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Tag: Oman

  • Oman announces 14-day visa-free entry to tourists

    Oman announces 14-day visa-free entry to tourists

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    Muscat: Oman has announced that it is offering visa-free entry for up to 14 days for the people of 103 countries, local media reported.

    The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has published a list of countries whose nationals are eligible for this new policy.

    Countries include

    • Portugal
    • Sweden
    • Norway
    • Italy
    • Bulgaria
    • Switzerland
    • Croatia
    • Hungary
    • Serbia
    • Georgia
    • Denmark
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Iceland
    • Belgium
    • Romania
    • Slovenia
    • Finland
    • Luxembourg
    • Malta
    • Monaco
    • Cyprus
    • Ukraine
    • Spain
    • Czech Republic
    • Austria
    • Ireland
    • United Kingdom
    • Poland
    • Slovakia
    • France
    • Netherlands
    • Venezuela
    • Colombia
    • Uruguay
    • Paraguay
    • Argentina
    • Brazil
    • Japan
    • Thailand
    • South Africa
    • Russia
    • China
    • United States of America
    • Turkey
    • South Korea
    • New Zealand
    • Iran
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • Taiwan
    • Canada
    • Malaysia
    • Singapore

    However, some Indian tourists can also obtain a visa on arrival, provided that they have an entry visa to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Schengen countries or Japan, or have a residence permit in one of the Gulf countries and work in a profession approved by the Omani government.

    As per media reports, the tourists from 103 countries now have the option to extend their visa-free stay in Oman for more than 14 days, with a fee applicable for the extension.

    After the specified period, travellers from these countries must apply online for an e-Visa at a cost of 20 Omani Riyals (Rs 4,280) for one month.

    The move aims to encourage more tourists to visit Oman.

    In recent years, this country has made efforts to develop its tourism industry with the aim of diversifying the economy and reducing reliance on oil revenues.

    According to the report of the National Statistics and Information Center, the Sultanate of Oman saw a 348 percent increase in tourists in 2022 compared to 2021, and 2.9 million tourists entered Oman in 2022.

    Oman has also witnessed an increase in domestic tourism, with an increase in festive events across the governorates, which were jointly hosted by Amran and the governorate administrations.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Iraq, Oman welcome restoration of Saudi Arabia-Iran ties

    Iraq, Oman welcome restoration of Saudi Arabia-Iran ties

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    Riyadh: Iraq and Oman welcomed on Friday the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to re-establish diplomatic ties, media reported.

    The countries earlier on Friday said they would also open embassies and exchange ambassadors within a period of two months, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

    Iraq hailed “turning a new page” between Riyadh and Tehran, the country’s state press agency said on Friday. Oman also welcomed the plans, its foreign ministry said.

    Saudi Arabia and Iran had thanked both Oman and Iraq for hosting previous talks in 2021 and 2022, Al Arabiya reported.

    Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties, reopen embassies and exchange ambassadors within a period of two months, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Friday, Al Arabiya reported.

    The decision to re-establish relations, which were severed in 2016, came following talks that took place from March 6 through March 10 in Beijing, SPA reported citing a trilateral statement issued by the Kingdom, Iran and China.

    “Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to respect state sovereignty and not interfere in internal matters,” the statement said, adding that the two countries’ foreign ministers will meet soon to arrange for the exchange of envoys and discuss means to enhance ties, Al Arabiya reported.

    Riyadh and Tehran also agreed to activate the security cooperation agreement signed in 2001 and the trade, economy and investment agreement signed in 1998.

    According to the statement, China’s President Xi Jinping had made an initiative to host and sponsor talks between delegates from Iran and Saudi Arabia to resolve disputes via dialogue and diplomacy, Al Arabiya reported.

    The Saudi delegation was headed by Minister of State and National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, while the Iranian delegation was headed by Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

    During the talks, China was represented by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

    Saudi Arabia and Iran thanked China for hosting and sponsoring the recent talks and for the efforts exerted to help them succeed. They also thanked Iraq and Oman for hosting dialogue sessions between the two countries’ representatives in 2021 and 2022, Al Arabiya reported.

    “Saudi Arabia, Iran and China are keen on making all (necessary) efforts to strengthen regional and international peace and security.”

    Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran after two of its diplomatic posts were attacked in Tehran and Mashhad in 2016.

    (Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Israeli carriers can fly directly to India with Oman opening its airspace: Netanyahu

    Israeli carriers can fly directly to India with Oman opening its airspace: Netanyahu

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    Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday welcomed the authorisation for Israeli carriers to fly over Oman as a “great day” for the aviation industry as it will connect the country directly with India and also help establish Israel as the main transit point between Asia and Europe.

    “The Far East is not so far away and the skies are no longer the limit”, Netanyahu said in a statement after receiving the Omani authorisation.

    “This is a day of great news for Israeli aviation. Israel has, in effect, become the main transit point between Asia and Europe”, the Israeli prime minister added.

    Israel received authorisation from Saudi Arabia and the Israeli leader said that he worked since his 2018 visit to Oman on getting permission for Israeli carriers to fly over its airspace so that they could go directly to India and onwards to Australia.

    Oman and Israel do not have diplomatic ties.

    “This was achieved today, after considerable effort, including in recent months. Here is good news Israel is opening up to the east on an unprecedented scale”, Netanyahu stressed.

    Until now, Israeli airlines’ flights to East Asia, India and Thailand were forced to fly south to avoid the Arabian Peninsula a route that added two and a half hours and wasted expensive fuel, local media reported.

    With the Omani announcement, Israeli flights can shave off two to four hours to popular destinations like India and Thailand.

    The development could potentially reduce ticket prices as well, given that airlines would save money on fuel.

    Air India has been flying from Tel Aviv to Delhi directly using Saudi and Omani airspace, which saves time and makes the flights much more cost-efficient.

    Last year Saudi Arabia allowed Israeli airlines to use its airspace but because Omani airspace was closed, Israeli carriers could not use the route to fly to Asia. The Saudi Arabian decision came after United States President Joe Biden visited the region last year.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Minimum salary for expats to bring families reduced in Oman

    Minimum salary for expats to bring families reduced in Oman

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    Oman: Minimum salary required for expats to bring families reduced

    Muscat: In a major step aimed at promoting family reunification and attracting skilled foreign workers, Oman has reduced the minimum salary requirement for expatriates to obtain a family visa, local media reported.

    The Royal Oman Police (ROP) said the salary threshold for family visas has been reduced by more than 50 per cent.

    As per a report by Times of Oman, previously, expatriates had to earn 600 OMR (Rs 1,29,087) per month to obtain visas for family members. Now, need to earn just 300 OMR (Rs 64,543) per month to qualify for a dependent visa.

    The new policy also empowers sponsors to determine their family status as they can better assess their ability to support their family in Oman.

    The reduction in the salary ceiling is expected to have a positive impact on the welfare of expatriate workers and their families as they can now reunite and build a more stable life in Oman.

    The decision to reduce the salary requirement is expected to provide a significant boost to the Omani economy by attracting skilled workers.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Indian defence secretary meets delegations from Oman, US, Saudi

    Indian defence secretary meets delegations from Oman, US, Saudi

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    New Delhi: Union Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane on Sunday held bilateral meetings with three defence delegations on the sidelines of Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Defence.

    Aramane met General Manager Industrial Relations Saudi Arabia Engr Turki Saad and held discussions on a number of bilateral defence cooperation issues. The US delegation led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Jedijiah P. Royal, and accompanied by Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, charge d’affairs US Embassy and US Air Force, met Defence Secretary Julian Cheator and the Union Defence Secretary.

    Later Aramane also met another delegation from Oman led by Secretary General Ministry of Defence Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, reviewing the ongoing defence cooperation. During the meeting with the Union Defence Secretary, the discussions centred on increasing the depth and scope of engagements.

    Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Aero India at Bengaluru on Monday. Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, led the Gurukul formation during the flypast at the inaugural ceremony of the mega air show.

    The five-day event will focus on displaying indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the theme of Aero India 2023 is ‘The Runway to a Billion Opportunities’.

    The event will also help integrate domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production.

    Aero India 2023 has enlisted participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023.

    The event will also see the participation of more than 800 defence companies, including about 100 foreign and 700 Indian firms.

    Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen and Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited. 

    (Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Delhi: Passenger from Oman smuggles gold worth Rs 80L in mixer; held

    Delhi: Passenger from Oman smuggles gold worth Rs 80L in mixer; held

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    Delhi: Passenger from Oman hid gold over Rs 80 lakh in mixer

    New Delhi: The Indian customs officials have confiscated 1,749 grams of smuggled gold worth more than Rs 80,97,625 hidden in a mixer from a passenger travelling from Oman.

    The undeclared gold was confiscated from an Indian passenger arriving from Oman at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

    “@AirportGenCus have arrested one Indian national passenger returning from Muscat after 6 irregular shaped gold pieces weighing around 1749 gms valued at Rs 85.5 lakhs was found concealed in a mixer,” Delhi Customs tweeted on January 19.

    “The said smuggled gold has been seized and further investigation is on,” Delhi Customs added.

    Officials regularly catch passengers trying to smuggle gold into the country.

    On December 31, Indian customs officials confiscated nearly 1,947 grams of gold from a passenger who was travelling to Delhi from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )