author - oman observer

Proud Irishman, IT professional, and enthusiastic endurance athlete, 51-year-old Eion Keith, beat back a strong challenge from Oman’s Hamdan al Khatri, to win the inaugural 170 km Oman by Ultra...

There must be a decent amount of fossil fuels in the Sultanate’s ‘catchment’ for now, and it will always be needed, somewhere. But the genuine alternatives for overseas funds after that are few...

NIZWA, Nov 28 - Oman’s most challenging ultra-distance race, the Oman by UTMB, over 170kms of the mountains, cliffs, tracks and canyons of the mighty Jebel Al Akhdhar and the towering Jebel Shams,...

There is an old African proverb that “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors,” that somehow has more allusion to our lives today, and that in spite of all of the technological advances of...

The son of a farmer, and retired former Ministry of Agriculture official, young Ayoub al Oufi is cutting a little career path for himself at the amazing Salut Archaeological Park, just 40 kilometres...

It’s entirely appropriate that on the same day you can see blood, sweat and tears from the worlds elite ultra-athletes at the end of November, you can share a light-hearted, family day out at Al...

How do you top climbing Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain?” It’s a question no doubt asked numerous times, of those who have actually climbed the great peak, and anyone else who has...

Renowned for his piety and frugality, and the complexity of his phonological analysis of classical Arabic poetry, Al Khalil Ibn Ahmad Al Farahidi was renowned and revered throughout the entire Asian...

Oman’s own version of Indiana Jones, local adventure athlete Riyadh Al Hinai, is taking on a new challenge at the end of the month when ‘The Beast,’ the Omani version of Europe’s toughest...

If I see that sixteen-year-old Scandinavian school-kid, Greta Thunberg, scowling at me from the pages of my morning newspapers again, whilst munching on my Cornflakes, I’m going to scream! Barely...

Kawa Kava is a new name in the Omani hospitality sector, a modern coffee shop, visually appealing, styled in a contemporary manner, yet reflecting their cultural,traditional and architectural ties to...

From its reverence during ancient times, to its emergence as an essential perfumery, to becoming a potentially life-saving element in modern organic medical science, the Boswellia sacra, or...

The power of positive thinking is supposed to be a panacea, or remedy for all ills. Well, it’s true according to Norman Peale, who has become wealthy from the sales of his book on the topic, aptly...

One of the great joys of my life, and my work, is to be able to pass on my knowledge of teaching and learning to education students at the University of Nizwa, and also in sharing good practice with...

The Oman Tourism Development company, Omran, the executive arm of the Sultanate’s tourism development continues to drive innovation, and the national culture within its tourism operations. Sales...

Brexit with Boris Johnson, or Brexit without Boris Johnson, or no Brexit? It’s becoming seriously difficult to identify which has the best prospects, and for who, with all of the conflicting...

Growing up as a boy, and a young man, back in the 1950’s and 60’s never seemed like a privilege at the time, but it does now, and I have significant compassion for the youth of today, in what they...

The Dakhiliyah Governorate, already blessed with several culturally significant tourist attractions, now has a unique exhibition for visitors in the Bait ar Rudaydah Centre of Excellence for Historic...

Mahatma Ghandi, the Indian peace activist, and political force for change made a lot of sense, but never more so than when he said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live...

Or to put it another way: We just don’t know how lucky we are! Like everyone, I dream of financial security, of not having to worry about paying for ‘things,’ and generally I see it as my own...