr Al Lawati said. 'Today, with Dhamani, claims can be submitted immediately after treatment, and insurance companies are required to respond within 45 days. The process is faster, more transparent, and significantly reduces administrative hassle.' He also noted that the platform's operational footprint is minimal. 'It is efficient enough to be managed with as few as three workstations,' he added. 'It greatly improves speed and ease for both patients and hospitals.' Through integration with healthcare providers' Health Information Systems (HIS), Dhamani enables instant claim submission by hospitals, polyclinics, clinics, medical centres, and soon, independent pharmacies. Once a patient receives treatment, the system can automatically transmit the claim to Dhamani, which then delivers all relevant data, medical reports, attachments, approvals, diagnoses, costs, and bills, directly to insurance companies. This digital workflow enables payers to act quickly, either approving, rejecting, returning the claim for clarification, or requesting missing information, within a short timeframe. 'Healthcare providers have up to 45 days to submit a claim after the patient receives treatment,' Dr Al Lawati explained. 'If the claim is returned by the insurer, it can be resubmitted within 30 days. Once accepted, the payer is obligated to process payment within another 45 days. This structured timeline ensures swift and smooth claims handling.' Beyond efficiency, Dhamani plays a critical role in combating fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA), common challenges in health insurance systems. 'Fraud involves submitting false claims for treatments that never occurred. Abuse refers to intentionally over-treating patients, for example, prescribing unnecessary medications or requesting unrelated tests. Waste relates to redundant or repeated services, like duplicate lab tests within or across hospitals,' Dr Al Lawati said. To reduce FWA, the platform implements several robust measures. 'First, we are standardising CPT codes, also known as medical protocols, so all providers use consistent procedures for specific illnesses. This allows regulators and insurers to quickly spot irregularities and potential abuse.' 'Second, all transactions on Dhamani are fully digital and transparent, allowing regulators to set automated rules to detect suspicious patterns. For example, if a medicine prescribed only for women is issued to a male patient, the system can flag it immediately.' 'Third, the FSA is deploying business intelligence (BI) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to analyse data, detect fraud, and manage risk. These technologies empower both payers and the regulator to monitor claims comprehensively and protect system integrity.' In conclusion, Dr Al Lawati affirmed that Dhamani is not only enhancing the speed and transparency of insurance claims but is also serving as a critical infrastructure in safeguarding Oman's healthcare ecosystem from inefficiencies and malpractice.
Observer
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman eye third win against Uzbekistan in key AHF Cup clash
Muscat, April 21 Oman national hockey team will play its third group stage match in the Men's and Women's AHF Cup 2025, facing Uzbekistan at the hockey stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday. The team enters the match with high hopes of continuing its strong run and boosting its chances of qualifying for the advanced stages. With two important victories already under its belt, the team carries significant momentum and confidence in both its collective and individual performances. Oman are ranked second in Group A with 6 points, having scored six goals and conceded only two. Oman began their tournament journey with an impressive 3-1 win over Singapore, highlighted by a standout performance from Fahad al Lawati, who netted a hat-trick to secure three valuable points. The first goal came in the sixth minute after a well-organised attack finished with a powerful strike by Al Lawati. He doubled the lead in the 15th minute with a penalty corner conversion. In the third quarter, the star player completed his hat-trick in the 35th minute with a precise pass received inside the circle. Singapore's only goal came in the 41st minute via a penalty corner, as Oman wrapped up a well-deserved win. OMAN TACKLE HK In their second appearance on Sunday, Oman faced a tough challenge against Hong Kong and managed another 3-1 victory. The first quarter saw both teams playing cautiously, focusing on defensive stability and avoiding early goals, with shared possession but minimal goal threats, ending goalless. Oman emerged with a more attacking mindset in the second quarter, applying constant pressure on Hong Kong's defence. This effort paid off in the 35th minute when Rashid al Fazari received the ball inside the circle and confidently fired it into the net, giving Oman a 1-0 lead. Hong Kong tried to respond in the third quarter through repeated attacks, but Oman's disciplined and focused defence held firm, neutralising all equalising attempts and threatening on counter-attacks. The final quarter was packed with action. Mohammed al Noufali extended the lead to 2-0 in the 48th minute with a powerful finish from a well-orchestrated move. Hong Kong pulled one back quickly in the 52nd minute through Ishtiaq Ahmed. However, just two minutes later, Ayman Madid sealed Oman's dominance with a brilliant third goal in the 54th minute, securing a 3-1 victory for the Reds.
Times of Oman
14-04-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Meethaq Islamic Banking strengthens presence at the first Hajj and Umrah Exhibition
Muscat: Meethaq Islamic Banking from Bank Muscat, proudly participates in the first Hajj and Umrah Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. The event takes place from April 13 to 15, 2025, at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center (OCEC). At this significant event, Meethaq showcases a wide range of services tailored for pilgrims and Umrah travellers, all compliant with Islamic Sharia principles. Offerings include Islamic finance solutions, insurance products, card services, payment options, and savings plans, among others. Attendees have the opportunity to learn about Meethaq's Hajj packages, which meet the unique needs of pilgrims while adhering to Islamic guidelines. The Hajj and Umrah Exhibition serves as the largest platform uniting service providers from the Hajj and Umrah sectors within the Sultanate of Oman and abroad. It highlights the diverse roles and services available to pilgrims through training workshops, awareness lectures, and various accompanying events. The exhibition aims to strengthen partnerships among all stakeholders in the Hajj and Umrah sectors, foster healthy competition among service providers and enrich the knowledge base across historical, cultural, and religious dimensions. On this occasion, Ali Ahmed Al Lawati, Assistant General Manager of Meethaq Islamic Banking, expresses enthusiasm about participating in this premier gathering of Hajj service providers in Oman. He emphasised that Meethaq's commitment to promoting Islamic banking and its contributions to the field of Islamic finance. Al Lawati invites attendees to visit the Meethaq Pavilion to explore this unique exhibition, which aims to open new horizons in service provision for Hajj and Umrah. Visitors also have the opportunity to interact with the Meethaq team and gain insights into the services offered, including modern digital payment solutions that enhance customer experiences and streamline transactions. Meethaq boasts the largest branch network in the Islamic banking sector within the Sultanate, comprising 32 branches and 20 Hafawa centres strategically located across various governorates. In addition, Meethaq customers benefit from access to over 50 cash withdrawal and deposit machines, along with approximately 900 ATMs and CDMs operated by Bank Muscat, ensuring convenient access to Sharia-compliant banking services. As a testament to its pioneering role in delivering exceptional Sharia-compliant banking solutions, Meethaq has received numerous accolades over the years, including the Islamic Banking Sector Leadership Award for 2024 from Global Islamic Finance, the Best Islamic Bank in the Sultanate from Euromoney, and the Best Islamic Investment Bank from Islamic Finance News.
