Latest news with #Hinai
Muscat Daily
11-08-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Creative industries seen as bridge between Oman's past and future
Muscat – Creative and cultural industries are emerging as a key driver of Oman's economic diversification, with potential to link heritage with innovation and support the goals of Oman Vision 2040. Dr Salim bin Mohammed al Hinai, Assistant Professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nizwa, while giving a background, underlined that creative industries encompass sectors that 'rely on innovation and individual talent, and contribute to transforming ideas into products and services with an economic dimension'. These range from traditional crafts and fine arts to literature, publishing, music, cinema, design and digital media. Dr Salim bin Mohammed al Hinai 'I have witnessed significant development in the Omani dagger industry, silver jewellery and traditional weaving, particularly in the wilayats of Nizwa and Suhar,' Dr Hinai said. 'There is also strong growth in graphic design, digital content production and the Omani film industry, as well as cultural events like the Muscat International Book Fair and Muscat International Film Festival. This sector supports Omani identity and the local economy.' He added that the sector creates jobs in design, crafts and digital content while linking heritage with modern products to enhance cultural tourism. 'It offers high added value at relatively low investment costs and opens the door to global partnerships that showcase Omani culture.' For Badriya bint Mohammed al Fouriya, Director of the Entrepreneurship Department at the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Riyada), the creative sector is also a platform for entrepreneurship. 'Riyada works to empower owners of creative ideas through training, technical guidance, incubation programmes and financing facilities,' she said. 'We also partner with cultural, educational and community institutions to invest in Omani intellectual heritage and produce renewed cultural content.' She stressed that the sector can increase competitiveness, generate income and create jobs if supported by the right legislative framework and skilled national talent. Murtadha bin Abdul Khaliq al Lawati, Director General of the Place and People Museum, underlined the cultural value of traditional crafts. 'Omani traditional industries go beyond function to become visual and cultural expressions of identity,' he said, adding that they have gained international admiration for their craftsmanship. While welcoming innovation, he warned against altering heritage products in ways that compromise authenticity. 'Industries linked to heritage symbols, such as the Omani dagger, should be preserved in their original form,' he said. In Nizwa, entrepreneur Khalid bin Sulaiman Ambusaidi's 'Nuzul al Manazel' project restores heritage houses using traditional materials and designs. 'We kept the original structure intact, highlighting the moral and cultural value of the place,' he said. 'Such projects promote Oman abroad as a country that values and protects its heritage.' Ambusaidi believes the creative sector can thrive if restoration specialists highlight the stories behind heritage sites and use modern technologies for documentation and promotion. 'Creative industries can connect past and present, strengthen cultural identity, and turn heritage into a sustainable cultural and economic resource,' he said.
Muscat Daily
11-05-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Sunspot 11 times larger than earth spotted from Oman
Muscat – Astronomers in Oman have observed the largest sunspot of 2025, capturing rare images of the massive dark patch on the Sun's surface, which measures more than 11 times the size of Earth. The sighting was made by the Oman Society for Astronomy and Space (OSAS) on the morning of May 8 using specialised telescopic equipment positioned in the skies over Muscat. Identified as Sunspot 4079, the phenomenon is part of the heightened solar activity associated with Solar Cycle 25, the current phase in the Sun's 11-year magnetic cycle. 'This sunspot represents one of the largest phenomena we have documented in the current solar cycle,' said Wisal bint Salim al Hinai, Deputy Head of the Community Outreach Committee at OSAS. 'Capturing it from Oman is a remarkable scientific achievement that highlights our ongoing efforts to monitor space phenomena that directly impact Earth.' Sunspots are regions of intense magnetic activity that appear darker because they are cooler than their surroundings. Sunspot 4079 offers astronomers important clues about solar flares and coronal mass ejections – bursts of solar energy that can interfere with satellite communications, GPS systems, and power grids on Earth. According to Hinai, the observation helps scientists better understand the potential risks of solar storms. The latest surge in solar activity has already led to several disruptions. In February, the Sun released an X-class solar flare, followed by a coronal mass ejection that triggered geomagnetic storms in April. These storms lit up skies with auroras in unusual latitudes and disrupted radio communications. Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019, has exceeded earlier forecasts in terms of intensity.
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Muscat to host global energy regulators' meet for first time in ME
Muscat – Oman will host the annual Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) conference for the first time in the Middle East underlining the country's growing role in shaping global energy regulation. Organised by Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR), the event will take place in Muscat on May 5 and 6. More than 250 international experts, representatives of ERRA member organisations, academics and specialists from within and outside Oman are expected to attend. ERRA is an international organisation that promotes regulatory excellence in the energy sector. It comprises 47 member organisations from 43 countries across five continents and plays a key role in strengthening regulatory frameworks and institutional performance globally. The conference comes as Oman accelerates its transition towards renewable energy and sustainable development. It also marks 20 years since the restructuring of the country's electricity sector and establishment of APSR. Dr Mansour Talib al Hinai, Chairman of APSR, said the event is an opportunity to highlight Oman's efforts to promote clean energy and enhance its investment climate. 'This initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which prioritises sustainability, innovation and energy diversification,' he said. Hinai added that the conference would serve as 'a high-level international platform for exchanging expertise and discussing the latest developments in energy regulation'. It will also 'enhance cooperation between member states and position the sultanate as a regional leader working towards a sustainable, innovation-driven economy'. The two-day event will include dialogue sessions, workshops and bilateral meetings focused on improving regulatory systems, attracting renewable energy investment and assessing the impact of emerging technologies on the energy sector. Hosting the ERRA conference reflects Oman's commitment to building a resilient, knowledge-based economy and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
