Ahmed Ahmed for one night only

The ever-popular Craic Attack group is bringing Egyption born (but raised in America) comedian Ahmed Ahmed is bringing his Just Like Us tour to Muscat this Wednesday night.


Tickets cost RO 15 and available from all the usual outlets from today!

le fin.

More on the Oman Railway plan

Thanks to Alex Adams of Muscat Daily for the latest update on the Sultanates railway plan in today's Business section.

Pertinent facts of the railway line are:

• It will be 1000 KM long with sub-lines branching to feed various towns (eg Nizwa)
• It will be a dual line (one each way)
• Passenger trains will reach speeds of 200 KM/h
• Freight trains will reach speeds of 120 KM/h
• It will be a fully electrified line, allowing for upgrading in the future should it be required
• Expected passengers per day between Muscat and Batinah region to be 3000; between Muscat and Salalah, 1000 people per day.
• Expected freight to be exported to UAE each day around 11mn tonnes, and imported around 2.5mn tonnes.
• The tender for Construction is expected to be floated in Q4 of 2012 or Q1 of 2013, with completion slated for 2017

Additionally, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will be using Diesel trains on their rail networks, while Bahrain and Qatar will be joining Oman on the electrified route. I wonder how border crossings will work - in order to compete with air-travel, the immigration procedures will need to be streamlined. I also guess no direct trains will be available to the UAE - because of the different train technologies, a passenger will have to change trains at the border, a bit of an irritant.

Anyway it's exciting stuff, if you're sad like me and like trains.

le fin.

Halloween Party!

For anyone interested, there will be a pick-up game of touch rugby held on Shatti beach this Thursday at 4pm. Then at 8pm, the doors will open for the halloween party at the club. The drinks are cheaper here than any of the hotel bars in town, and there is a fantastic outdoor area with overhead fans to keep you cool. At RO 4 for non-members, and food and drink specials available, it should be a fun evening! You can buy tickets on the door.

le fin

Muscat International Airport MC3 awarded for RO 706 Million

Finally, after a Tender process of nearly 2 entire years, today the Tender board awarded the airport building contract (MC3) for RO 706 Million to the Contractor Bechtel. So here's a new logo to get used to seeing when driving past the airport:
What is strange about the award is that Bechtel were the most expensive of the three final Tenderers for the MC3 package, behind consortium's lead by CCC and J&P.

Now, I happen to currently be reading a book called "Confessions of an economic hitman" in which Bechtel are specifically being named as being a favoured Contractor with the US AID and similar aid organizations. Well worth a read if you have the time! Funnily enough, click here to see Bechtel's work in Iraq - the Client..... USAID!

Timing is a funny thing, sometimes. I wonder why Bechtel were awarded the job, when they were the highest of the three final tenderers? Technical expertise?

le fin.

British & Commonwealth Citizens oppurtunity to see The Queen

For those that have not received the email, I've published it in it's entirety here:

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will visit Oman on 25-28 November 2010, at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Sultan's reign and the strong relationship between Oman and the United Kingdom. There are two opportunities for members of the British and Commonwealth community to experience the visit (other events by invitation only). The attached letter explains what they are and how you can participate.

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HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S STATE VISIT TO OMAN, NOVEMBER 2010

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will visit Oman on 25-28 November 2010, at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of The Sultan’s reign and the strong relationship between Oman and the United Kingdom. The British Embassy would like as many members of the British and Commonwealth community as possible to have the opportunity to participate in the visit.

With this in mind, we have agreed with our Omani hosts that the public will have access to two events:

The Official Welcome: An opportunity to line the route as Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh drive past on their way to be greeted by His Majesty The Sultan at the start of the official programme. This will mean standing by the side of the road for around an hour and a half;

The Horse Show: The Sultan’s horses and some of the best horsemen and women in the country will perform for Their Majesties for just over an hour. All members of the audience will be seated, but will need to be in place for at least an hour before the show begins. The show will take place in the afternoon.

Both events are outside and will involve protracted waiting times, so may not be appropriate for very young children or those with special needs. For security reasons, we are not able to confirm precise timings or locations at this stage.

Since space is limited – 200 tickets for the Official Welcome and 300 for the Horse Show – we will hold a lottery to decide who gets a ticket. In order to give as many people as possible the chance to participate, please only specify attendance at one event or the other, not both.

If you wish to enter the lottery, please send the form below (click here for the form) to the Embassy’s Consular Section by fax: 2460 9011 or by email: muscat.consular@fco.gov.uk, by 14:30 on Monday 25 October.

Those successful in the lottery will be notified by email on Wednesday 27 October and will be given further details about the event they will participate in next month.

Noel Guckian

Dr Noel Guckian OBE

Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman

le fin.

Oman tourist visa price hiked from RO 6 to RO 20

Well it had to happen, and congratulations to Muscat Daily for covering it (coincidentally, when are they ever going to get around to making a website?) on their front page today.

Tourist Visit Visa's have been hiked from RO 6 to RO 20. A pretty sharp increase in the visa charge, but in line with the charges being levied by the UAE. Of course those carrying passports on the magic list don't have to pay the visa charges in the UAE, but will now have to pay RO 20 instead of previously RO 6 when coming to Oman now.

It'd be interesting to see the revenues generated from the visa fee. What do you lot think about the increase in fees?

le fin.

Craic Attack

Tonight at 8pm, the latest in the Craic Attack series gets under way. Tickets are a rather reasonable RO 12, and get there early to get a good seat - it's first come first serve.

You can get tickets from Al Fair, or call 9555 5699 for more information.

Have a great weekend everyone!

le fin.