Latest news with #Ghassani
Muscat Daily
22-07-2025
- Muscat Daily
Dhofar's history, culture come alive at new museum in Salalah
Salalah – A new chapter in Oman's cultural preservation began on Monday with the inauguration of Dhofar Museum in Salalah under the patronage of H H Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar. The museum aims to boost cultural tourism and provide a permanent platform for documentation and display of Dhofar's heritage. Hamza bin Mohammed al Ghassani, a member of the museum's Board of Directors, said the project goes beyond traditional exhibitions. 'The museum seeks to educate future generations, support academic research and contribute to cultural tourism in Oman, Dhofar in particular.' According to Ghassani, the museum was developed as an integrated cultural project focused on documenting various aspects of Dhofar's heritage. It is designed to resemble structures of the ancient past while incorporating modern technology to enhance visitor engagement. Information on exhibits is provided in Arabic, English, French and German, allowing access to a wide audience. The museum also features space for Omani artisans to present traditional crafts, fostering cultural continuity and professional engagement. The exhibits are organised into thematic environments reflecting different phases of Dhofar's history, including Islamic civilisation and the governorate's historical role in trade and maritime activity. It also presents material on ancient cities such as Samharam, Al Baleed and Ubar, showcasing their contributions to regional civilisation. Four distinct environments – coastal, rural, desert and urban – provide insights into traditional life in Dhofar. Exhibits cover a range of subjects from architectural heritage and Dhofari cuisine to folk dances, fishing traditions, traditional weapons and agricultural practices. Archival material, such as documents, manuscripts and photographs, further enrich the collection. By combining history with technology and community engagement, Dhofar Museum positions itself as both a cultural archive and a driver of heritage tourism in southern Oman, Ghassani added.
Muscat Daily
15-07-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Dhofar invests RO36mn in road development to spur urban growth
Salalah – Dhofar Municipality is pressing ahead with a package of infrastructure projects aimed at upgrading internal and dual carriageways across the governorate. More than 300km of roads are being constructed and paved, at a total cost exceeding RO36mn, in line with Oman Vision 2040 priorities of sustainable development. Covering several wilayats, the projects fall under the Sustainable Governorates and Cities Development Programme and are designed to ease mobility, improve safety, and support urban and economic expansion by enhancing the quality of road services for citizens, residents and visitors. According to officials, construction and paving works have been completed or are ongoing in Salalah, Taqah, Mirbat, Sadah, Shaleem and Hallaniyat Islands, Thumrait, Muqshin, Al Mazyouna, Rakhyut and Dalkhut. The projects follow technical and safety standards, with emphasis on long-term infrastructure sustainability. Ahmed bin Mohsen al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, said Salalah alone is seeing the development of 161km of internal roads, including in plains and mountainous areas, at a cost exceeding RO9mn. He confirmed the municipality is also working on dualisation of 9km of Sultan Qaboos Street, currently 22% complete, at a cost of RO16.3mn. In Thumrait, the municipality will pave 40km of internal roads and begin dualisation of a 4.5km stretch of Thumrait Street, which will include decorative lighting. The combined value of the two projects is estimated at over RO3mn. In Taqah, work has started on 32km of internal roads at a cost of approximately RO1.7mn, while Mirbat will see 20km of roads paved at a cost of RO995,000. Dualisation of 3.5km of Mirbat Street is also expected to be completed this year at a cost of RO1.96mn. The municipality is undertaking road construction across several other wilayats. These include 50km of roads in Sadah and 15km of roads in Muqshin. Ghassani said the infrastructure expansion reflects the government's commitment to development projects that directly improve citizens' lives and ensure balanced growth across the governorate. He added that Dhofar Municipality continues to follow a proactive approach, working closely with local communities to tailor services and ensure effectiveness of municipal development plans.
Muscat Daily
18-06-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Dhofar expects high hotel occupancy as khareef draws visitors
Salalah – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has confirmed that hotel establishments in Dhofar governorate have completed their preparations to welcome tourists for the 2025 khareef season. Hotels in the region are offering promotional packages and marketing programmes in anticipation of a high number of visitors during the season, which attracts tourists from across the region each year. Many hotels have introduced competitive prices and improved hospitality services, including guest reception and departure assistance, as well as guided tours to key tourist, heritage and entertainment sites. A key highlight this year is the increased presence of qualified Omani staff in the hotel and tourism sector, further supporting the local hospitality industry. Ahmed bin Mohammed al Ghassani, Director of the Quality Control Department at the Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar, said preparations began with an annual coordination meeting involving the directorate and representatives from the hotel and tourism sectors. The meeting focused on service readiness and maintaining high standards of quality across all facilities. Ghassani said there are now 100 licensed hotel establishments in Dhofar, offering more than 8,000 rooms. 'In 2024, hotel occupancy rates reached 90%, and we expect these figures to increase this year due to attractive marketing campaigns and seasonal promotions from hotels and tourism companies,' he said. He also noted the continued use of the 'Sikka' app during the 2025 season. Supervised by the Office of the Governor of Dhofar in coordination with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and Dhofar Municipality, the app regulates the real estate market and formalises rental agreements between landlords and tenants. The platform protects the rights of all parties and provides property owners with new ways to market their properties within Oman and abroad.
