http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/countries/omanen-usCopyright 2012 Zawya Ltd. All rights reserved.Wed, 16 May 2012 04:03:00 GMT5014476http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/countries/omanhttp://www.zawya.com/images/newsletter_zawya_logo.gifhttp://www.zawya.com/story/UAE_accounts_for_31_of_GCC_banking_assets-ZAWYA20120516040329/The UAE banks have the largest share of banking assets in the GCC that rose by 8.9% in 2011 to USD 1.46 trillion, equivalent to 106% of regional gross domestic product, or GDP. Wed, 16 May 2012 06:58:05 GMTKhaleej Times ZAWYA20120516040329Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Gemalto_secures_eGovernment_services_for_Oman-ZAWYA20120515114217/Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, announces it has been appointed by Oman Information Technology Authority (ITA) as prime contractor to secure the country's eGovernment services.Tue, 15 May 2012 14:35:50 GMTPress Release ZAWYA20120515114217Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/GBCM_Bank_Nizwa_SAOG__Under_Transformation_15May12-pdf_150512141118/Banking sector under?penetrated in Oman, Potential for Growth remains strongFirst dedicated Islamic Bank in Oman, to tap the virgin market for Islamic banking products and servicesMarket Research suggests substantial Demand for Islamic Products and services in OmanCentral Bank yet to release specific regulations related to the sector, uncertainty a cause for concernShortage of trained human resources in Islamic Banking Industry in Oman may lead to higher HR costsIPO at par value; Stronger Retail Participation anticipated, could lead to listing gainsBanking sector under?penetrated in Oman, Potential for Growth remains strongFirst dedicated Islamic Bank in Oman, to tap the virgin market for Islamic banking products and servicesMarket Research suggests substantial Demand for Islamic Products and services in OmanCentral Bank yet to release specific regulations related to the sector, uncertainty a cause for concernShortage of trained human resources in Islamic Banking Industry in Oman may lead to higher HR costsIPO at par value; Stronger Retail Participation anticipated, could lead to listing gainsBanking sector under?penetrated in Oman, Potential for Growth remains strongFirst dedicated Islamic Bank in Oman, to tap the virgin market for Islamic banking products and servicesMarket Research suggests substantial Demand for Islamic Products and services in OmanCentral Bank yet to release specific regulations related to the sector, uncertainty a cause for concernShortage of trained human resources in Islamic Banking Industry in Oman may lead to higher HR costsIPO at par value; Stronger Retail Participation anticipated, could lead to listing gainsTue, 15 May 2012 13:25:00 GMTGulf Baader Capital Markets pdf_150512141118Subscriptionhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_to_add_more_than_2000_resort_and_hotel_rooms_in_201213-ZAWYA20120515102842/Oman's resort and hotel portfolio continues to expand with over 2,000 additional rooms scheduled for opening in 2012/ 2013. Muscat sees the most growth with the addition of 726 rooms, while niche resorts are set to open in Salalah, Khasab and in the high altitude Hajar Mountains.Tue, 15 May 2012 11:04:12 GMTPress Release ZAWYA20120515102842Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/GCC_to_further_discuss_union_proposal-ZAWYA20120515050433/Leaders agreed to allow more time for further discussions over a proposal to turn the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council into a union, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said after a GCC leaders' summit.Tue, 15 May 2012 10:47:12 GMTThe Saudi Gazette ZAWYA20120515050433Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/OmanChina_bilateral_trade_surges_almost_50_in_2011-ZAWYA20120515065504/Higher global oil prices and Oman's increasing demand for heavy machinery and construction equipment have driven up bilateral trade between the sultanate and China by almost 50% to record levels.Tue, 15 May 2012 10:40:15 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120515065504Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Two_new_hotel_projects_coming_up_in_Jebel_Akhdar-ZAWYA20120515063326/Popular tourist destination Jebel Akdhar will see two new hotels coming up. Construction on these projects has begun. The hotels - at Hail Misbhat and near Diana Point - will cater to tourists flocking to the mountains for respite from heat.Tue, 15 May 2012 10:33:02 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120515063326Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_records_17_rise_in_tourists_from_Saudi_Arabia-ZAWYA20120515074013/Oman records 17 per cent increase in Saudi passenger arrivals in 2011.The Sultanate of Oman's Ministry of Tourism has announced it will participate at the Riyadh Travel Fair 2012, a key networking event for leading travel and tourism companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and many other countries, to be held in Riyadh from 15 to 18 May, 2012.Tue, 15 May 2012 09:05:20 GMTTimes of Oman ZAWYA20120515074013Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/BMI_Middle_East_and_Africa_Food_and_Drink_May12-pdf_150512090206/BMI’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) ratings assess a market’s attractiveness to industry investors in comparison with its peers. The reward part of the rating takes into account market size, current consumption levels, future industry growth prospects (based on our five-year industry forecasts), market fragmentation (with greater fragmentation indicating higher opportunities) and the size of the youth population. Meanwhile, the risk part of the rating takes into account the legislative environment, the level of development of the organised retail sector (with higher development leading to lower risks), as well as relevant aspects of the economic and political environment.Tue, 15 May 2012 08:58:00 GMTBusiness Monitor International Limited pdf_150512090206Subscriptionhttp://www.zawya.com/story/BMI_Middle_East_and_Africa_Oil_and_Gas_May12-pdf_150512085021/BMI View: The oil market will once again be tight in 2012, though the pressure should ease towards the latter half of the year as production starts to catch up with demand. This supply tightness has contributed to elevated oil prices and a high level of price volatility since 2010, which we expect to see again in 2012.Tue, 15 May 2012 08:47:00 GMTBusiness Monitor International Limited pdf_150512085021Subscriptionhttp://www.zawya.com/story/BMI_Middle_East_and_Africa_Telecommunications_May12-pdf_150512084547/Mobile content in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is evolving rapidly as a result of strong uptake of smartphones and mobile data services, as well as operators' moves to expand their revenue streams through value-added services (VAS) amid declining revenue growth from basic services. BMI notes that the development of mobile content in region is mainly homogenous, with a mixture of telecoms crossovers such as m-health and m-banking, and internet-based mobile applications, apart from a handful of markets where 3G network services have not been launched. Meanwhile, there are clear signs that VAS are also becoming increasingly important to businesses. BMI believes this development is the main driver growing investments in corporate mobile content such as machine-to-machine (M2M).Tue, 15 May 2012 08:41:00 GMTBusiness Monitor International Limited pdf_150512084547Subscriptionhttp://www.zawya.com/story/UTICOs_500m_utility_projects_being_reviewed-ZAWYA20120515073938/UTICO, part of the $3 billion Ghantoot Group, in February had announced a $500 million investment in Oman's hospitality, water and energy sectors.Tue, 15 May 2012 08:31:33 GMTTimes of Oman ZAWYA20120515073938Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Pure_Gold_revenue_climbs_20_in_Q1-ZAWYA20120515043337/Pure Gold Jewellers announced that its first-quarter revenue increased 20% compared to the corresponding period last year, with 28% due to higher volume sales in diamond jewellery and around 19% attributed to gold jewellery sales. Tue, 15 May 2012 07:11:41 GMTKhaleej Times ZAWYA20120515043337Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/NBO_launches_Middle_Management_Development_Programme-ZAWYA20120515033521/NBO Academy of Excellence recently launched its flagship "NBO Middle Management Development Programme".Tue, 15 May 2012 06:29:10 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120515033521Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/GCC_warns_Iran_against_meddling-ZAWYA20120515031111/A consultative meeting of GCC leaders chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah agreed to give more time to work out details of the proposed Gulf Union. Tue, 15 May 2012 05:35:48 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120515031111Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/GCC_assets_surge_USD456bn_in_2011-ZAWYA20120515030757/A surge in oil prices and region's crude production boosted the net foreign assets of Gulf hydrocarbon producers by a whopping USD456 billion in 2011 to record their biggest asset increase since they began exporting oil.Tue, 15 May 2012 05:28:34 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20120515030757Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Fitch_puts_Oman_International_Bank_on_RWP_affirms_HSBC_Bank_Middle_East-ZAWYA20120514121333/Fitch Ratings has placed Oman International Bank's (OIB) Long-term and Short-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR), Viability Rating and Support Rating on Rating Watch Positive (RWP) and simultaneously affirmed HSBC Bank Middle East's (HBME) Long-term IDR at 'AA-'. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:34:19 GMTFitch Ratings ZAWYA20120514121333Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/OGC_Haya_Water_plan_to_partner_on_piped_gas_network-ZAWYA20120514062606/Waste water management company Haya Water is set to collaborate with Oman Gas Company (OGC) in laying a piped gas network for Muscat.Mon, 14 May 2012 09:50:30 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120514062606Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Loan_offered_for_Bank_Nizwa_IPO_investors-ZAWYA20120514072641/At least two leading Omani banks -" National Bank of Oman (NBO) and Oman Arab Bank (OAB) -" are offering credit facility for investors applying for the Bank Nizwa's RO60 million-initial public offering.Mon, 14 May 2012 07:45:54 GMTTimes of Oman ZAWYA20120514072641Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_LNG_revenues_soar_to_3963bn_in_2011-ZAWYA20120514031912/Oman LNG, the Sultanate's primary liquefied natural gas (LNG) company, has reported a hefty increase in revenues for fiscal 2011, which jumped 26.5 per cent to $3.963 billion from $3.131 billion a year earlier.Mon, 14 May 2012 07:43:59 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120514031912Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Fair_value_rating_for_Bank_Nizwa_IPO-ZAWYA20120514031952/As the deadline for the close of the initial public offering of the new-float Bank Nizwa is nearing, analysts give a fair value rating to the issue.Mon, 14 May 2012 07:43:13 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120514031952Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/BankDhofar_inks_deal_for_Islamic_Banking_system-ZAWYA20120514032418/BankDhofar recently named Path Solutions as its Core Banking System provider for its Islamic Banking operations. This system, entitled IMAL, is the first certified core banking system for the Bank's Islamic banking operations.Mon, 14 May 2012 07:42:55 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120514032418Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Airfares_on_MuscatNew_Delhi_route_to_increase_from_May_15-ZAWYA20120514061712/Airfares on the Muscat-Delhi sector will increase by around RO4 as the User Development Fee (UDF) at Delhi International Airport has been increased by 346 per cent, from May 15. "Muscat-Delhi fares will increase by RO3.8 from May 15," an official at a travel agency in Muscat said.Mon, 14 May 2012 07:26:46 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120514061712Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/New_water__power_development_to_have_lower_tariffs_in_Oman-ZAWYA20120514062013/In a move that could benefit consumers in Oman and the region, UTICO, a leading private utility developer in the Middle East, unveiled a utility development project that would lead to lower consumer tariffs and zero subsidies at the Oman Water and Power Summit 2012 that recently concluded.Mon, 14 May 2012 07:25:39 GMTPress Release ZAWYA20120514062013Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Omans_hotel_occupancy_rates_rise_in_Q1_says_EY-ZAWYA20120514062412/Average room rates and occupancy levels at hotels in Oman in the first quarter of 2012 improved from the year-ago period when the Arab Spring protests hit the sultanate, according to a report by Ernst & Young (E&Y).Mon, 14 May 2012 07:25:09 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120514062412Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Gulf_union_to_top_summit_agenda-ZAWYA20120514031414/Foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met here yesterday to draw up the agenda for the consultative meeting of the GCC heads of state.Mon, 14 May 2012 06:31:49 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120514031414Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Bahrain_PM_for_Gulf_union_opposition_wants_referendum-ANA20120513T145914ZTVD42/Bahrain's premier has backed Saudi Arabia's plan for the creation of a Gulf union, a report said, but the nation's Shiite opposition is demanding the proposal be put to a referendum.Mon, 14 May 2012 05:36:05 GMTAFP ANA20120513T145914ZTVD42Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Revenues_in_Oman_up_at_RO_185bn-ZAWYA20120513033257/The state's general revenues increased by 30.8 per cent by the end of February this year, registering RO 1.85 billion as compared to RO 1.42 billion during the corresponding period last year, according to statistics released by the department concerned (at the Ministry of National Economy).Sun, 13 May 2012 07:51:53 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120513033257Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/ODC_set_to_launch_slops_and_sludge_facility_at_Duqm-ZAWYA20120513033414/Oman Dry-dock Company (ODC) is set to shortly bring into operation a state-of-the-art reception plant for slops and sludge -- oily wastewater and residual waste oil collected from ships -- at its ship repair yard in Duqm.Sun, 13 May 2012 07:50:55 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120513033414Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_Air_cites_more_services_for_rise_in_lost_baggage-ZAWYA20120513050048/Responding to Muscat Daily's May 6 report (Oman Air struggling to store lost baggage), the national carrier has said that the bags were stored at its Headquarters II in Seeb as there has been a considerable increase in their numbers.Sun, 13 May 2012 06:25:54 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120513050048Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Talks_on_to_operate_CNG_public_transport_buses_on_Oman_roads-ZAWYA20120513050157/Oman, like rest of the region, is witnessing growing demand for a public transport system. Plans to ply CNG (compressed natural gas) buses in the sultanate are being discussed. MAN Lion's City bus, manufactured by German firm MAN Truck & Bus, is currently being tested in Abu Dhabi and the company is now eyeing Oman.Sun, 13 May 2012 06:24:53 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120513050157Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/VA_Tech_Wabag_secures_Sohar_desalination_plant_expansion_deal-ZAWYA20120513050245/Indian water-technology company VA Tech Wabag Limited recently won a contract for expansion of the desalination plant at the Sohar Industrial Port complex, taking the total value of the project to RO18mn.Sun, 13 May 2012 06:21:48 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120513050245Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Khimji_Ramdas_launches_insurance_broking_firm-ZAWYA20120513050241/Khimji Ramdas (KR) Group has launched Khimji Ramdas Insurance Services Company (KRIS), an insurance broking firm under the umbrella of the Khimji Ramdas Shipping Company, part of KR's projects and logistics group.Sun, 13 May 2012 06:21:01 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120513050241Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/National_Gas_signs_deal_to_acquire_Shell_Malaysias_LPG_business-ZAWYA20120513050332/National Gas Company (NGC) has signed a sale and purchase agreement with Shell Malaysia Trading Company through its Malaysian subsidiary NGC Energy Sdn Bhd, according to NGC's disclosure with Muscat Securities Market (MSM).Sun, 13 May 2012 06:20:04 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120513050332Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/PEIE_plans_solar_power_project_in_Sumail-ZAWYA20120513050754/The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) is planning to set up a solar power project in the Sumail Industrial Estate in collaboration with the Industrial Innovation Center (IIC).Sun, 13 May 2012 06:19:19 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120513050754Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Omantel_inaugurates_exclusive_outlet_in_Ruwi-ZAWYA20120513054253/Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), the leading integrated telecom service provider in Oman, has recently announced the official inauguration of the new outlet in Ruwi offering an array of Omantel fixed, mobile and internet services to individual and corporate customers.Sun, 13 May 2012 06:18:42 GMTTimes of Oman ZAWYA20120513054253Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/QNB_Group_Food_prices_are_high_globally_and_trending_up_in_the_GCC-ZAWYA20120513060841/Despite a slight easing in April, the price of food in global commodity markets remains near historic highs. In the GCC, retail food prices continue to trend upwards. QNB Group notes that the global food crisis that began in 2007 may be far from over.Sun, 13 May 2012 06:16:13 GMTPress Release ZAWYA20120513060841Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/GCC_eyes_high_commission_to_boost_integration-GN_12052012_130538/The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are expected to adopt tomorrow a proposal to establish a high commission to coordinate the decisions by the six member states, a Saudi daily reported.Sun, 13 May 2012 05:58:14 GMTGulf News GN_12052012_130538Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Gulf_leaders_to_mull_Saudibacked_union-ANA20120513T030713ZTUF51/Gulf leaders at a meeting in Riyadh on Monday will discuss a Saudi proposal to develop their six-nation council into a union, likely to start with the kingdom and unrest-hit Bahrain, officials said.Sun, 13 May 2012 04:53:59 GMTAFP ANA20120513T030713ZTUF51Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Gulf_leaders_to_discuss_BahrainSaudi_union_minister-ANA20120512T130852ZTTB38/Gulf leaders will discuss a proposal for a closer political union among them that could begin with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the Bahraini information minister said.Sat, 12 May 2012 13:57:08 GMTAFP ANA20120512T130852ZTTB38Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_CDs_worth_OMR219m_issued-ZAWYA20120512051612/Certificates of deposit Issue No. 767 tender was held at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) this week. Sat, 12 May 2012 07:33:43 GMTTimes of Oman ZAWYA20120512051612Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_Oil_and_gas_production_rises-ZAWYA20120512051254/Monthly report released by the Oil and Gas Ministry pointed out that the Sultanate's crude oil and condensates production in April 2012 amounted to 26,645,094 barrel or 888,170 barrel per day, a 1.97% rise in comparison with the same period 2011. Sat, 12 May 2012 07:32:54 GMTTimes of Oman ZAWYA20120512051254Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_Government_revenues_rise_by_578-ZAWYA20120512050820/Despite adverse global developments, the Omani economy continued to sustain the growth momentum in 2011, mainly driven by high crude oil prices in the international markets and monetary and fiscal policies.Sat, 12 May 2012 07:31:39 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120512050820Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Omani_banks_get_another_fillip-ZAWYA20120512050345/The Omani banking industry continues to remain sound, resilient and profitable. This has once again been ascertained by Moody's Investors Service, with the international body assigning stable outlook for the Omani banks.Sat, 12 May 2012 07:30:29 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120512050345Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_Making_the_case_for_1000_MW_hybrid_solar_power_project-ZAWYA20120512050230/The head of one of Oman's largest electricity distribution companies has mooted the idea of a large-scale solar thermal hybrid project based on a mix of renewable, conventional and non-conventional fuel sources, to help meet rapidly escalating domestic energy demand.Sat, 12 May 2012 07:29:15 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120512050230Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Oman_International_Bank_to_close_its_India_Pakistan_operations-ZAWYA20120512045933/Oman International Bank (OIB) has approved a decision to wind down its operations in India and Pakistan.Sat, 12 May 2012 07:28:24 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120512045933Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/TR_Oman_marks_milestone_with_execution_of_PDO_project-ZAWYA20120512045843/The Oman subsidiary of Técnicas Reunidas (TR), a Spanish-based international general contractor engaged in the engineering and construction of industrial facilities, has completed Petroleum Development Oman's (PDO) Saih Rawl Depletion Compression Project.Sat, 12 May 2012 07:27:38 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120512045843Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Khimji_Ramdas_launches_insurance_broking_services-ZAWYA20120512045753/Khimji Ramdas Group has announced the launch of Khimji Ramdas Insurance Services (KRIS) under the umbrella of the Khimji Ramdas Shipping LLC, part of the Projects and Logistics Group. Sat, 12 May 2012 07:26:04 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120512045753Open