Latest news with #OmaniNationals
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Asyad Shipping's training initiative strengthens Oman's status in global trade
MUSCAT - As part of Oman Vision 2040, Asyad Shipping has trained 230 Omani nationals to work on commercial vessels under a first-of-its-kind initiative launched in 2023. The programme is a strategic step forward towards bolstering Oman's maritime strength, accelerating Omanisation, and advancing the status of Oman on global trade routes. Out of the total trainees, 30 were posted as deck officers and engineers and 200 as assistant engineers and navigational support staff. Omanis are being systematically trained for such work at sea for the very first time, hitherto held by expatriates—reflecting a shift towards specialist national recruitment and long-term sustainable workforce. The work was highlighted at the Omani Seafarers Day event by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology as a national seafaring development success. Offered by intensive study in conjunction with hands-on practice on Asyad's ships, training gave participants the technical and operational skills they needed. The majority were successful in overcoming initial challenges in acclimating to ship life, assisted by other Omanis on the ship, which provided high esprit de corps and perseverance. Kamila al Wahaibi, the responsible official for Omani sailors at Asyad Shipping, said: "Oman Vision 2040 invites us to cultivate a skilled and competitive national talent pool. This effort not only prepares Omanis with essential maritime skills but also secures the future of our national shipping fleet by investing in domestic talent." In addition to being a national workforce initiative, the programme brings Oman into the main fold of global maritime trade. As global shipping lanes become more strategically valuable, Oman's location—at the crossroads of East-West trade—makes them an essential hub for logistics. Preparing Omanis to crew and manage commercial vessels directly addresses the nation's capacity to facilitate and grow as part of global networks in commerce. The initiative, led under the guidance of Asyad's leadership, is a poster child of public-private partnership, which reflects the pillars of Vision 2040's economic diversification, private sector empowerment, and human capital development. By opening new opportunities to the sea profession, Asyad is not only revamping Oman's transport and logistics sector but also playing its part in cementing the Sultanate of Oman's place in the global economy as an educated, connected, and competitive trade nation. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arabian Business
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Arabian Business
UAE, Bahrain and Oman evacuate citizens from Iran; more than 20 countries including India, China and US step up repatriation
The UAE, Bahrain, Oman and countries from across the world have stepped up efforts to evacuate citizens from Iran amid rising tensions in the region. The UAE evacuated a number of its nationals and residents from the Islamic Republic of Iran, in coordination with the relevant authorities. As part of its unwavering commitment to the safety of its nationals and residents, and in swift response to emergencies, the UAE successfully executed evacuation operations, which were coordinated and facilitated by the Iranian side, to ensure their safe return home. UAE among countries to evacuate citizens from Iran Furthermore, the UAE continues to engage in intensive calls and diplomatic consultations with the relevant and strategic partners, to de-escalate tensions and restore peace, stemming from a steadfast commitment to diplomacy and dialogue as the only viable path forward. This reflects the UAE's broader vision of fostering stability, justice, and prosperity for the peoples of the region. Meanwhile, Oman, in continuation of the efforts made by the Foreign Ministry to facilitate the repatriation of citizens from Iran, announced the safe return of 193 Omani nationals from Bandar Abbas Port to Khasab Port. The repatriation was secured as part of the third phase of the approved evacuation plan. In a humanitarian cooperation effort, this phase also included the repatriation of 158 nationals of other countries who were able to transit through Oman under the current circumstances. Additionally, 155 Omani citizens and a number of foreign nationals were safely repatriated by air from Iraq to Oman, as part of ongoing coordination with relevant authorities and the Omani Embassy in Baghdad. The Ministry, in cooperation with Oman's diplomatic missions abroad, continues to implement the evacuation plan to ensure the safe and secure return of all Omani citizens to their homeland. For its part Bahrain, in its ongoing efforts to facilitate the return of Bahraini citizens stranded abroad in countries affected by current developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deployed a team of Bahraini diplomats to Turkmenistan. The diplomats are overseeing and coordinating with the relevant Turkmen authorities to streamline entry procedures for Bahraini citizens stranded in the Islamic Republic of Iran, enabling their transit through Turkmenistan and onward travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain via Gulf Air, the national carrier. The Ministry also arranged transportation by bus from the city of Mashhad for citizens wishing to depart Iran by land. The regional repatriations come as more than 20 countries around the world are taking measures to evacuate their citizens from Israel and Iran as the two nations enter the seventh day of their air war and airspace in the region remains closed. Some countries temporarily closed their embassies, according to Reuters. Australia: Around 1,500 Australians in Iran have registered for assistance, with another 1,200 Australians in Israel seeking to leave Austria: 48 Austrians left Israel and about 100 Austrians asked to leave Iran Bulgaria: Sofia has evacuated 17 of its diplomats and their families from Iran to Azerbaijan and is planning to repatriate them by land and air, the Bulgarian government said on Thursday. It said an administration at the Bulgarian embassy in Tehran was moving temporarily to Baku China: China has evacuated more than 1,600 citizens from Iran and hundreds more from Israel, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday The Czech Republic: A plane carrying 66 people evacuated from Israel landed near the capital, Prague France: Paris will arrange convoy by the end of the week to get French nationals without their own means of doing so to the Turkish or Armenian borders from Iran to access airports in those countries, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday. French citizens in Israel will be able to board buses starting Friday morning Germany: The German Foreign Ministry said that 345 Germans left the Middle East after the country provided charter flights Greece: Greece has evacuated 16 of its nationals and their families by land from Iran to Azerbaijan and is now working on their repatriation to Greece, the foreign ministry said on Thursday India: So far 110 Indian students have been evacuated from northern Iran, having crossed over into Armenia on June 17, India's foreign ministry said Italy: 29 of the about 500 Italian nationals left Iran on Wednesday with assistance from the government, a diplomatic source said Japan: Japan's top government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Thursday Japan would send two Self-Defence Forces transport aircraft to Djibouti in eastern Africa in preparation for the evacuation of Japanese nationals from Iran and Israel. He also said the Japanese embassies in Israel and Iran were preparing to evacuate Japanese nationals to neighbouring countries by bus, with plans to implement evacuation as early as Thursday New Zealand: The government has temporarily closed its Tehran embassy and evacuated two staff and their family by land to Azerbaijan Poland: A group of Polish citizens evacuated from Iran landed in Warsaw on Thursday morning, ending the evacuation from the country, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson told journalists. The first plane evacuated from Israel landed in Warsaw on Wednesday morning and a second one is expected on Thursday afternoon from Amman, with 65 people on board Portugal: has temporarily shut its embassy in Iran and evacuated four of its citizens via Azerbaijan. It has received 130 repatriation requests from citizens in Israel and is organising a repatriation flight, expected to land in Portugal later on Thursday, the foreign ministry said Serbia: A group of 100 Serbs have fled Israel via Egypt, ambassador Miroljub Petrovic said on Thursday Sierra Leone: 36 of its citizens were evacuated to Armenia Slovakia: The first evacuation flight arrived in Bratislava on Monday, carrying 73 people, 25 tourists and five family members of diplomats working in Tel Aviv South Korea: Eighteen South Korean nationals and two of their family members who are Iranian nationals were evacuated by land from Iran, South Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday United States: The United States is working to evacuate U.S. citizens wishing to leave Israel by arranging flights and cruise ship departures, U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee said in a post on X
Times of Oman
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Who can become an Omani citizen?
To become an Omani citizen, an applicant must meet specific requirements and follow the procedures established by law. Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, a representative of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm, a leading law office in Oman, explained that applicants must fulfill strict eligibility criteria based on their category. For general foreigners, this includes legally residing in Oman for at least 15 consecutive years, fluency in reading and writing Arabic, proof of good conduct, a stable income, and a formal renunciation of any existing foreign nationality. Spouses of Omani citizens follow different rules. A foreign husband of an Omani woman must have been married for at least 10 years, have at least one child with his spouse, and meet the residency and language requirements. A foreign wife of an Omani man must demonstrate eight years of marriage, have one child, and be fluent in spoken Arabic, said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Founding Partner of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm. Widows and divorcees of Omani nationals have shorter residency requirements (six years for widows, eight years for divorcees), provided they have a child from the marriage and have not remarried a non-Omani. Children of Omani mothers may also qualify under specific circumstances involving custody and residency, the founding partner said. Another spokesperson from the law firm explained that applicants for Omani citizenship must provide various documents, including proof of residency, marriage or birth certificates, health clearance, income statements, and a written pledge to renounce other nationalities. These documents are submitted to the Ministry of Interior, which holds full authority over decisions and is not obligated to provide reasons for rejection. Citizenship matters are handled solely by the Ministry and cannot be challenged in Court. Approval is granted by Royal Decree, based on the recommendation of the Minister of Interior. Dual citizenship is rarely permitted. Once approved, citizenship is permanent unless revoked for fraud or national security concerns. Children automatically qualify through their Omani father, the expert said. (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm ([email protected]), (+968 244 87 600) was established 18 years ago and is serving clients through its offices in Muscat and Sohar, as well as operating on a request basis in other areas. It offers legal representation across a wide range of practice areas that include Labour Law, Corporate, Commercial, Contracts, Banking and Finance, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Insurance, Maritime Law, Construction and Engineering Contracts, International Arbitration, Intellectual Property and more).
Times of Oman
02-06-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Heritage ministry signs agreement to train national cadres in hotel reception etiquette
Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism today signed a partnership agreement to finance and implement an employment-linked training programme in the field of hotel reception etiquette. The training programme will be conducted in a number of hotel establishments in the Governorate of Dhofar. The agreement is the outcome of joint efforts to enhance the employment of Omani nationals in the tourism and hospitality sector. The training programme will be implemented in cooperation with Muscat Hospitality Academy as part of partnership with the internationally renowned Swiss Hotel Management School. The agreement constitutes a model for integration between the public and private sectors. It reflects ongoing efforts to support sustainable development in the tourism sector and to contribute to the national economy in the Sultanate of Oman. The agreement was a link in a series of projects being implemented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism to support and develop the tourism sector and achieve its vision for building a sustainable tourism sector that contributes to comprehensive development in the Sultanate of Oman.
Times of Oman
18-05-2025
- Times of Oman
Passengers travelling through Oman's airports exceed 3.5mn by end of March 2025
Muscat: The total number of passengers travelling through the airports of the Sultanate of Oman by the end of March 2025 reached 3,541,038, according to preliminary statistics issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Meanwhile, the total number of flights landing and departing from the airports of the Sultanate of Oman by the end of March 2025 reached 24,719 flights. The number of passengers through Muscat International Airport by the end of March 2025 reached 3,183,817 passengers compared to 3,482,325 passengers during the same period in 2024, constituting a decrease of 8.6%. The number of flights through Muscat International Airport by the end of March 2025 reached 22,347 flights, decreasing by 11.3%, compared to 25,204 flights during the same period of the previous year. Indians topped the number of passengers through Muscat International Airport by the end of March 2025, with 79,641 passenger arrivals and 78,453 passenger departures, followed by Omani nationals reaching 29,575 incoming passengers and 28,612 departing passengers, and the Pakistani nationality with 16,263 arriving passengers and 23,719 departing passengers. By the end of March 2025, Salalah Airport recorded a total of 342,491 passengers, an increase of 5.4% compared to 325,035 passengers during the same period in 2024. This growth occurred despite a 5.3% decline in the number of flights, which dropped to 2,166 from 2,288 flights recorded in the corresponding period last year. Sohar Airport recorded a total of 307 passengers by the end of March 2025, a decline of 98.2% from 17,462 passengers during the same period in 2024. The number of flights also dropped significantly to 54, compared to 154 flights in the corresponding period last year, a decrease of 64.9%. Meanwhile, Duqm Airport experienced a slight decrease in flight operations, with a 2.6% drop by the end of March 2025, registering 152 flights compared to 156 flights during the same period last year. The number of passengers also declined by 7.1%, totaling 14,423 passengers compared to 15,532 passengers at the end of March 2024.
