MUSCAT: Muscat International Airport handled 6,233,954 passengers in the first half of 2025, marking a 2.4 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Flight operations also fell by 6.9 percent, with 44,743 flights recorded versus 48,052 in the previous year. This decline reflects a slowdown in international travel activity, influenced by regional and…
MUSCAT: Carlos Queiroz will take charge of Oman’s national football team for the crucial fourth round of the AFC qualifiers in October, where the team will face Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in Group A. Known for his stints with Real Madrid and as an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Queiroz…
MUSCAT: The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) index recorded a positive performance in today’s session, rising from its previous close of 4,809.44 points, signaling a boost in investor sentiment. The increase suggests that market participants are regaining confidence following recent volatility, with a number of key sectors contributing to the upward movement. This improvement in the…
MUSCAT: Western parts of Yanqul witnessed heavy rainfall today, marking a noticeable shift in local weather patterns as monsoon activity continues to influence conditions across several regions of Oman. Residents reported consistent showers over a period of several hours, which led to water runoff in valleys and low-lying areas. Although no major flooding incidents were…
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has extended heartfelt condolences to President John Dramani Mahama of the Republic of Ghana following a tragic military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region, southern Ghana. The incident claimed the lives of several high-ranking officials, including the Ministers of Defence, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. His Majesty expressed…
MUSCAT: Oman is among the very few places on Earth where the critically endangered Arabian leopard continues to survive in its natural habitat. The rugged Dhofar Mountains provide an ideal refuge for this elusive big cat, offering dense vegetation, rugged terrain, and sufficient prey to sustain its small population. Despite global declines caused by habitat…
MUSCAT: The ‘Mustaqil’ programme, launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the SMEs Development Authority (Riyada), aims to instil a culture of entrepreneurship and independent work among school students in Oman. Running from July 7 to September 18, 2025, the three-month programme is being held in 11 institutions across the Sultanate, including Sohar…
MUSCAT: As part of her continued oversight of higher education institutions in the Sultanate, Her Excellency paid a visit to the college to monitor its academic and administrative advancements. The visit provided her with an opportunity to review ongoing developments, assess institutional performance, and evaluate how the college is aligning with national education goals. Her…
MUSCAT: The price of Oman crude oil for October 2025 delivery recorded a slight decline on Thursday, settling at 69.31 US dollars per barrel. This marks a decrease of 95 cents compared to Wednesday’s rate of 70.26 dollars. The drop comes amid continued volatility in global oil markets driven by mixed signals around demand recovery,…
MUSCAT: As part of its implementation of the third phase of Ministerial Decision No. 8/2024, the Environment Authority has launched an awareness campaign aimed at promoting the reduction of plastic shopping bag usage in North Al Sharqiyah. The campaign, led by the Environment Department in the governorate, kicked off with visits to key traditional markets,…
