author - oman observer

Long before the polished plating and precision of professional kitchens, Zahwa al Rahbi’s story began at home, in the quiet comfort of family gatherings, where simple ingredients turned into moments...

In Omani homes, Eid is often announced not by the calendar, but by the scent of something sweet rising from the oven. For Zahwa al Rahbi, a pastry chef at Kempinski Hotel Muscat, that scent belongs...

It is often said that law and order organise our world. But what happens when the system meant to deliver justice becomes incomprehensible, oppressive and indifferent to truth? This unsettling...

As Ramadhan settles across Oman, cities are lighting up in a vibrant celebration of faith, culture and design. From Muscat to Al Rustaq and Nizwa, decorations this year blend modern technology with...

When airports closed in 2020 and the world narrowed to the walls of home, Sharifa bint Ali al Aufi, widely known as Lolo, found her horizon expanding. Her first adventure was to Wadi Hawer in Oman’s...

On Omani iftar tables, some dishes come and go, but fish salad is a constant for chef Aladhraa al Habsi. “Fish salad must be on the table”, she says. It is more than a dish, it is a memory. Since...

In a sunlit kitchen fragrant with cardamom and simmering stock, Aladhraa al Habsi stands at the stove, tasting, adjusting, imagining. Long before she called herself a chef, she was a child at her...

On an unassuming morning in Muscat, while most passersby hurry between errands and meetings, Laith al Shiyadi unfolds a small chair, opens his sketchbook and begins to look, really look. For al...

Muscat Nights festival continues to transform Al Qurum Natural Park into a vibrant destination for family entertainment, with immersive attractions that place children and shared family moments at the...

There are moments when language fails, when emotion becomes too heavy to carry or too tangled to explain. For Omani artist Hussain al Ghamlasi, those moments found their release not in words, but in...

The Literary Council for Poetry and Folk Heritage continues its vibrant participation in Muscat Nights, presenting a series of poetic evenings dedicated to Omani Nabati and folk poetry in its many...

At first glance, Hiba al Yahmadi’s paintings feel anchored, grounded in arches, shadows and geometry that echo Islamic architecture. But behind that sense of visual certainty is a journey shaped by...

Muscat: As cultural magazines across the Arab world grapple with shrinking readerships and rapid digital change, Nizwa magazine has chosen reflection over retreat. At a workshop titled...

For a long time, Malaak al Lawati thought fish were boring. “The sort of creatures you see at pet shops, admire for two seconds and never really think about again”, she admits. The ocean, despite...

Since its launch, Muscat Nights has drawn visitors from across the Sultanate of Oman with a rich mix of venues and experiences that transform public spaces into vibrant hubs of culture, entertainment...

Stone walls that once bore witness to cannons and watchful silence now speak in ink, colour, and form. At Al Mirani and Mutrah forts, history does not sit still — it listens, absorbs, and responds....

Under the gilded arches of the Royal Opera House Muscat, fashion arrived not as spectacle alone, but as a statement of intent. On the morning marking the opening of Muscat Fashion Week, the marble...

Few areas express the balance between continuity and innovation more eloquently than Oman’s architectural landscape, where development advances without diluting identity. Across cities and towns,...

Accession Day is observed across Oman with a rich tapestry of local traditions, customs and celebrations. Each governorate marks the occasion in its own distinctive way, reflecting the unique...

Muscat Nights transformed the serene waters of Al Qurum Natural Park’s lake into a living canvas during its ongoing festival, presenting the highly anticipated ‘Festival of Light’. The show...