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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

New fuel station to have gym, kids’ entertainment

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Muscat, Sept 19 - The Sultanate will soon have fuel stations that will not be mere fuel stations. It will offer a chain of services such as shopping, food, entertainment for children, postal services and even gyms. Unveiling a roadmap for the next seven years, David Kalife, the CEO of Oman Oil Marketing Company, said the company plans to move away from the current model of operating ahlain convenience stores at its fuel stations. “We plan to independently operate these stores with our own concept in the next couple of years,” Kalife said about the mega fuel stations that will be spread over an area of 10,000 sqm, including in Muscat.


On the self-service stations, he said the company will go for it when the market is ready for such a concept.


“It is better to wait rather than bringing an expensive feature and then withdrawing because it failed to serve the intended purpose.”


He said while the self-service fuel stations did well in some western nations, it did not get the expected response in neighbouring UAE.


“We are fully automated in terms of operations. We have been investing a lot on innovation, making our investors look at such features.”


Oman Oil 2025 plans include a shift to acquire 40 per cent of the local market share as well as increasing the distribution of lubricants and broadening its network of service stations across the country.


Internationally, Oman Oil is expanding its service stations beyond Oman’s borders into Saudi Arabia.


The company plans to implement a unique business model that will help build its reputation as the preferred one-stop shop.


Its plans also include expanding its line of lubricants within Saudi Arabia and beyond the region.


“Our goal is to become the most customer-centric marketer in the GCC while sustainably developing the company’s presence within the fuel industry,” Kalife added.


Vinod Nair


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