Abu Dhabi, UAE - Oman and Etihad Rail Company (OERC) signed a deal with Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel (Jindal) to establish a sustainable end-to-end transport logistics solution between Jindal’s steel complex at Sohar Port and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), via the UAE-Oman Rail Network. The deal is a...

Tehran, Iran - Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched naval drills on Wednesday near strategic Gulf islands controlled by Iran but claimed by the United Arab Emirates, state media said. The manoeuvres, which were being held mainly near Abu Musa island but also around Greater and Lesser Tunb, came two weeks after the...

The country ascends four spots in Kearney's 2023 Global Services Location Index, reflecting its thriving business environment and emergence as a tech hub with 4,000+ startups.

Muscat, Oman-- Oman's inflation rate increased by 2.8 percent in 2022 as the consumers price index (CPI) registered 109.7 points compared to 106.7 points in 2021. According to the data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), there was a rise in the prices of main groups...

New customers and projects were added in H1 2023.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Thursday that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) to expand cooperation and investment between the two entities, enabling new investments in Oman’s rapidly growing economy. The MoU provides incentives for PIF...

Deal will provide firm access to capital in dual currencies.

PIF ranked seventh with a score of 92 (on the GSR score of 100), followed by Mubadala (88), among the SWFs. Regionally, the Middle East saw the biggest improvement from 32 percent in 2020 to 52 percent in 2023. It said Saudi PIF is managing to make its unparalleled growth sustainable by...

Muscat, Oman--Oman's gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices recorded an increase of 4.7 per cent to reach $22.59 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2023. The GDP at constant price was $21.71 billion in the first quarter of 2022, according to the initial data issued by...

Iran said it was hoping indirect talks with the United States could lead to a "positive" outcome for a prisoner swap. Iran announced earlier this month that it was engaged in Oman-mediated talks with its arch-nemesis the United States over its nuclear deal and a possible prisoner exchange.

MUSCAT, OMAN - Oman announced the seizure of over six million captagon pills during a bust aided by Saudi Arabia that resulted in the arrest of a smuggling network. "In cooperation with Saudi authorities", police in the sultanate tracked and ambushed an "international network that was smuggling large quantities of drugs...

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's visit to the UAE followed stops in Qatar, Kuwait and Oman -- the latest in a flurry of diplomatic moves by Tehran as it seeks to reduce its isolation, improve its economy and project strength. He discussed "bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation" with UAE President Sheikh...

ran said last week it had been engaged in indirect negotiations with the United States through Oman, with nuclear issues, US sanctions and detainees on the agenda. The following day, Iran's nuclear negotiator said he had met with diplomats from three European countries in Abu Dhabi to discuss a number...

Tehran, Iran-- Looking to give a further boost to the relations between the two countries, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Doha to discuss bilateral relations, as well as major regional and international developments, with high-ranking Qatari officials. Amir-Abdollahian left Tehran for Qatar’s capital late Monday on an official...

MUSCAT, OMAN - Oman’s economic growth is expected to rebound to 2.7 percent in 2024 but will slip in 2023 to 1.3 percent, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday. The projections reflect the oil production cuts by OPEC+, moderate growth in the non-hydrocarbon sector and a slowdown in...

Muscat, Oman - The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are playing a critical role in ushering in Oman's shift towards a low carbon economy, a report released by Tejarah Talks has revealed. The report highlights the significance of eco-innovation, eco-adoption, and eco-entrepreneurship in harnessing the potential of SMEs to contribute...

Muscat, Oman - India and Oman trade in 2022 reached $9.98 billion reflecting the deepening economic and commercial ties between the two nations.  The nearly 90 percent growth in trade compared to the previous year highlights the strong demand for Indian goods and services in Oman, coupled with growing investment...

Iran said it has continued indirect negotiations with the Unites States through the Sultanate of Oman over its nuclear deal and a possible prisoner swap. Iran's nuclear program has long been the subject of scrutiny from Western powers, resulting in sanctions that have crippled the country's economy.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia and Oman have launched a joint tourist visa to boost trade and investment cooperation in tourism-related projects. The unified tourist visa between the two countries was one of the several initiatives agreed upon at a high-level meeting held between officials of the two countries.  The new...

Muscat, Oman-- Looking to entice investors to the country's fisheries sector, Fisheries Development Oman (FDO) is taking part in Saudi International Marine Exhibition and Conference (SIMEC) event, Aquafish Second Edition, with a plan to highlight Oman's flourishing fishing industry and lucrative investment opportunities it offers. The event, taking place from...

One Dane and two Austrian-Iranian citizens released from detention by Tehran arrived in their home countries, after the latest in a series of prisoner swaps. The three Europeans had landed at Melsbroek military airport just outside Brussels. They had flown there from Muscat, the capital of Oman which helped broker...

Iran released one Danish and two Austrian-Iranian citizens it had been holding after mediation by Oman, and they are being flown to Belgium, said the country's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. This comes a week after Tehran freed a Belgian aid worker in exchange for an Iranian diplomat who was...

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he would welcome a resumption of diplomatic relations with Egypt, during a meeting with Oman's visiting Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. Ties between Tehran and Cairo soured following the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and Egypt's recognition of Israel, the Islamic republic's sworn enemy.

His trip comes just two days after Tehran freed Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele from almost 15 months in custody in exchange for diplomat Assadollah Assadi, who was held in Belgium over a 2018 plot to bomb an Iranian opposition rally outside Paris. Oman helped facilitate the prisoner swap

Iran freed Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele after almost 15 months in custody, in a prisoner exchange for an Iranian diplomat convicted of terrorism. Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said the 42-year-old had arrived in Oman and added: "If all goes to plan, he'll be with us this evening....

The new envoy, Alireza Enayati, previously served as Iran's ambassador to Kuwait, assistant to the foreign minister and director general of Gulf affairs at the foreign ministry, the English-language Iran Daily said. There was no immediate confirmation of his appointment from the foreign ministry of the Islamic republic.

Oman has close ties with Iran and played a mediating role between Tehran and Washington in the build-up to a nuclear deal reached in 2015. Stop-start talks began in April last year to restore the deal, after the US unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, prompting Tehran to roll back...

Alqasmi, who has published four novels and 10 poetry collections, is the first Omani winner of the prize, now in its 16th year. He was announced this year's winner at a ceremony in the United Arab Emirates' capital of Abu Dhabi.

Cairo, Egypt--Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tareq reviewed bilateral relations and regional issues in talks in Cairo on SUnday. The two leaders shared views on the importance of intensifying efforts to protect the interests of Arab peoples, Presidency Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said. Before the summit...

Iran said it is capable of ensuring the safety of the vital Gulf waters in cooperation with neighboring countries. Iran and its neighboring countries are capable of cooperating for the security of the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman," Iran's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces,...

Manama, Bahrain - Beyon has announced a major investment of more than $250 million in state-of-the-art digital infrastructure in Bahrain which will support the growth of the country’s digital economy.  Batelco, part of the Beyon group, has joined the SEA-ME-WE 6 (Southeast Asia - Middle East - Western Europe) consortium,...

The GCC is the third largest source of foreign investment in Turkey, with 1,973 Gulf companies currently operating in the country.

Muscat, Oman - Moody's has upgraded Oman's credit rating from Ba3 to Ba2 while maintaining a positive outlook due to the reduction in public debt and the improvement in the Sultanate's ability to meet its financial obligations in 2022. This comes after S&P revised Oman's outlook from stable to positive...

Dubai, UAE-- Oman and Etihad Rail Company, the operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Network, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vale, the Brazilian mining giant, to look at the possibility of using the rail network in the transportation of iron ore. The MoU was signed by Ahmed al...

ABU DHABI, UAE- Oman and Etihad Rail Company signed an agreement with Vale, one of the world’s largest mining companies, to explore utilizing rail to transport iron ore and its derivatives between Oman and the UAE. It is likely to connect Vale’s industrial complex in Sohar Port and Freezone to...

The Kingdom holds 323.1 tons of gold, accounting for 21.4% of the total yellow metal held by central banks in the Arab countries. Qatar, UAE and Kuwait are also regional leaders.

Tehran, Iran-- Oman is keen to improve the military and defense ties with Iran in order to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman. This was stated by Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik in a meeting in Muscat on Tuesday with the visiting...

Muscat, Oman--The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has raised $36.35 million by way of allotting treasury bills on Tuesday, the bank said in a statement. The statement said the value of the allotted treasury bills amounted to $26 million, for a maturity period of 28 days. The average accepted price...

Muscat, Oman -- Pakistan and Oman have agreed to boost air travel between the two countries' airports, reports said. The agreement came after a series of meetings in the Pakistani capital held by officials from both nations. An Omani delegation, led by Naif Ali Al Abri, Chairman of the Civil...

Muscat, Oman -- ahlibank of Oman has reported a profit of 8.4 million RO ($21.84 million) in the first quarter of 2023, an 11.1 percent increase over the same period in 2022. The customer deposits grew by 7.3 percent, reaching RO 2.33 billion during the first quarter, compared to the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- Becht, an American engineering services company, has revealed that it is in talks with potential partners in Saudi Arabia in order to widen its presence in the region. According to its director for the Middle East, Chris Van Der Beek, Becht is also holding discussions with potential...

Previous attacks have been blamed on Somali pirates but they have fallen in recent years as a result of international security operations. Pirate attacks fell to their lowest level in nearly three decades in 2021, according to the International Maritime Bureau watchdog.

The US Navy demanded the immediate release of the tanker, saying it was transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman and slammed Iran's "continued harassment of vessels". It is one of a spate of incidents since 2018, when then US president Donald Trump pulled out of a nuke pact...

Since the beginning of 2023 alone, three digital and physical platforms have been launched by Qatar, Oman and Kuwait to facilitate investments by foreigners and the local private sector.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 over Assad's brutal crackdown of pro-democracy protests. But on Wednesday, in the latest sign of an easing in tensions with Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah, the first such visit since the war began.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, diplomatically isolated since the start of the Syrian war in 2011, has visited the UAE and Oman over the past two months. An Arab League summit is expected to be held in Riyadh in May.

The delegation's arrival comes roughly a month after China helped broker a surprise rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, fuelling hopes for progress on ending the Yemen conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Omani mediators arrived in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on Saturday.

MUSCAT, OMAN  -   Oman Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion on Sunday  issued an order to regulate the activities of consumer cooperatives. The order aims at promoting Omani products, establishing new supply chains, supporting national industries, developing governorates and providing new investment opportunities. The regulation consummates the "National Product...

Nearly a decade of war in Yemen has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, both directly and indirectly, and triggered what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The Huthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, triggering the conflict with the government backed for eight years by...

Reza Noshadi, who heads the National Iranian Gas Company’s engineering subsidiary, said that Iran will be able to export gas to Oman through the 200-kilometer pipeline from Minab to Kuhmobarak.