Oman

Oman is banking on oil prices staying high this year to fund heavy spending on job creation and social welfare, according to plans released.

With Oman's annual month-long Muscat Festival about to kick off, locals are breathing a sigh of relief at this year's choice of venues.

Oman's gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, grew an estimated 8.3 per cent last year.

In its budget for 2013, Oman has raised state spending by 30 per cent from the original 2012 plan.

The people of Oman have reportedly turned out in droves for the beginnings of a democratic system never before seen in their country.

Oman is trying to diversify its economy and create a new role for a burgeoning public sector.

The Central Bank of oman has announced that new Islamic banking regulations will be introduced by the first quarter of 2013, executive president H E Hamood Sangour al Zadjali has said.

Award-winning Egyptian composer and violinist Yasser Abdel-Rahman wowed audiences when he performed a selection of film scores at the Royal Opera House Muscat in Oman on 6 December.

The Guinness Book of World Records announced on Dec. 2 that Oman has made the largest football in the world, Times of Oman reported on Monday.

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) will this year post its highest ever annual production of oil and gas, at 1.25mn barrels of oil equivalent (BOE).

Oman has requested the sale of $96 million worth of guided missiles from the United States, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.

Oman's star footballer and Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi has dismissed rumours linking him with Liverpool and insists he remains 100 per cent committed to Wigan.

The Ministry of Oil and Gas has floated tenders inviting bids from international oil firms for developing seven oil and gas blocks on production sharing basis.