Cooler clime helps small boat operators in Al Khairan turn a profit
Ammar al Balushi and his partner Abdullah both know all the nooks and crannies of Bandar al Khairan. As co-owners of the small boating startup A Tourism, they spend almost all of their weekends in the...
Dear graduating students,
You might have felt it by now. If you haven’t, trust me, you will soon. It starts from the dark recesses of your brain, like an itch that you need to scratch. The more you think about it, the...
Omani artist explores the art of cinematic make up
When the movie Joker came out to Oman, Al Montaser Al Jahwari was not only fascinated by its amazing plotline but also the magic that happened behind the screen. In his mind, he deconstructed the...
A day for children, by children
There’s a lesson to be learnt from child environmental activist Greta Thunberg’s story and this has become very apparent during the interaction between children from schools across Oman and the...
A Mexican graffiti artist in Oman: The art of the streets encroaching high society
In a masterclass attended by five selected artists from Oman, he demonstrated what years of experience can do in but a few minutes. Without a sketch or blueprint in hand, he went freestyle etching his...
The new dame of Grande Dame is getting tough on plastic
Somebody has to lead the way.” She said the words with firm conviction you can feel that it was something she was very committed and serious about. “My predecessors have not necessarily thought it...
Beyond pasta: Celebrating Italy’s language, culture, and love for luxury in Oman
Italy has given so much to the world. The beautiful craftsmanship and artistry of Leonardo da Vinci are still being celebrated today not only by art masters but even by kids. Milan will always be...
Learning from the pomegranate guru of Jabal Akhdhar
Of the about 60000 pomegranate trees growing in Jabal Akhdhar, he owns more than a hundred of them. Together with the gardens that grow other crops like damask roses, the property in which the trees...
The cultural paradoxes in Hassan Al Meer’s “Ambiguity”
Hassan al Meer’s “Ambiguity” is a video installation that needs to be dissected in order to understand the artist’s layered message. While it may look straightforward, curators understood...
The season for swimming with the whale sharks
Every morning within the next few months, several boats and yatchs will be scouring the surrounding waters of Dimaniyat Island in search of whale sharks. Beginning the early weeks of September is the...
The silent surprise of Bandar al Saqla
About 30 minutes from Al Ashkarah is the seldom visited Bandar al Saqla — one of Oman’s hidden treasures made remarkable by its long stretch of uninterrupted golden beach. Here, only the...
Awestruck by the untamed beauty of Sugar Dunes
Photos by Ahmed Al Jaabri About 430km from Muscat, past the windswept villages of Sur and Ras al Hadd is the unspoilt wilderness of Al Khaluf. A five-hour drive from Muscat, the number of people who...
Tracking down the wind farm of Dhofar
The location is not an easy place to get to. From Salalah, one will have to travel more than 150kms towards Marmul. From the highway of Marmul, one will have to drive a little farther towards the...
Omani artist captures the essence of China in paintings
Nine Arab artists coming from Oman, Kuwait, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco flew to China to take part in the 11th Insight of China: Painting Workshop for Famous Arab Artists in China. The nine artists...
Untangling complexities of Omani weddings
Of the many different family celebrations in Oman, Omani weddings are one of the most lavish and well-attended. It’s a life event that today, has taken a regal and glamorous form with families...
ROAD TO AWARENESS: Raising money for oman charity
In Pakistan, the money they raised helped rebuild a village made of brick and stones after it was diminished into rubble by a catastrophy. Through the 14 different charities they work with, they help...
Exploring the 17 km scenic stretch of Wadi Darbat
Ahmed Qatan had always wanted to know what’s hidden within the 17 km stretch of Wadi Darbat. He has been to several of the key areas of Salalah. But his mind always wondered if there was something...
Masirah Island: A camper’s paradise just waiting to be discovered
Photos by AHMED AL JAABRI Some residents of Masirah believe that the same winds that visited Khareef in Dhofar are the very same winds that gifted their island with its strong, powerful, cold wind...
Celebrating the youth and what they can contribute to nation building
There’s not a lot of students taking political science in Oman. In fact, for third year Sultan Qaboos University student Ethar, she can count her classmates with her fingers. Of the nearly ten...
Nakhl continues to evolve and beguile travellers
Nakhl is barely a two hours drive away from Muscat. The completion of the Barka-Nakhl Dual Road project, a 14km stretch of road completed in 2018, has made the travel now both convenient and...