August 17 deadline to register for Oman Majlis Ash’shura polls
MUSCAT- The Ministry of Interior has set an August 17 deadline for citizens to register to vote in Majlis Ash’shura elections later this year.
August 9th, 2011
Rare photographs of Sultan Qaboos on display
MUSCAT – A photography exhibition featuring unique and rare photographs of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said by royal photographer Salim Al Hashli opened here on Tuesday.
Call to switch off electric gadgets before going on vacations
MUSCAT- Authorities here have urged citizens and residents to follow guidelines that they said could drastically minimise risks of fire breaking out at homes.
Bahrain arrests Briton in air security scare
DUBAI – Bahrain security forces arrested a British man on suspicion of carrying explosives aboard a plane, but a search of the aircraft failed to find any, the interior ministry said on Tuesday.
Egypt women demand equal rights in new charter
CAIRO – Fifteen Egyptian groups called on Wednesday for women’s rights to be guaranteed in the new constitution, after a popular uprising that toppled the regime paved the way for a new charter.
Semi-submerged resort planned off Qatari coast
A semi-submerged extravagant resort project is planned on the Qatari coast, at a cost of $500m. News reports have said that the Amphibious 1000, which will be built in the middle of a marine reserve, is being designed by the Italian firm Giancarlo Zema Design Group. The project will feature both land and sea developments including four giant hotels with underwater rooms that resemble super-yachts.
Dubai hotels see benefit from region unrest
According to figures from accountancy firm Ernst and Young, Dubai hotels have recorded the highest revenue per room (RevPAR) in the Middle East in June 2011 over the same period last year, Gulf News has reported. Dubai hotels’ rooms yield reached $119 (Dhs437) in June 2011 over $107 in June last year. Occupancy levels for the emirate’s hotels were the highest in the period at 75.9%, up almost 6% from 69.9% in June last year. However, Abu Dhabi hotels saw rooms yield decline by 11% year-on-year in June 2011, recording RevPAR of $116 in June 2011 compared with $130 last June.
Saudi punishes 257 hotels for tariff violations
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has booked 257 hotels and furnished apartments in the Makkah region for tariff violations since the beginning of the summer vacation, Saudi Gazette has reported. With a total of 112, violations were highest in Jeddah, followed by 85 registered in Makkah and 60 in Taif.
Saudi reports 45% increase in Umrah traffic
The Saudi Haj ministry has said the number of Umrah pilgrims has increased 45% this year after issuing more than 5.18 million visas for the minor pilgrimage, Arab News has reported. “As many as 3,855,564 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah since the beginning of the Umrah season this year,” the ministry said. “By next month, 1,330,636 more Umrah pilgrims are expected to arrive,” it added.
MAF Properties begins work on $1bn Syrian project
Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Properties has commenced work on the first phase of its $1bn mixed-use project in Syria despite the current situation in the country, Khaleej Times has reported. The first phase of the Khams Shamat project, which will be developed through multiple phases in the Yaafour district, west of the Syrian capital Damascus, is scheduled to be completed in 2014. MAF Properties CEO Peter Walichnowski has said that the first stage of laying down the infrastructure and foundations for phase one of the project commenced on July 27, 2011.