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THURSDAY, November 5, 2015 / 22 Muharram 1437 AH timesofoman.com wtimesofoman.com facebook.com/timesofoman twitter.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

On the occasion of the graduation of the first group of students from the Sultan Qaboos University

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTYTHE SULTAN

Oman can only continue her development, and enable her community to cope proficiently and keep pace with all the changes taking place around it, if she has young people of this kind – that is, ambitious young people with strong characters and a deep sense of responsibility and patriotism.

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’

House prices and rents set to hold steady

SCOTT ARMSTRONGscottarmstrong@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Amid doom and gloom across the GCC driven by low oil prices, the Sultanate’s property market is still looking positive to Omani residential buyers and expatriate renters alike, according to the latest data released by one of Oman’s major real estate companies.

ERA-Oman has just completed its fourth quarter ‘Market Over-view’, which shows that rents are likely to remain stable, thumbs up if you are an expat renting, but equally healthy residential sales for Omanis wanting to buy are being driven by affordable and ac-cessible finance offered by banks, especially due to growth of Islam-ic finance. Its eight-page report details where it says are the most popular one and two-bedroom rental locations across Muscat, and what tenants can expect to

pay, starting from a minimum of OMR350 for a one-bedroom and up to OMR900 for a two-bed room in premium properties.

Good newsIt also reports good news for property buyers with prices set to maintain their levels, but not rise significantly in 2016. While this is less good news for anyone wanting to make a quick profit, it will encourage more young Oma-nis to take their first step on the property ladder, especially as banks are helping them achieve that goal through access to low-cost lending.

Hassan Mohammed Juma,

ERA-Oman’s Managing Direc-tor, said: “We see the role of the banks as very helpful to sustain-ing the performance of the prop-erty market for the remainder of this year and throughout 2016.

“We manage approximately 1,800 properties and we look at the portfolio we are seeing stabil-ity in the rental levels, no drops. We are still signing contract re-newals with no problem. Supply will continue to increase though so we will be monitoring that on a quarter by quarter basis.” ERA-Oman’s report is in stark contrast to other GCC markets which are experiencing much more volatility due to oil prices. >A7

Despite falling

oil prices, Oman’s

property market is

still looking positive

ROP issues guidelines for use of stickers

OMANHis Majesty confers Oman Civil Order

2His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said conferred Oman Civil

Order ‘Second Class’ on Dr Abdulaziz bin Othman Al Twaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. >A6

OMANMajlis Al Shura chairman, deputies elected

3In response to the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Majlis Al Shura on Wednesday held its extraordinary session to take oath and elect the chairman and two deputies of

the chairman in accordance with the provision of article 58 (bis 12) of the Basic Law of the State. >A7

OMANOman Air to hire 1,000 more employees

1Oman Air plans to hire 1,000 more employees by 2017 as the airline is on an

expansion spree, a top official from the airline said. The airline is planning to boost its fleet strength from 40 to 57 by 2018 and 70 by 2020. >A4

T O P T H R E E I N S I D E S T O R I E S

A7

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Wednes-day issued a Royal Decree No. 45/2015 approving the organi-sational structure of the Minis-try of Information.

Article (1) approves the In-formation Ministry’s organisa-tional structure as per the an-nex attached to the decree.

Article (2) cancels Royal Decree No. 51/97 and all that contradicts this decree or con-travenes its provisions. Article (3) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and comes into force on the date of its issue. — ONA

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from President Pranab Mukherjee of the Repub-lic of India, in reply to His Majes-ty’s congratulatory cable on the occasion of his country’s 69th Independence Day anniversary.

In his cable, President Mukherjee expressed his ut-most thanks and appreciation for His Majesty the Sultan’s congratulations, wishing His Majesty continuous health and wellbeing. He laid the stress on deep existing relations between the two countries. — ONA

H M ’ S R O Y A L D E C R E E

I N D I A

Information ministry’s organisational structure approved

HM receives thanks cable

In a first, Omani national bags ‘Unsung Hero Award’TARIQ AL HAREMItariqh@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Yahya Al Hatmi is the first Omani working in the Sul-tanate to be recognised with the “Unsung Hero Award”, presented at the Hotelier Middle East cer-emony in Dubai.

His seniors are of the view that Al Hatmi has always won people over with his positive attitude and cheerful demeanour.

#Omanpride features this in-spiring young winner, who be-lieves that the hard work he puts in now will help him climb the corporate ladder at his workplace.

“It does not make a difference whether you are a manager, su-pervisor or a room attendant. What counts is the difference you make in your work environment,” said Al Hatmi, who has been working at the Intercontinental Hotel for around two years.

Better performance“Some people come in to work, complete their hours and go home, while others make an ef-fort to develop their abilities and perform better. I believe I would be placed in the latter category because I want to make a differ-ence,” he added.

The “Unsung Hero of the Year” award, according to Hotelier Mid-dle East’s website, is awarded to

“the real unsung heroes; those that chop vegetables all day, sweep lobby floors, valet parked cars, clean rooms, and always manage to have a smile on their

face, and have a ‘can do’ attitude”.Al Hatmi said he always makes

enough effort to do his job profes-sionally and always ensures that the guests have a good experience, adding that positive customer feedback had helped him win the award and that he is grateful for it.

When the Times of Oman asked him a sensitive question about be-ing tipped and how he felt about it, he said he tried as much as he could to refuse tips, simply be-cause he is just doing his job.

Although it’s not necessary to tip, guests and customers find it customary and it shows appre-ciation for the level of service received.

“I try as much as I can to kindly refuse any tips from my custom-ers so that they feel I’m just doing my job. I always tell my guests, ‘This is my job sir/ma’am, you don’t have to give me anything’”, said Al Hatmi.

“Sometimes they keep insist-ing and when I do take the tip, I just consider it a small token of appreciation based on my ser-vice,” he added.

He also mentioned that it does not feel right to take tips from guests when he is getting a fixed salary.

“I always try to be hospitable and treat my guests nicely to gain their loyalty for the hotel and not for tips,” Al Hatmi explained. >A4

I N S P I R I N G Y O U N G W I N N E R

#OMANPRIDE

THE HOME OFGOOD NEWS

Low pressure to bring rainSTAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: A low pressure system has formed over the south-west of the Arabian Sea and is moving in the north-west direction, a tweet posted by the Public Authority for Civil Aviation, stated.

“There is a feature that we are watching, which is developing off southwest India. It may develop into a tropical depression or a weak tropical cyclone later this

week or weekend. It will follow a track similar to Chapala, but this feature will not be nearly as strong,” Jason Nicholls, senior meteorologist from Accuweath-er.com told the Times of Oman.

Rain“This low pressure system will bring some rain to Yemen and perhaps southern Oman around Monday or Tuesday of next week,” Jason added.

A R A B I A N S E A

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Yahya Al Hatmi with the award. – Tariq Al

Haremi/TIMES OF OMAN

POSITIVE OUTLOOK: Rents are likely to remain stable in the Sul-tanate, according to ERA-Oman’s fourth quarter ‘Market Overview’.

Hansen sizzles on opening day of NBO Golf Classic Grand Final >C1

A3T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

A4 T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

OMANOman Air to hire 1,000 more employees by 2017

REJIMON Kreji@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Oman Air plans to hire 1,000 more employees by 2017 as the airline is on an expansion spree, a top official from the air-line said.

“We are going to fly to more and more destinations in the coming days. When we are flying more, we need more staff. We will re-cruit more (people),” Abdulrah-man Al Busaidy, chief operating officer (COO) at Oman Air, told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview.

According to the official, at pre-sent, the airline has around 6,500 employees.

“By 2017, it will be 7,500,” the of-ficial added.

The airline is planning to boost its fleet strength from 40 to 57 by 2018 and 70 by 2020. During the last few months, Oman Air has started new flights to Manila, Ja-karta, Goa and Singapore. Since the end of last month, the airline has added Frankfurt and Dhaka to its list of new destinations.

Commenting on the Omanisa-

tion rate at the airline, the official said it is unlikely to go beyond the present level as it’s an interna-tional carrier and it needs multi-lingual employees as it flies to dif-ferent destinations.

“Presently, the Omanisation rate is around 62 per cent. Howev-er, it is unlikely to cross that in the coming years,” COO Al Busaidy pointed out.

In addition to increased fre-quencies, Oman Air’s winter schedule this year will include a number of flight routes that will benefit from upgrades in terms of the type of aircraft flying on these routes.

Following the introduction of Dreamliner flights to Frankfurt, the Boeing 787s will also be de-ployed for services between Mus-cat and Milan from December 1. The Dreamliner aircraft will also be used for one flight per day be-tween Muscat and Salalah, in the south of Oman, from December 1.

Also within the Gulf region, flights from Muscat to Jeddah and Riyadh will be operated us-ing Oman Air’s award-winning Airbus 330s. The aircraft will su-

persede the Boeing 737s on these routes. Flights to Khasab, Oman’s northern enclave will be operated using Embraer 175s. The Em-braers will replace the ATR42s, which are currently deployed on

the route and are due to be phased out from Oman Air’s fleet.

Last month, Oman Air was al-located around OMR140 million to invest in the growth of Oman’s flag carrier by shareholders.

Abdulrahman Al Busaidy, Oman Air’s chief

operating officer, said, ‘We are going to fly to

more and more destinations in the coming

days. When we are flying more, we need

more staff. We will recruit more (people)’

REJIMON Kreji@timesofoman.com

DHAKA: Oman Air is plan-ning to have direct flights to Bangladesh from Salalah and Sohar, a top official from the airline said.

“By the end of next year, we may have a flight from Salalah to Bangladesh. We are expanding our fleet and we have learnt that Bangladeshis are not only concentrated in Muscat, but also in other cities. So we have plans to launch flights from Salalah and Sohar too, to Bangladesh,” Abdulraha-man Al Busaidy, the airline’s chief operating officer (COO), said.

“Already, our flights con-necting Bangladesh and Muscat are full, and we are optimistic that it (capacity) will grow,” COO Al Busaidy said on the sidelines of a press conference in Dhaka.

On Tuesday, the airline had announced that the fre-quency of Oman Air flights to Dhaka from Muscat will be increased from December 1.

From December 1 on-wards, there will be flights departing for Bangladesh on Mondays and Wednesdays.

At present, Oman Air operates flights to Dhaka on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

“By March, we plan to have daily flights to Dhaka,” Al Busaidy added.

Regarding tourist visa issues for Bangladeshis travelling to Oman, the official said the airline is currently in talks with the departments concerned in Oman and the issue will be resolved soon.

The launch of the Dhaka service is part of the move to increase in airline’s fleet strength from 40 to 57 by 2018 and to 70 by 2020.

Flights to Bangladesh from Salalah and Sohar planned

DHAKA: Oman Air opened its office in the Bangladeshi capi-tal, Dhaka, on the sidelines of marking its new destination to Dhaka. The opening ceremony was held under the patron-age of Hamad bin Khamis Al Aamri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Manpower for Labour Affairs.

The chief guest said that opening Oman Air office in Dhaka is an important step that would contribute in enhancing the bilateral relations between the Sultanate and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Abdulrazaq bin Juma Al Ra’eesi, Oman Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, said that the office has 20 employees

who will assist the passengers in terms of issuing tickets and replying to their inquiries.

Oman Air also has an office in the city of Chittagong.

He pointed out that the operation on Muscat-Dhaka route, which started on Octo-ber 25, exceeded 90 per cent until yesterday, which makes Oman Air consider increasing the number of flights on this route.

The ceremony was attended by Omar bin Mohammed Al Balushi, Charge D’affaires of the Sultanate’s Embassy in Bangladesh and Abdulrahamn bin Harith Al Busaidi, Oman Air’s Chief Operating Officer. -ONA

Oman Air opens office in Dhaka

INAUGURATION: The opening ceremony was held under the

patronage of Hamad bin Khamis Al Aamri, Undersecretary of

the Ministry of Manpower for Labour Affairs. – ONA

Chance to win Stereophonics concert ticketsTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Fans of the Stereo-phonics in Oman are eagerly waiting for the popular UK band to take stage.

“We know that there is just sev-en days to go for the Stereophon-ics concert but I can’t wait to see them perform,” said Arun Visruth, an eager admirer of the band.

Stereophonics concert will per-form at the Shangri La Barr Al Jis-sah Resort & Spa Amphitheatre.

To celebrate the forthcoming performance on November 12 (next Thursday), Times of Oman has teamed up with organis-ers Alive Entertainment to give

away two fan pit tickets (worth OMR50 each) on each day in the countdown to the performance.

To win, simply like Alive En-tertainment Oman’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/aliveo-man) , then come to our Face-book page (www.facebook.com/timesofoman) and like it (if you haven’t already) and type “I want to see the Stereophonics”.

Of course if you don’t want to leave it to chance, tickets are still on sale at the Mackenzie’s Café & Deli for what promises to be a sell-out show.

Stereophonics concert is be-ing organised by Alive Entertain-ment in association with HI FM.

E V E N T

Flight to Bologna to give business a fresh impetusRAHUL DASrahuldas@timesofoman.com

BOLOGNA (ITALY): Muscat and Bologna have now become closer, with the Emirates airline launch-ing its fourth Italian gateway on Tuesday, following the arrival of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in Bologna.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ ex-ecutive vice president and chief commercial officer, Commercial Operations Worldwide, said the Omani capital will be able to re-ceive a large number of tourists from Italy following the intro-duction of a direct flight between Dubai and Bologna.

“On the other hand, citizens and residents of Oman can now fly to Bologna via Dubai,” he said after the first flight landed in the capital of the Emilia Romagna region.

Regarding the number of pas-sengers flying to the city, Antinori said he expects double-digit num-bers from Oman on every flight. “This will surely increase in the coming days,” he added. As the cap-ital of the Emilia Romagna region, Bologna has one of the world’s larg-est and most well-preserved medi-eval historical centres and is rich in art, culture and commerce.

Located in northern Italy, Bo-logna is an excellent stepping off point for access to Florence, Pisa and the stunning vistas of Tuscany.

Highlighting the airline’s con-nectivity with the East, passengers on the inaugural flight travelled through to Bologna from a diverse mix of destinations, including; Dubai, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Taipei.

As one of the most industrial-ised cities in Italy, access to the airline’s network of more than 50 destinations in the Far East, Mid-dle East and West Asia, is expected to further foster business opportu-nities across the region.

“Our new daily flight to Bologna combines not only our world-class services, but also convenient access to this important Italian gateway from across our global network. As the only wide-bodied aircraft to operate from Bologna, we bring to the region an unrivalled customer experience across all three cabin classes,” Antinori stated. “The gate-way to Tuscany, Bologna offers in-bound travellers with easy access to this vibrant tourism and commer-cial hub. We are confident that our new daily flight will bring economic benefit, trade and investment to the region, with demand for direct links to and from the Middle East, Asia and Australia more prevalent than ever,” he added.

Speaking at Tuesday’s launch the Mayor of Bologna, Virginio Merola said, “Emirates’ invest-ment in our city honours us and makes us proud of the work that we have done together over the years to position our airport and our city as an international gateway. Thanks to the countless routes operated by Emirates we now have direct access to many destinations in the East. A benefit not only for the citizens of Bologna, who will travel for business or holidays, but also for the many people from all over the world, who can now get direct links to our territory.”

E M I R A T E S

Emirates-flight-EK093-lands-

for-the-first-time-in-Bologna

‘Showcase your

abilities at work’

Jamal Ali Al Balushi, assistant executive housekeeper, praised the unsung hero for his achieve-ments and his positive work atti-tude, saying Al Hatmi “shines in the department”.

“During the interview, he was all smiles and giggles. He had the qualities we were looking for. We trained him and taught him the five-star standards followed by the hotel. Now, he tends to VIP guests,” said Al Balushi.

Some people view room at-tendants or housekeeping as one of the lower forms of employ-ment and look down upon them. Some also disrespect and belittle their employees.

Al Hatmi said it is like any other job and there is no shame in it. He hopes to progress and climb the executive ladder if he continues to perform the way he currently has.

“It’s better to start from zero. The lower you start in your ca-reer, the more experience you gain,” he said.

He also advised other employ-ees in his position in different fields: “My advice to employees, who are also considered unsung, is to not perform their duties routinely, but rather showcase their abilities while working”.

He continued, “Always smile

and treat your guests respect-fully and well; this will benefit you in your field”.

O M A N P R I D E

It’s better to start from zero. The lower you start in your career, the more experience you gain

Yahya Al HatmiOmani staff at Intercontinental Hotel

< FROM

A1

Presently, the Omanisation rate is around 62

per cent. However, it is unlikely to cross that in

the coming years

Abdulrahman Al Busaidy, COO, Oman Air

A6

OMANT H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

HM CONFERS OMAN CIVIL ORDER ON ISESCO DIRECTOR GENERALHis Majesty

Sultan Qaboos bin

Said conferred

Oman Civil Order

‘Second Class’

on Dr Abdulaziz

bin Othman Al

Twaijri, Director

General of the Is-

lamic Education-

al, Scientific and

Cultural Organi-

sation (ISESCO),

in appreciation

of his efforts in

serving ISESCO

and its objec-

tives. The order

was handed over

by His Highness

Sayyid Haitham

bin Tariq Al Said,

Minister of Herit-

age and Culture,

when he received

Dr Al Twaijri in

his office yester-

day. -ONA

Al Mahrazi leaves for TanzaniaMUSCAT: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Ahmed bin Nassir Al Mahrazi, Minister of Tourism, left here yesterday heading to the United Republic of Tanzania to attend the swearing-in ceremony of John Pombe Joseph Magufuli as new President of the Republic.

During the visit, Al Mahrazi will be accompanied by Saud bin Ali Al Raqishi, Sultanate’s am-bassador to Tanzania. -ONA

A S S I G N E D B Y H M

Concert to mark Al Bustan Palace’s 30th anniversaryMuscat: To mark the 30th anni-versary of the Al Bustan Palace, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Royal Oman Symphony Orches-tra will organise an exclusive con-cert on Thursday, November 12.

The event, an evening of clas-sical and romantic music, will feature world-renowned pianist and visiting guest artist Daniel Grimwood.

The concert will also feature

The Finlandia, composed by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957); Pi-ano Concerto in E Flat by Franz Liszt (1813-1886) and Symphony Number 1 in C by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).

The Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Paolo Olmi, along with Daniel Grimwood (Piano). The dress code is national dress with Mus-sar or a Lounge suit. -ONA

R O H M

Conference of Islamic culture ministers ends

MUSCAT: Deliberations of the 9th session of the Islamic Con-ference for Culture Ministers, concluded at the Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa yesterday.

The session was hosted by the Sultanate from November 2 to 4, under the theme, “Towards Inter-mediary Developmental Culture

for the Advancement of Islamic Societies”.

His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Her-itage and Culture and Chairman of the 9th session of the Islamic Conference for the Ministers of Culture, in his speech at the con-clusion of the conference, praised

the efforts made by the ministers of culture participating in the conference in Muscat.

Constructive ideasSuch efforts represented in the active and constructive ideas and discussions in order to consoli-date an intermediary culture for the advancement of the Islamic communities, as well as relevant topics that will have a good ef-fect in supporting the strategies, plans and development pro-grammes that take the respon-sibility of advancing the Islamic culture.

His Highness Sayyid Haitham

affirmed that the Muscat Declara-tion comes with its sober-minded contents to serve the Islamic soci-eties, calling on behalf of the Min-isters of Culture in the Islamic World, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural ‘ISESCO’ to monitor the implementation of the contents of the Muscat Dec-laration, in coordination with the member states.

Sayyid Haitham thanked the heads of the participating del-egations at the 9th session of the Islamic Conference for Culture Ministers for the fruitful discus-sions and related decisions and recommendations.-ONA

The session was hosted by the Sultanate

from November 2 to 4

FRUITFUL DELIBERATIONS: His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said thanked the heads of the participating delegations for the

fruitful discussions and related decisions and recommendations. – ONA

Omani students set for Dubai debate contest

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Oman’s 4th Inter-College Environmental Public Speaking Competition (ICPSC), organised by the Environment Society of Oman, has concluded as four teams claimed victory during the two-day contest.

The winning teams will now represent Oman at the 15th Re-gional ICPSC, hosted by the

Emirates Environmental Group, which will be held in late No-vember at the Dubai Knowledge Village.

Presided over by Dr. Rawya bint Saud Al Busaidiyah, Min-ister of Higher Education, 40 teams of college and university students took part in this year’s competition to spread awareness on the different environmental challenges facing the region.

E M I R A T E S E N V I R O N M E N T A L G R O U P

A7

OMANT H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

‘Significant bargains could

be picked in older properties’

Latest reports say that in Qatar the number of vacant properties is going up, in the UAE experts say its market is already feeling the effects combined with a new Federal Mortgage Cap which has seen bank lending reduce dra-matically. This week Saudi Ara-bia’s stock market hit its lowest point in more than two years with one property company contrib-uting to the decline. Outside of Oman, only Bahrain is also see-ing relative stability in real estate with only a small decline in rents.

The ERA-Oman report stated, “Currently, residential end user investment saw some stirrings due to continuing consumer in-terest and banks’ lenience in of-fering loans and active contribu-tion of Islamic banking.

“There is a hike in credit sup-ply facilitating a drop in the cost of borrowing and increasing de-mand for residential real estate properties. This is the main cause for house transactions to happen.

“Whereas, the price of resi-dential investment properties is observed to have entered a state of stagnation in the last quarter, with no changes compared to the previous quarter.

“The residential leasing seg-

ment is observed to have entered a state of stagnation in second quarter of 2015 with rents for apartments and villas remain-ing unchanged compared to last quarter.”

ERA-Oman’s report also highlighted that significant bargains could be picked by tenants who preferred to live in older properties, which were not in prime locations and its predicted that while supply of Grade-A properties coming on to the market would also increase, losses from vacant old properties would not rise.

“In the short to mid-term, we expect that the residential end user investment market will maintain its momentum and the transaction volume of residential sales among nationals is expected to be steady,” said the report.

The picture of stability has been less in other parts of the Gulf, this week Arabian Busi-ness covered a new report by real estate consultants DTZ Qatar which stated vacancies in Qatar’s property market had risen due to job losses in the oil and gas sector.

Meanwhile a report by Clut-tons on the state of the UAE mar-ket said property transactions

were falling across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, pointing to the fact that villa sales were being hit by new Federal Mortgage Cap restrictions. That was echoed in Abu Dhabi’s The National this week by one developer.

The newspaper reported how the chairman of Union Proper-ties, at the launch of its Green Community 3 project, had stated the market there was being af-fected by the lack of cash and how banks were not providing lending.

ERA-Oman market report also highlight the success of Integrat-ed Tourism Complexes (ITCs) where expats can purchase prop-erties such as Al Mouj Muscat, Muscat Hills and Barr al Jissah, saying they were ‘Ongoing and well received’.

It predicted the highest de-mands for units costing under OMR150,000. The effect of the huge Saraya Bandar Jissah pro-ject would come into the figures during 2016 and 2017.

ERA Oman also predicted con-tinued growth in the retail sector, highlighting opening such as Ave-nues Mall, Panorama Mall, Barka Grand Mall, Nizwa Grand Mall and expansion works at Muscat and Qurum City Center malls.

R E A L E S T A T E

Solar plant set to aid growthTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Oman is set to get one of the world’s largest solar plants, which at its peak will be able to generate in excess of one gigawatt (GW) of solar thermal energy.

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and GlassPoint Solar have broken ground on their landmark solar project ‘Miraah’. The site preparation and grading for the project, located in the Amal oil-field in southern Oman, began a month ahead of schedule.

Miraah, which means mirror

in Arabic, will harness the sun’s energy to produce steam used in heavy oil production.

The two companies had an-nounced the deal in July.

Efficient deliveryRaoul Restucci, managing di-rector of PDO, said “The ground breaking is a significant mile-stone for PDO and GlassPoint as we progress towards the safe and efficient delivery of Miraah. I commend the project team and our local contractors for their tireless efforts to not only stay on

track, but pushing forward ahead of schedule”.

“PDO is proud to lead the in-dustry in deploying innovative solutions that allow us to develop our heavy oil while at the same time reduce our energy con-sumption and costs. Miraah will provide a substantial amount to meet steam demand at Amal, re-ducing our reliance on natural gas to make steam. The gas saved can be used by other industries to support Oman’s diversification and economic growth strategies,” Restucci added.

P D O - G L A S S P O I N T V E N T U R E

Khalid Al Mawali re-elected as Majlis chairmanMUSCAT: In response to the in-vitation of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Majlis Al Shura yesterday held its extraordinary session to take oath and elect the chairman and two deputies of the chairman in accordance with the provision of Article 58 (bis 12) of the Basic Law of the State.

In accordance with the provi-sion of Royal Decree No. 99/2011, which states that the session will be chaired by the most senior member, the session was chaired by Salim bin Sa’ed bin Hamdoon Al Malki, Representative of the Wilayat of Barka.

The members of the Majlis re-elected Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, representative of Wadi Al Maawil, as the chairman of the Majlis Al Shura 8th Term with absolute majority (59 votes) out of 85 votes at the first round.

Rashid bin Ahmed Al Shamsi and Mohammed bin Abu Bhacker Al Ghassani were elected as dep-uty chairmen. The new members started the extraordinary session by taking oath to be loyal to His Majesty the Sultan and the country and respect the Basic Law of the State, as well as the laws in-force, to maintain the integrity of the state and the basic pillars of the Omani society, its true value and to carry out their duties whether at the Ma-jlis Al Shura or at its committees or its Secretariat General sincerely.

Five members nominated them-selves for the chairman position namely Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Yahya Al Hadabi, Khalid bin Hilal bin Nasser Al Mawali, Dr Saleh bin Said bin Salim Masan, Mohammed bin Salim bin Khalifa Al Busaidi, and Mohammed bin Sulaiman bin Hamoud Al Kindi. – ONA

E X T R A O R D I N A R Y S E S S I O N

ROP guidelines for stickers on vehiclesFAHAD AL GHADANIfahadnews@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: A series of rules re-garding the decoration of vehicles with stickers has been formulated by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) .

ROP has warned that drivers found violating guidelines will face fines. As per the new ROP rules, motorists will not be allowed to paste stickers on the front and rear windshields, side windowpanes, number plates, rear-view mirrors and on the head or tail lights.

They have also advised motor-ists to not decorate the hood of the car with fabrics as it may cause fire. “Motorists should refrain from using undignified and offensive graphics and slogans. The decora-tion should not change the colour of the vehicle,” ROP tweeted.

The statement also warned mo-torists that those who fail to com-ply with the guidelines will have to bear legal consequences.

ROP also tweeted an illustration to describe the parts of vehicles that can be decorated. The illus-tration explained that stickers can be installed only after making sure that they do not block the line of sight. Some members of the public welcomed the news saying as they have been waiting to decorate their vehicles and express their loyalty to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the country. “I have been saving money to decorate my vehicle in view of the celebration of National Day for the last 10 months,” said Al Abdullah, an Al Khoudh resident.

He added that the whole Sul-tanate will celebrate this special national day in different ways, including through vehicle decora-tion. However, Salah Al Hanshi, a Behla resident, said motorists should not misuse the permission granted for decorating vehicles.

“Sometimes I have seen some vehicles (during the National cel-ebrations) with stickers of a foot-ball club logo,” said Al Hanshi. This is not acceptable as the authorities have allowed the use of stickers only for the National Day.

N E W R O P R U L E S OMR72m Seeb complex to boost medical tourism

A. E. JAMESbusinesseditor@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: A major integrated healthcare complex, with state-of-the-art facilities, such as a ter-tiary care hospital, a three-star hotel apartment and residential housing units, is slated to come up at Al Hail in the Seeb wilayat.

The unique initiative, which is aimed at attracting medical tour-ists from within the country and across the region, is being pro-moted by Al Madina Investment, which plans to invest OMR72 million in the project.

Addressing the media to an-nounce the project, officials from Al Madina Investment said the entire project will include a 225-bed tertiary care hospital, 120 key three-star hotel apartments, 300 residential apartments, a fit-ness centre and a dedicated retail space within the premises.

The multi-use healthcare complex will be called the Al Ma-dina International Hospital and is expected to open in 2018.

“We have been always a mar-ket mover when it comes to groundbreaking and innovative investment opportunities here in Oman”, said Khamis Al Kiyumi, vice-chairman and managing di-rector of Al Madina Investment.

“Throughout our journey we have successfully launched in-vestment opportunities in vari-ous sectors, such as takaful, lease finance, logistics, real estate, edu-cation, and Islamic finance. To-day, we are proud to announce a new concept in Oman–the Al Ma-dina International Hospital—an

integrated multi-use healthcare complex that will benefit Oman’s economy immensely”, he said.

“The master plan is ready and the work will start in the first part of next year”, said Abdul Samad Momahhed Al Maskari, chief executive officer (CEO) of Al Madina Investment.

This first of its kind initiative in Oman will make available a unified complex, where a spectrum of healthcare options are available that offer patients excellent medical treatment, in addition to a retail space and dedicated fitness-focused facilities.

The clinic will offer family medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, ENT, inter-nal medicine, general surgery, cardiology, orthopaedics, endo-crinology, neurology, dentistry, orthodontics, physiotherapy and radiology, among its specialties.

The unit will include

a 225-bed tertiary

care hospital, 120

key three-star

hotel apartments,

300 residential

apartments, a

fitness centre and

a dedicated retail

space

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FULL ARTICLEW W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M

STATE OF ART: The complex will be known as the Al Madina

International Hospital and is expected to open in 2018. – Jun Estrada

The master plan is ready and the work

will start in the first part of next year

Abdul Samad Momahhed Al Maskari, CEO Al Madina Investment

< FROM

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REGIONT H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

We need to stop the flow of funds and weapons and

foreign fighters to the extremists. All the members of

NATO, including Britain, who took part in the mission

to overthrow Gaddafi need to give their help

Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Egyptian President

Russian-built cargo plane crashes in South Sudan, 41 feared killed

JUAB: A Russian-built cargo plane with passengers on board crashed on Wednesday after tak-ing off from the airport in South Sudan’s capital, killing dozens of people, witnesses said.

An official said three people on board survived.

The precise death toll was not immediately clear after the An-tonov-12 B plane turbo prop plane crashed soon after take off, leaving chunks of wreckage, bodies and cargo strewn along a bank of the White Nile River.

41 bodiesThe Civil Aviation Authority said the number of dead was still being counted. A Reuters witness saw 41 bodies, some of which were cov-ered by cloth. A police officer, who did not give his name because he was not authorised to speak to the media, also put the death toll at 41. Another witness counted at least 32 killed.

Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told Reuters the plane

was carrying 18 people, including the six foreign crew, according to official documents. He said 15 of them died and three South Suda-nese nationals survived, including a child.

“This is the number given to us by the (control) tower,” he told Reuters in reference to those on board. Asked about figures sug-gesting a higher toll, he said it

could be people killed on the ground but said he had no indica-tion about any such deaths.

Freight companyOfficials said the plane belonged to freight and logistics firm Allied Services Ltd. Officials at the com-pany could not immediately be reached for comment.

“We have rushed to the site of

crash which is located near the airport, southeast of Juba Interna-tional Airport (across) the river,” said the chief executive of the Civil

Aviation Authority at Juba airport, Stephen Warikozi.

“We have secured the site of crash and also we are in the stage of recovering bodies and black box,” he said. “We are still now re-covering the dead bodies and we cannot give you the exact number.”

The plane, registration num-ber EY406, had been on its way to Paloch, in the north of South Su-

dan, Warikozi said.The presidential spokesman

said the six crew were comprised of five Armenians and one Rus-sian. He said all the others on the flight were South Sudanese.

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that five of its citizens who were members of the crew died in the crash. It cited its em-bassy in Egypt. — Reuters

The cargo plane had

been on its way to

Paloch, in the north of

South Sudan. Three

people on board

survived the crash

Britain, NATO must do more in Libya: Sisi

LONDON: Britain and other NATO members involved in top-pling Muammar Gaddafi must do more to help prevent the spread of extremism in Libya, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi told the Daily Telegraph newspa-per ahead of a visit to London.

Also on Wednesday, Egyptian security sources said a car bomb targeting a policeman’s club in Egypt’s city of El Arish killed six people and wounded 10 on Wednesday.

ConflictBritain took part in 2011 air strikes in Libya, which is now caught up in a conflict between two rival governments and their armed factions. That has left a security vacuum that has allowed IS militants to gain ground - a fact

that Sisi also used to defend his country’s human-rights record.

“It was a mission that was not completely accomplished... Libya was left without the leadership when it needed our help most. Now we have the situation where the will of the Libyan people is being held hostage by militant groups,” Sisi, who is due to begin a visit to Britain on Wednesday, told the paper. “We need to stop the flow of funds and weapons and foreign fighters to the extrem-ists. All the members of NATO, in-cluding Britain, who took part in the mission to overthrow Gaddafi need to give their help.”

Sisi said more also needed to be done to tackle the spread of IS militants in Iraq and Syria. “The map of extremism and instability is expanding and not retreating.

We need to reassess our priori-ties,” he said.

In a separate interview with the BBC, Sisi defended his domestic human rights record, using the ex-ample of countries like Libya.

“Don’t forget that we are plagued by terrorism along the 1000 km border with Libya, and Sinai and around Egypt,” he said. “We need stability so the rest of Egyptian society can survive.”

Human rights groups have ac-cused Egyptian authorities of widespread violations since the army toppled the country’s first democratically elected president, president Mohamed Morsi, after mass protests against his rule two years ago.

“No one is oppressed in Egypt, but we are living through incred-ible times, “ Sisi said. “Egypt

doesn’t want to become like other countries in the region.

“What about the millions of Egyptians who face hardship eve-ry day? What about their human rights? What about the millions of young people who want a job and education? Our friends in the West know that we face monu-mental problems and if we work together we can find a solution.” Cameron’s spokeswoman has said “no issues will be off the table” when the pair meet on Thursday.

Meanwhile, IS’s Egypt affiliate, Sinai Province, claimed respon-sibility for the attack, which it de-scribed as a suicide bombing.

The group has killed hundreds of soldiers and police.

Sisi has said militants pose a grave threat to Egypt, the most populous Arab country. — Reuters

S P R E A D O F E X T R E M I S M

WRECKAGE: People gather at the site of a cargo plane crash, on a small island in the White Nile river, close to Juba airport, in the Hai Gabat area, on Wednesday. – AFP

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Modi world’s 9th most powerful person: Forbes

NEW YORK: Indian Prime Minis-ter Narendra Modi has been ranked as the world’s ninth most power-ful person by Forbes magazine in a 2015 list which is topped by Rus-sian President Vladimir Putin.

Modi was placed 14th in the 2014 Forbes list of world’s powerful peo-ple. Forbes while releasing the list on Wednesday at the same time said governing 1.2 billion people in India requires more than “shaking hands” and that Modi must pass his party BJP’s reform agenda and keep “frac-tious opposition” under control.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is at the second spot fol-lowed by US President Barack Obama (third) and Pope Francis (fourth) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (fifth). Apart from Modi who is at the ninth position, others in the top ten are Bill Gates at the sixth place, US Federal Re-serve Chairperson Janet Yellen (7), UK Prime Minister David Cameron (8) and Google’s Larry Page(10). - PTI

2 0 1 5 L I S T ‘Future conflicts will need more integrated approach’

NEW DELHI: Future conflicts will require a more integrated multi-state and multi-agency ap-proach as the security of a nation is no longer confined to preserving

territorial integrity but encom-passes economic, energy and food security, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday.

Security areas like economic, energy, food, health, environmen-tal and several other dimensions are important for security of a

nation, he said while addressing members of 55th batch of Nation-al Defence College.

The members of the team of the course comprise members from all the three armed forces, IAS, IPS and officials from friendly nations.

Recalling the words of former

Indian prime minister Jawahar-lal Nehru, while inaugurating the NDC in 1960, the president said, “defence is not an isolated subject.

It is intimately connected with the economic, industrial and many other aspects in the country and is all encompassing”.

“Intensive research and qual-ity analysis in all fields and dis-ciplines is thus a pre-requisite which calls for a holistic approach to studies across a vast spectrum of disciplines,” he said.

He said the role of the armed forces has expanded far beyond traditional military matters with the revolutions in military affairs and globalisation.

“It is clear that future conflicts in the complex defence and se-curity environment will require a more integrated multi-state and multi-agency approach,” the president said.

“There must be a conscious ef-

fort to strengthen the underlying linkages and not divide them into watertight compartments.

“Adopting such an approach will yield rich dividends. At the same time, one must not lose sight of the larger picture and keep the primary objective always in fo-cus,” he said.

Pranab, who has earlier served as Minister for Defence and Ex-ternal Affairs, said the global en-vironment today poses numerous challenges to the world because of its dynamic nature.

“The astonishing pace at which events have unfolded in the recent past could not have been foreseen a decade earlier,” he said.

Pranab said with power relation-ships constantly changing, a coun-try needs understand, appreciate and adjusts itself to the changes that are taking place around it as otherwise its own security will be seriously jeopardised. - PTI

Pranab said the role

of the armed forces

has expanded far

beyond traditional

military matters with

the revolutions in

military affairs and

globalisation

Chhota Rajan to be brought to DelhiNEW DELHI: Security agencies have decided to bring arrested gangster Chhota Rajan here with CBI keeping him in custody for initial period before any other po-lice force is allowed to take him for their respective investigations.

Sources said it has been decid-ed that Rajan will not be taken di-rectly to Mumbai from Indonesia, where he was arrested last week.

Security arrangements are be-ing beefed up at the agency head-quarters where Rajan is likely to be kept with regular security drills being carried out to identify any possible loop hole in the secu-rity apparatus, they said.

The sources said the decision to bring Rajan here was taken during meetings of various stakeholders

including CBI, central security agencies and Delhi and Mumbai Police. On Tuesday also a meeting of senior officials of Delhi Police Special Cell and CBI took place,

they said adding that during the one-hour long meeting various aspects related to transport and security of Rajan were discussed.

They said the agency team is

waiting for the first available win-dow to bring back the fugitive as ash cloud arising of volcano erup-tions near Bali have halted flight operations from there.

The sources said as soon as the flight operations start the team will move out with Rajan.

Rajan, who was arrested in Bali on his arrival from Australia on October 25, is wanted in over 75 heinous crimes ranging from murder, extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking.

Rajan, whose original name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje, was arrested in Bali on the basis of a Red Corner Notice from Interpol and following a tip off by Austral-ian authorities to the police in Indonesia. - PTI

G A N G S T E R

Ex-MP held as daughter-in-law,

three grandsons found dead

WARANGAL (Telangana): For-mer Congress MP Sircilla Ra-jaiah’s daughter-in-law and three grandsons were found charred to death at his residence here under mysterious circumstances early on Wednesday and hours later the Congress leader, his wife and son were taken into police custody for questioning.

Following the incident, 62-year-old Rajaiah, who was nominated by the Congress as its candidate for the Warangal Lok Sabha by-election slated for Novemer 21, was replaced by former union minister Sarve Satyanarayana as the party’s candidate.

Rajaiah’s daughter-in-law S. Sarika and three grandsons sev-en-year-old Abhinav, and twins Ayaan and Shriyaan, aged three, died on the spot due to burn inju-ries, police said.

Warangal City Police Commis-sioner G, Sudheer Babu said Ra-jaiah, his wife Madhavi and son Anil Kumar — were among those inside their house when the inci-dent happened on the first floor of the two-storey building at Han-amkonda.

“We have taken them to police station for examination (question-ing)...no one has been arrested. After collecting evidence (post-mortem report) and facts, we will take further action,” he said.

Probe onSenior police officials said the circumstances that led to the in-cident are not clear yet and they were probing it from all angles, including that of suicide and mur-der. The four bodies have been shifted to a Government hospital for conducting post-mortem.

Anil and his parents live on separate floors of the same house.

Asked if it was suicide or mur-der, Sudheer Babu said,

“It’s not that easy to come to a conclusion at this stage immedi-ately. We have a lot of ways to find out, and definitely we will do in-vestigation in a scientific manner.

It’s clear evidence that the death is due to burn injuries...whether burn injuries caused by themselves or someone else caused it... we have to ascertain it through the scientific way.”

Asked if deaths were due to fire

mishap, he said, “There is still no clarity. We cannot say any thing now. FSL (Forensic Science Lab-oratory) experts are looking into it. Once they complete their ex-amination, we can say some thing.

We are investigating from all angles”.

Earlier, Telangana North Zone Inspector General, V Naveen Chand who visited the spot, said that a gas cylinder was found in the bedroom of Sarika.

Her parents were in the process of lodging a complaint and hence Rajaiah and the two others were taken away for questioning.

As per the contents of the com-plaint, a case would be registered, he said.

The cooking cylinder was found in the room with its regula-tor open, police said.

In April, 2014, a criminal case was filed against Rajaiah, Mad-havi, Anil Kumar and another woman, at the Begumpet wom-en’s police station in Hyderabad, following a complaint lodged by Sarika, who alleged that her hus-band and in-laws had been har-assing her for dowry. - PTI

M Y S T E R I O U S C I R C U M S T A N C E S

TRAGEDY: People gather outside the residence of former Congress MP Sircilla Rajaiah as his

daughter-in-law and three grandchildren (inset) died after a fire broke out at their house last night,

in Warangal on Wednesday. - PTI

FUGITIVE DON: Handcuffed Indian fugitive Chhota Rajan, centre,

is escorted by plain-clothed police officers for questioning in Bali,

Indonesia, on Tuesday. - PTI/AP

CHALLENGES: President Pranab Mukherjee meeting the members

and faculties of National Defence College at Rashtrapati Bhavan in

New Delhi on Wednesday. - PTI

A10

INDIA T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

BJP beef advertisement fuels row

PATNA/NEW DELHI: A contro-versial advertisement by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding ex-planation from Chief Minister Nit-ish Kumar for beef-eating remarks by his “friends” on Wednesday stirred Bihar’s electoral cauldron, with the rival alliance complaining to the poll panel about attempts to “polarise” the election by “promot-ing communal hatred”.

The BJP, however, defended its action, saying there was “nothing wrong in it”.

The BJP advertisement ques-tioning the “silence” of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over “re-peated insult” to “revered” cow by his “friends” everyday appeared in vernacular newspapers in Kis-

hanganj, Saharsa and other areas that will go to poll in final round of assembly election on Thursday.

The ad, with the photograph of a woman cuddling a cow, re-ferred to the purported remarks of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his party’s vice president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Karnataka Chief

Minister Siddaramaiah over beef consumption and asked Kumar to “stop politics of vote bank and an-swer if he agrees with statements of his friends on beef.”

The advertisement quoted Lalu Prasad’s “Hindus also eat beef” remark and Singh’s comment that “it is written in Vedas and Puranas

that saints used to eat beef in an-cient times.” It also quoted Karna-taka CM Siddaramaiah’s comment that “if I want to eat beef nobody can stop me.”

The advertisement in Hindi with word “beef” highlighted in red, concluded with: Jawab nahi vote nahi (if there is no answer,

no vote). Reacting angrily to the advertisement, the grand alliance on Wednesday approached the EC seeking action against the BJP for trying to “polarize Bihar elections by promoting communal hatred”.

A delegation comprising JD(U) general secretary K. C. Tyagi and Congress spokespersons RPN Sin-gh and Ajoy Kumar on Wednesday met the EC and alleged the adver-tisement amounted to “seeking votes in the name of religion”.

The BJP, however, defended its action with senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi saying, “There is nothing wrong in our advertise-ment on beef issue and asking the chief minister to break his silence on controversial remarks made by the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his colleague Raghuvansh Prasad Sin-gh and Karnataka Chief Minister S. Siddaramaiah.”

“We were not the first to raise the issue (of beef ). It was Lalu who did. We have just responded,” Sushil Modi said.. The grand alliance dele-gation expressed surprise at the lat-est “divisive” advertisement when two similar ones had been banned by the poll panel last Sunday. -PTI

The ad questioning

the ‘silence’ of

Nitish Kumar over

‘repeated insult’ to

‘revered’ cow by his

‘friends’ appeared

in vernacular

newspapers

DEFIANT: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi addressing a press

conference in Patna on Wednesday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Apparently taking exception to another “offending” advertisement by the BJP)despite its advisory, the Election Commission on Wednesday ordered a ban on publishing ads by any party or candidate on Thursday, when Bihar goes to poll in the final phase, without being “pre-certified” by an empowered media panel.

Noting that it had directed newspapers not to publish any advertisements which have the potential of promot-ing ill-will, hatred or dishar-mony, EC in its fresh advisory said despite the direction certain advertisements of “offending nature” have been brought to its notice which were published in Wednes-day’s newspapers in Bihar. - PTI

Irked by the advertisement, EC bans ads without prior clearance

Adityanath’s comments on Shah Rukh uncalled for: BJPNEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday strongly disap-proved of Hindutva leader and its MP Adityanath’s controver-sial comments comparing Shah Rukh Khan with terrorist Hafiz Saeed, terming them “uncalled for” which did not reflect in any way the core belief of the party or Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Heaping praise on the Bol-lywood superstar, who was also attacked by senior party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday, BJP said there cannot be any com-parison between a law-abiding In-dian citizen and a terrorist, more so Khan who is a much-loved and respected national.

“His (Adityanath) comments are incorrect and uncalled for. They do not reflect in any way the core belief of BJP or that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“There cannot be any com-parison of any law-abiding Indian citizen with a terrorist like Hafiz Saeed, certainly not Khan who is a much loved and respected In-dian national and artiste,” BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

Pushed on a defensive not long after party chief Amit Shah had warned some party leaders against making controversial statements in the wake of the Dadri lynching and beef row, BJP leaders also referred to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar’s condemnation of Vijarvargiya’s comments to make it clear that the party did not approve of them.

Vijarvargiya had on Tuesday accused Khan of echoing the voice of anti-national forces, al-leging he may live in India but his soul lived in Pakistan. He with-

drew his tweets on Wednesday.BJP secretary Srikant Sharma

accused Congress of “sponsor-ing” the campaign by writers, ar-tistes and scientists against the “climate of intolerance”, saying it was resorting to these tactics to get over its internal leadership crisis and that it had still not rec-onciled to Modi’s leadership.

“There is peace in the coun-try but disquiet among Congress leaders over the leadership of Ra-hul Gandhi. So its leadership has resorted to these tactics. It is its intolerance to Modi’s leadership as India is doing well on every front and it cannot accept this.

“So it is sponsoring these pro-tests by so-called writers many of whom had made an appeal to de-feat Modi in Lok Sabha elections,” he said.

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who had criticised the filmmak-

ers returning their awards to protest “rising intolerance” in the country, is set to lead a tolerance debate march to the President’s house to counter it.

The 60-year-old actor said the march will take place on Novem-ber 7 and will include artists, writers and painters.

“We all have to speak up. Oth-erwise sometimes lies repeated constantly do tend to sound like truth.:),” he tweeted.

“Will give details about our March to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 7th by artists, writers, paint-ers etc by tomorrow.:) #Toler-anceDebate,” the actor wrote.

The actor also came out in sup-port of his Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge co-star Shah Rukh Khan after Adityanath compared the Bollywood superstar with terror-ist Hafiz Saeed for his comments over intolerance in India. - PTI

R I S I N G I N T O L E R A N C E

ELATED: A Chinese fan presents a special memento to Shah Rukh

on his 50th birthday celebrations in Mumbai on Monday. - PTI

We were not the first to raise the issue (of beef).

It was Lalu who did. We have just responded

Sushil Kumar Modi, Senior BJP leader

A11

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Sharif sets December 2017 deadline to end power cuts

ISLAMABAD: For the first time since taking office, Prime Minis-ter Nawaz Sharif has announced December 2017 as the deadline to end electricity load-shedding, amid skepticism within power producers who believe that out-ages will continue even after the new cut-off date.

“The government is building three major gas-based power

plants and by 2017, when the new plants are functional, we expect to end load-shedding in Pakistan,” the prime minister said, while ad-dressing the Second Pakistan In-vestment Conference in Islama-bad on Wednesday.

The premier further that the government’s focus was not just limited to ending load-shedding, adding that it was aiming to lay the foundations of a robust en-ergy sector that would meet the country’s needs for the next two decades.

The prime minister had so far refrained from announcing any deadline to end load-shedding during his ongoing tenure unlike his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who had earlier made ambitious statements about ending the energy crisis.

However, the premier had pre-viously said that load-shedding would end before his govern-ment’s tenure expired.

At present, residents of many parts of the country are subject to minimum six-hour a day load-shedding as the government is not generating enough power to mini-mise the losses due to a high ratio of theft and low-recovery.

Meanwhile, while speaking at the same platform, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the government has also un-dertaken execution of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power plants that will produce 3,600 mega-watts electricity at a rate of seven cents per unit.

On the other hand, power pro-ducers remain skeptic.

“The list of electricity genera-

tion projects that the government wants to complete is fantastic but all of them will not come online by 2017,” said Chief Executive Of-ficer of Orient Power Company Nadeem Babar.

He said with the increase of supply, demand will also increase due to shifting of in-house power generation to grid power

Babar said that as compared to India’s 952 units per capita elec-tricity consumption, Pakistan’s per capita consumption was sup-pressed at 495 units per person, which will pick up once genera-tion increases.

Leaking bucketBabar also said that the country’s distribution network was like a leaking bucket and the more we produce, the more the electric-

ity losses, bringing the energy sector’s financial viability under question. He said by 2017, there will be cyclical load-shedding of a minimum of four-hours a day.

“I don’t know whether Babar’s estimates are misplaced or well placed,” said Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, while avoiding a response to the perti-nent points raised by the power producer.

However, Secretary Water and Power Younus Dagha said that in last nine months, his ministry re-duced line losses from 19 per cent to 18.2 per cent and improved bills recovery from 88.6 per cent to 90 per cent.

Utilising the opportunity to highlight his government’s per-formance, Prime Minister Nawaz said that the results of recent local bodies’ elections and by-elections indicated that people of Pakistan do acknowledge and appreciate the tough choices his government made while undertaking reforms.

The prime minister also ex-pressed willingness to have peace and security within borders and beyond.

“We want friendly relations with all nations in our region and the world at large,” he said. — Express Tribune

The government is

building three major

gas-based power

plants and by 2017,

when the new plants

are functional, we

expect to end load-

shedding in Pakistan,

the prime minister

has said

At present, residents of many parts of the country are subject to minimum six-hour a day load-shedding as the government is not generating enough power to minimise the losses due to a high ratio of theft and low-recovery

Navy begins war games in Arabian SeaKARACHI: Pakistan Navy’s ma-jor maritime exercise Seaspark 2015 has kicked off in North Ara-bian Sea.

“The overarching objective of this exercise is to corroborate Pakistan Navy operational plans, assess war preparedness and en-hance interoperability with PAF and Pak(istan) Army,” said Rear Admiral Kaleem Shaukat, deputy chief Naval Staff (operations), while briefing the media on Tues-day.

All operational unitsAccording to an official statement issued by Pakistan Navy all opera-tional units of the navy including ships, submarines, aircraft, UAVs, special forces and Pakistan Ma-rines along with elements of Pa-kistan Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army are participating in the ex-ercise.

During the exercise, full spec-trum of threats would be exer-cised ranging from conventional to asymmetric, cyber and informa-tion warfare domains, it added.

Besides enhancement of opera-tional preparedness, the statement said, the exercise will also focus on seaward defence of the coast and response against emerging non-traditional threats emanating from sea. — Express Tribune

S E A S P A R K 2 0 1 5

WEAPONS SEIZED Pakistani paramilitary officials examine seized

weapons and ammunition on display for the media in

Khyber Agency on Wednesday. Authorities in Paki-

stan’s northwestern Khyber tribal district seized a

large cache of heavy weapons and ammunition during

various raids against militants. — AFP

Hailstorm hits capitalISLAMABAD: The weather in the capital changed pleasantly as it was hit by heavy rainfall and hail.

Heavy rain and hailstorm lashed through scattered areas of Islamabad bringing down the mercury level.

Continue“This rain spell will continue

for a few days,” Director General

Met Office Ghulam Rasool said. “As it is the last leg of the pre-

vailing weather system, thunder-storms and hailstorms are ex-pected to continue till Thursday morning,” he added.

Flight delaysFurther, flights departing from Islamabad airport were delayed owing to the hailstorm, a CAA of-ficial said. — Express Tribune

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Talat Masood

The news that Chinese Military Commis-sion’s Vice-Chairman Fan Changlong will be visiting Pakistan and India next month is an interesting development.

Although the vice-chairman’s ministry deals with intelligence and operations related matters, the visit reflects the growing clout and confidence of China and its desire to deepen relations with Paki-stan and, simultaneously, make efforts at improving relations with India.

This visit demonstrates that its strong strategic partnership with Pakistan is not an impediment in the way of building better ties with India.

The message repeatedly conveyed by the Chi-nese leadership at different forums is that its primary focus is on economic development and internal stability for which it seeks good relations with all its neighbours. These high-level visits and occasional pronouncements serve to reassure the world that while it is modernising its three ser-vices and upgrading its nuclear capabilities, these are not directed against any country, but meant primarily for self-defence.

To what extent will these statements be accepted at face value is another matter as it is fairly obvi-ous that in the longer term, the Chinese military’s modernisation is designed to counter US military dominance. While it is in India’s interest to keep the strategic rivalry alive to benefit from support from Washington and the West, it does value its relations with China as mutual trade between the two coun-tries has crossed $70 billion.

These developments indicate how much China and India have improved their relations in the last few years. It is not that they have solved their border dispute or overcome their strategic divergence. But they engage positively and cooperate where inter-ests converge to advance the larger goal of building their economies and achieving political stability.

The Chinese leadership has deliberately avoided any proactive role in regional disputes that do not affect the countries directly. But as China’s power grows, this policy could change. Already, a glimpse of this was witnessed when the Chinese leadership hosted talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. It goes to their credit that the Chinese commanded respect from all the stakeholders. The question now arises: is Fan Changlong’s visit a pre-

cursor to China’s role as a stabiliser in a volatility-prone South Asia? In all probability, during his visit to India, he will try to allay any fears regarding the CPEC and will probably explore the possibility, if any, of Beijing playing a role in reducing tensions between the two countries.

China realises the dangers inherent in South Asia and how these could affect Afghanistan, where the situation is already getting messy. Any conflagra-tion between India and Pakistan will have a spillo-ver effect and place China in an awkward position.

While Pakistanis of all strata are generally appre-ciative of China’s policy of harmonising relations with neighbours to focus more on internal develop-ment and prosperity, they have not been success-ful in applying this approach in their own context. Of course, for this state of affairs, the blame rests equally on our neighbour.

There are lessons for Pakistan and India in this approach. If they cannot solve their intractable problems in the near future, at least they can sta-bilise the situation on the border, engage more ro-bustly in trade and commerce, and maintain con-tact at the political level so that greater attention could be given to addressing challenging problems facing the people. But with the BJP’s intransigent attitude and the Pakistani establishment in no mood to show flexibility, relations remain frozen, which portends danger.

India has developed the Cold Start doctrine and Pakistan’s riposte is the introduction of tactical nu-clear weapons. Realising that threatening a nuclear Pakistan with conventional raids is not enough, In-dia is producing its own version of tactical nuclear weapons. And the two countries are not on speaking terms, and Pakistan, despite its best efforts, does not have full control over extremist elements. In all this, the role of the US has not been helpful. If relations were to improve, there would be relatively greater chance of moving towards some form of solution.

Clearly, the present policy of both countries has resulted in greater hardship for the Kashmiris and pulled the two countries further apart. It diverts Pakistan’s scarce national resources towards mili-tary build-up and intrinsically weakens its econo-my and political development, apart from divert-ing focus from combating terrorism. Our policy also further increases the civil-military imbalance with external security taking precedence over in-ternal stability and peace. - Express Tribune

Next US president needs to reestablish supremacyThis refers to the online story, Plane crashes in South Sudan, dozens killed (November 4). Within a gap of a few days, two Russian planes have crashed. In the Egypt air crash, IS militants claimed downing

the aircraft. I believe some other terrorist group will make the same claim in South Sudan, which is also a conflict zone. I am pretty sure Moscow intends to use these incidents as a pretext for further interven-tions. It seems that under US President Barack Obama, the unipolar world has given rise to conditions where other powers act to impose their will. I hope the next US president is a military hawk who reestablishes America as the single power to be able to dictate crisis solutions. — Rodney Sylvester, Ruwi

A lot depends on Joe Root if England are to win the matchThis refers to the news story, England stumble in run chase (November 4). It’s truly heartening to see Pakistan come back in the last Test match. However, I be-lieve if top batsman Joe Root dictates the

innings, it’s very likely that the match will end in a draw or, if he finds a top order partner, England might as well go on to win the match. Root is a great batsman and I don’t think the Pakistani attack has the capability to break his defences. — Rehanul Haq, Muscat

T I M E S O F O M A NT H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5A12

Learning from the Chinese experience

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OCCI economic committee meetsMUSCAT: The OCCI economic committee held its first meet-ing of the year under the chairmanship of Jamil bin Ali Sul-tan, vice president of the chamber who is also chairman of the committee. The meeting was attended by members of the private sector in the committee. The committee discussed the prerogatives of the committee and regulation of commit-tees. It also touched on the service offered by the chamber to businessmen in various fields, including consultancy and eco-nomic research.

1914: France and Great Britain declare war on Turkey.

1935: Parker Brothers company launches “Monopoly,” game. 1940: President Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected for third

term. 1968: Richard Nixon is elected 37th president of the United States.

2007: Chang’e 1, China’s lunar satellite, begins orbit of moon.

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George Osborne, the British finance minister, made a good speech in Berlin on Tuesday,

coming closer than the United Kingdom has so far to spelling

out what reforms of the European Union it needs to stay

in the blocbit.ly/UKGermanyEUreform

MARK CHAMPION

Greece has been gone from the headlines since Prime Minister

Alexis Tsipras was re-elected. No news is good news, and Greece

has been doing better than expected despite its customary

slowness in responding to creditor demandsbit.ly/greekeconomy

LEONID BERSHIDSKY

As in so many other things, China’s seeking to play a leading

role in 21st century science. And it’s using a familiar weapon:

money. Last week, Chinese physicists announced that they’d

completed the initial design for a massive high-energy particle

collider, operational around 2025bit.ly/chinascienceambition

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Greece relocates 6 migrant families to Luxembourg

ATHENS: Greece relocated six asylum-seeking families to Lux-embourg on Wednesday, the first such transfer from its soil under an European Union plan to ease the burden on nations inundated by an influx of hundreds of thou-sands of refugees.

Smiling parents holding young children posed for “selfies” with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn beside a Greek airliner on the runway be-fore boarding the flight from Ath-ens, live footage showed.

“Thirty in the face of thousands who have fled their homes in Syria and Iraq is a drop in the ocean,” Tsipras said.

“But we hope that this becomes a stream, and then a river of hu-manity and shared responsibility, because these are the principles upon which the European Union was built.”

About 86 people have already been transferred directly from It-aly to Sweden and Finland under the scheme. But some EU mem-ber states have not signed up to it, citing a lack of resources and in-frastructure or fears their stabil-ity could be at risk from taking in large numbers of migrants.

“The relocation of Iraqi and Syrian refugees that we saw to-day is an encouraging signal we are moving in the right direc-tion,” European Parliament head Martin Schulz said during a visit to Athens.

“It is not sufficient that (only) eight states of the EU are partici-pating in the relocation.

This is a common challenge.”The two-year, $852 million, re-

location scheme is funded by the 28-member European Union.

More than 590,000 refugees have entered crisis-hit Greece via its long Mediterranean sea boundary with Turkey this year, putting even more pressure on a country struggling to lift itself out of its debt crisis.

On a visit to Athens which coincides with the first bailout review by Greece’s international lenders, European Economic Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Greece should not let up on reforms because of the migration influx.

“The Commission has but one

compass, that of the growth and stability pact, and rules should be implemented,” he said, speaking through an interpreter.

“Concerning Greece, we have another compass, the adoption of the memorandum of understand-ing and the (reform) programme.

Nothing should make us loosen these reforms.”

Spent billionsGreece has already spent 1.5 bil-lion euros on reception centres and staff to handle the migrants, a government source told Reuters.

It needs 100 million euros for identification and relocation, the source said.

EU leaders approved the trans-fer of about 160,000 asylum seek-ers from Greece and Italy in Sep-tember, after crisis talks marred

by bitter disputes over how to share the burden.

However, the death toll from drowning among refugees mak-ing the short but dangerous crossing from Turkey to Greece’s outlying eastern islands is now rising again as the seas have got rougher and temperatures drop as winter approaches.

From the beginning of the year until October 29, at least 435 peo-ple died, including many children.

Such danger could be avoided if refugees were registered and entered legal relocation schemes from Turkey itself, Tsipras said.

Five more people, three of them children, died in an over-night sea crossing from Turkey to the island of Lesbos, which has received the bulk of refugees coming from Turkey. — Reuters

Smiling parents

holding young

children posed for

‘selfies’ with Greek

Prime Minister

Alexis Tsipras and

Luxembourg Foreign

Minister Jean

Asselborn beside

a Greek airliner on

the runway before

boarding the flight

from Athens

GOOD TIDINGS: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, second left, and European Parliament President Martin Schulz, left, meet with a

group of Iraqi refugees at Athens airport on Wednesday, prior to the refugees’ departure for Luxembourg. — AFP/PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE/ANDREA

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Maldives declares state of emergency ahead of protestsMALE: The Maldives declared a state of emergency for 30 days on Wednesday citing a threat to na-tional security, as President Ab-dulla Yameen sought to shore up his power over the Indian Ocean island nation following a suspect-ed assassination attempt.

The authorities acted after dis-covering explosive devices near Yameen’s official residence and the main mosque in the capital Male, as well as stashes of weap-ons believed to have been stolen from army stores.

“Because these would be a threat to the public and the nation, the National Security Council advised taking immediate steps to protect the people of Maldives,” Attorney General Mohamed Anil said in a live televised address.

The imposition of emergency rule, for the first time under a con-stitution passed in 2008, came two days before a demonstration planned by the main opposition party.

The string of tropical islands, home to 400,000 people and a fa-

vourite of tourists, has been in tur-moil since a September 28 blast on board Yameen’s launch as it was about to dock at the capital, Male.

Yameen was unhurt but his wife and two aides were injured in the explosion, which the government

quickly concluded was an attempt on his life.

Senior ministers told Reuters the government would only make use of limited powers to restrict the right of assembly. There would no curfew or arbitrary detention.

“Please go ahead with your holi-days -- the Maldives are a peaceful country,” Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon told Reuters. “There has never been a major incident targeting tourists.”

A Western diplomat in Colombo

said European Union members may consider a travel advisory af-ter the order, which comes just be-fore the peak tourism season.

Britain advised its citizens after the order to “take extra care”, when travelling to the Maldives.

A record 1.2 million tourists vis-ited in 2014, accounting for 29 per-cent of the economy.

The opposition Maldivian Dem-ocratic Party (MDP) had planned the Friday protest to demand the release of ex-president Mohamed Nasheed, jailed in March for 13 years for terrorism in a trial that drew international criticism.

A spokesman for Nasheed said imposing emergency rule showed that Yameen, having locked up his opponents, had lost the support of his allies and could no longer count on the loyalty of the security forces.

“It looks like Yameen has lost control or is losing control,” the spokesman said, expressing con-cern that the state of emergency could be indefinite.

The US Federal Bureau of In-

vestigation, asked to examine the scene of the boat blast, said it found “no conclusive evidence” that a bomb had exploded, raising doubts over its cause.

Maumoon, however, said Sri Lankan and Saudi Arabian inves-tigators had found traces of high explosives.

The government was “con-vinced” that the blast was caused by a bomb.

Yameen has acted quickly to crack down on those suspected of disloyalty, with Vice President Ahmed Adeeb arrested in connec-tion with the explosion and several suspects deported to the Maldives from Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Adeeb’s office in a statement said the move would jeopardise the Maldives’ economic future by forcing other countries to advise their citizens not to visit due to safety concerns.

Adeeb denies any involvement in the blast, which has ratcheted up tension that was already run-ning high after the trial and im-prisonment of Nasheed. — Reuters

D E E P E N D I N G T U R M O I L

The string of tropical

islands, home to 400,000

people and a favourite

of tourists, has been

in turmoil since a

September 28 blast on

board President Yameen’s

launch as it was about to

dock at the capital, Male

Romanian PM Ponta quits after protestsBUCHAREST: Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta quit on Wednesday, in a surprise move that will probably produce a new cabinet led by a technocrat, after street protesters demanded resig-nations over a deadly fire in a Bu-charest nightclub at the weekend.

Ponta is the country’s only sit-ting premier to face a trial for cor-ruption, and he was already under pressure to quit from the political opposition and President Klaus Iohannis, who defeated him in last November’s presidential election.

His departure might lead to a political realignment, although the coalition of three mainly leftist parties that form a majority in par-liament showed no signs of a split.

Elections due next yearNew elections are not due until December 2016.

After an emergency coalition meeting, their leader, Liviu Drag-nea, said the priority was “to pre-serve stability” of the country.

The next prime minister may not come from the party’s ranks, Dragnea said.

“It would be very hard to propose and support a political person as prime minister anymore, he said.

Iohannis, the former leader of the opposition Liberals, has said his aim is to bring his party to power.

The constitution allows him to nominate a new premier, who then needs to win a vote of confi-dence in parliament.

Early elections appear unlikely, although the risk does exist.

They would be held only if par-liament failed to approve two prime ministerial nominations by the president in votes of confi-dence within 60 days of the first nomination.

No such snap poll has been held since the 1989 fall of communism.

Ponta stepped down to take re-sponsibility for a fire in a nightclub on Friday night that had claimed the lives of 32 people by Tuesday and set off protests nationwide.

— Reuters

N I G H T C L U B F I R E

A14

WORLDT H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

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One of two black boxes from Russian aircraft damaged

CAIRO: Investigators have ex-tracted and validated the contents of the flight data recorder, one of two so-called black boxes recov-ered from the Russian airplane that crashed in Egypt, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry said the second black box which contains the cock-pit voice recorder (CVR) was par-tially damaged and much work was

required to extract data from it.“Consequently no further com-

ment on the CVR can be made. Examination of parts on site is continuing,” said the ministry’s statement.

Earlier, IS’s Egyptian affiliate dismissed in an audio message doubts that it had downed the Russian passenger plane over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing all aboard, and said it would tell the world how it did so in its own time.

The Russian-operated Air-bus A321M crashed on Saturday shortly after taking off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on its way to St Petersburg, killing all 224 people on board.

StatementIn Sinai Province, an Egyptian group loyal to IS, said in a state-ment the same day that it had brought down the airliner “in re-sponse to Russian air strikes that killed hundreds of Muslims on Syrian land”.

The claim was dismissed by Russian and Egyptian officials.

Security experts and investi-

gators have said the plane is un-likely to have been struck from the outside and Sinai-based mili-tants are not believed to possess the technology to shoot down a jet from a cruising altitude above 30,000 feet. Russian officials have, however, said the plane probably broke up in the air, leaving open the prospect of some kind of ex-plosion on board.

Asked to comment on those re-marks and local press reports that the black box voice recorders had picked up unusual sounds before the crash, Civil Aviation Minister Hossam Kemal said the facts had yet to be established.

“This is all speculation. There is nothing definitive until the inves-tigation commission completes its probe,” he said.

In an audio message posted on a Twitter account used by the group, IS’s Egyptian affiliate in-sisted it was behind the crash.

The claim could not immedi-ately be authenticated.

“We, with God’s grace, are the ones who brought it down, and we are not obliged to disclose the mechanism of its demise,” the speaker said.

Russia, an ally of Syria, launched air raids against opposi-tion groups in Syria including IS on September 30. - Reuters

Egypt’s Civil Aviation

Ministry said the

second black box

which contains

the cockpit voice

recorder (CVR) was

partially damaged

and much work was

required to extract

data from it

DISTRAUGHT: A woman with her baby reacts as she stands near

floral tributes for the victims of a plane crash, at an entrance of

Pulkovo airport outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on Wednesday. AP/ PTI

Iran says no cooperation with US in ‘fight against terrorists’

DUBAI: Iran will not cooperate with the United States on the “fight against terrorists in Syria”, a top ad-viser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.

“Iran will not cooperate directly or indirectly with the US,” Ali Ak-bar Velayati was quoted as saying on Press TV after a meeting with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in Tehran.

“Iran will not accept any ini-tiative regarding Syria without consultation with the country’s government and people,” Press TV also quoted Velayati as saying.

In a meeting with Mekdad on Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minis-ter reiterated Tehran’s position that it believed the Syrian crisis only had a political solution.

“We believe only the Syrian peo-ple should decide about their fu-ture and others can only facilitate this political process to resolve the crisis,” Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by Fars news agency. World and regional powers including Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Vienna this month to dis-cuss a political solution to Syria’s civil war but failed to reach a con-sensus on the future of President Bashar Al Assad. - Reuters

S Y R I A

Aid rushed to Yemen

after cyclone displaces

more than 40,000

ADEN: Aid flights rushed food and tents to the Yemeni island of Socotra, local officials said on Wednesday, after it was hit by a rare cyclone the United Nations said has displaced 40,000 people there and on the mainland.

Cyclone Chapala killed three people when it made landfall on Monday on Socotra, an isolated island in Yemen that has about 50,000 inhabitants and an exotic mixture of unique flora and fauna.

Another man drowned when the hurricane-force storm reached mainland Yemen’s fifth largest city, Mukalla on Tuesday, sending thousands of families in the region scrambling for higher and drier land. Three Omani planes bearing tents and food and a United Arab Emirates cargo plane with 20 tons of food and blankets have arrived on the remote island in the past 24 hours, the Emirates News Agency reported on Wednesday citing lo-cal officials.

“Initial reports suggest more than 40,000 people displaced or temporarily evacuated from coastal areas and at least 450 homes damaged and destroyed,”

the UN aid agency OCHA said, with Socotrans accounting for half of the total displaced.

The storm is set to dissipate as it leaves warm waters and heads inland into Yemen and Saudi Ara-bia’s desert interior.

Civil defence and recovery ef-forts are hampered by a seven-month war raging in the impover-ished country.

Residents despaired of receiv-ing help any time soon.

“There’s been severe damage the people’s farms and homes... two villages have been complete-ly submerged, roads and bridges have been totally washed away by the floods and the government didn’t do a thing,” said Jamal Al Awlaqi by telephone from Ataq, capital of Shabwa province lo-cated along the coast and inland.

The Saudi-owned TV channel Ekhbariya reported that the Arab coalition conducted air strikes on seven Houthi-run provinces na-tionwide on Tuesday.

Security sources said un-known assailants killed two peo-ple at a checkpoint in the capital on Wednesday. - Reuters

S O C O T R A I S L A N D

NATURE’S FURY: Damaged fishing boats are beached in the

southern Yemeni port city of Aden on Tuesday, following a tropi-

cal cyclone that has slammed into the war-racked country. - AFP

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Poland party for talks with Germany on regional issues

WARSAW: Poland’s Law and Justice party, which won last month’s election, does not want to worsen relations with neigh-bouring Germany but does want talks on issues separating the two countries, the potential new for-eign minister said on Wednesday.

“There are a few issues that are dividing us,” Witold Waszc-zykowski told the public televi-sion channel TVP Info.

“For example, in relation to

security in our region, Germany does not share our fears.

“They also do not share our fears over energy problems, and these are the issues that need to be talked over,” said Waszc-zykowski. Among other reasons, Warsaw needs cooperation from other EU states to sustain sanc-tions on Russia over its annexa-tion of Ukraine’s Crimea penin-sula and its role in destabilising eastern Ukraine.

C O O P E R A T I O N

AMMAN/WASHINGTON: The Syrian army regained control of a road southeast of Aleppo on Wednesday, taking back the gov-ernment’s only supply route into the city from IS militants who had seized it last month.

State TV said army forces took full control of the road which runs from Aleppo through the towns of Khanaser and Ithriya and links up with the cities of Hama and Homs further south.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group confirmed the report.

The road is the army’s sup-ply route to government-held western parts of Aleppo, home to around 2 million people.

State TV rolled live footage of the road being reopened.

Cheering Syrian soldiers crowded around a reporter who declared: “The buses did not wait until tomorrow morning” to begin using the road again, as a handful of vehicles drove behind them.

IS said late last month it had taken control of most of the Syr-ian army checkpoints on the road and seized large caches of ammu-nition from army outposts in the

area. Areas around Aleppo have seen weeks of heavy fighting af-ter Syrian troops backed by Hez-bollah and other allied fighters launched an offensive to retake

surrounding territory from rebels and extremists.

Meanwhile in Washington, the top US diplomat for the Middle East Anne Patterson told a con-gressional committee that 85 to 90 per cent of Russian strikes in Syria have hit the moderate Syr-ian opposition.

Anne also told a House of Rep-resentatives hearing that Presi-dent Barack Obama is consider-ing additional ways to “intensify” the campaign against IS, which has seized swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq.

“The president is looking at a number of other efforts to in-tensify our efforts in this battle,” she said.

The Obama administration last week announced it would send fewer than 50 special op-erations forces into Syria in an advise and assist capacity, weeks after Russia escalated its in-volvement in the conflict with its own air strikes. — Reuters

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WORLDT H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

Erdogan for constitutional changeANKARA: Flush with an election victory, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan demanded constitution-al change that he wants to gain sweeping powers, and vowed to “liquidate” Kurdish guerrillas in a defiant speech that gave no quarter to those hoping for conciliation.

Three days after the AK Party he founded won back the mandate to govern alone in a surprise land-slide, Erdogan used Wednesday’s speech to make clear military ac-tion in the largely Kurdish south-east would not end any time soon.

The election victory also puts him closer to his dream of chang-ing Turkey’s constitution to con-solidate power in the hands of the presidency, a move his opponents

fear would enable an already au-thoritarian leader to govern un-checked.

Turkey’s dominant political fig-ure, Erdogan served as prime min-ister for more than a decade before being elected president last year.

He aims to transform the previ-ously ceremonial office into that of a chief executive, a Turkish take on a Russian or US-style presidency.

That goal was set back when the AKP lost its parliamentary majori-ty in June but is again within reach after Sunday’s surprisingly strong comeback in an election rerun.

He said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu would consult opposi-tion leaders on rewriting the con-stitution, and he would back any

parliament decision to hold a ref-erendum on changes.

“One of the most important mes-sages of November 1 is that Turkey needs to solve the new constitu-tion issue as soon as possible,” Er-dogan said in a speech to hundreds of “muhtars”, local administrators generally loyal to the government.

“I hope that opposition parties will not fail to contribute to the work on this.

If they try to block it, they will give account for it at the next elec-tion in four years.”

He did not directly refer to presidential powers, but has long made clear those were the chang-es he seeks.

“The executive presidency is

as important as the new constitu-tion for Turkey’s growth,” Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan, a long-standing Erdogan advisor, said on Tuesday.

“This is one of the issues on which we will not give up.”

With an election cycle stretch-ing back almost two years now be-hind him, many Turks wondered whether Erdogan would tone down his combative leadership style and adopt a less polarising tone. Wednesday’s speech sug-gested not.

“For whoever wants to make life unbearable for us, we will make life unbearable for them,” he said, in apparent reference to violence between the security forces and

Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the southeast.

He pledged to continue opera-tions against the PKK until every last insurgent was “liquidated”.

Turkey launched military action against the Kurdish insurgents in July in response to what it said was a surge in attacks on the secu-rity forces.

Two soldiers and 15 militants were killed in clashes on Wednes-day, the general staff said, a day af-ter the military carried out new air strikes on PKK camps. A 20-year-old man was shot dead in the town of Silvan, where authorities or-dered a round-the-clock curfew in three neighbourhoods for a second successive day. — Reuters

The Turkish

president aims

to transform

the previously

ceremonial office

into that of a chief

executive, a Turkish

take on a Russian or

US-style presidency

Syria army regains control of Aleppo supply route as US criticises air raids

C O N F L I C T

SUCCESS: Syrian pro-government forces ride on tank on the only

road into the government-held side of Aleppo. — AFP

One of the most important messages of

November 1 is that Turkey needs to solve the

new constitution issue as soon as possible

Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President

A16 T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

MARKEWWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COMT H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5B

Muscat

5,941.58 - 6.79

- 0.11%

Dubai

3,426.74- 95.16

- 2.70%

Abu Dhabi

4,263.63- 58.53

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Saudi Arabia

7,035.46+ 80.35

+ 1.16%

Kuwait

5,774.86- 19.39

- 0.33%

Bahrain

1,251.19 - 8.78

- 0.70%

Qatar

11,512.17- 4.42

- 0.04%

CURRENCY RATES* DRAFT RATES (OMR1)* GOLD PRICES*Forex rates vs OMR1*

US Dollar .................................2.58

Euro ............................................2.34

Pound ........................................... 1.67

Indian Rs .............................170.04

Pak Rs ...................................269.32

Bangla Taka......................200.40* Rates are as of Nov. 4

Source: Bank Muscat

Indian Rs .................................. 170.00

Pakistan Rs .............................273.50

Sri Lanka Rs ..........................364.00

Bangla Taka........................... 202.30

Phil Peso .................................... 121.05

* Rates as of Nov. 4 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......14.40

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......13.90

Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ........... 135.00

Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) .............128.50

* Rates as of Nov. 4

Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Type ............................Delivery...........Price

Oman Crude ............. (Spot) ........$45.87

Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$45.67

Murban Crude ........ (Spot) .........$46.71

Arabian Light ......... (Spot) .........$44.17

N.Sea Brent ............... (Spot) ........$50.37

West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ......... $47.72

CRUDE OIL PRICE

DIGEST VIDEO

S CA N T H I S Q R CO D E TO I N STA N T LY L AU N C H T H E V I D EO

Top stories in one minute with our new daily Digest

Oman confident of winning case on anti-dumping

A. E. JAMESbusinesseditor@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Oman is confident of winning an anti-dumping case against a local steel pipeline man-ufacturer in the United States, said a top-level official at the Min-istry of Commerce and Industry.

An anti-dumping lawsuit was filed by the United States against Oman and four other countries for selling steel pipes below its fair price. The lawsuit, filed by the Department of Commerce, follows allegations on dumping against these countries by US steel manufacturing firms.

“This is due to a misunder-standing of some of the US regu-lations by the local companies,” Ahmed Hassan Al Dheeb, under-secretary at the Ministry of Com-merce and Industry, told journal-ists on the sidelines of an event here on Tuesday.

Al Dheeb said the lawyers of the company would defend the case and the first two to three similar cases were won by Oman in ear-lier occasions.

Al Jazeera SteelAl Jazeera Steel in a stock market disclosure early this week said that the US authorities had cho-sen for investigation period be-tween July 2014 and June 2015.

A US International Trade Com-

mission circular earlier said that the investigation would be for cir-cular welded carbon-quality steel pipes. The US steel pipe makers, which lodged a complaint against dumping, are Bull Moose Tube Company, Exltube, Wheatland Tube Company and Western Tube and Conduit.

Referring to dumping issues

faced by Omani cement produc-ers, Al Dheeb said that the compa-nies will have to prove that these are dumping. “There are certain procedures to prove that it was a case of dumping.”

Omani companies have been complaining of dumping by its counterparts from neighbour-ing United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to oversupply. Al Dheeb said that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has created a sepa-rate department for looking into dumping issues.

Incentives to industriesReferring to the recent oil price fall and the consequent plunge in government revenue, he said the authorities would not discontin-ue incentives given to industries. However, he noted that some of the projects will be affected in the aftermath of low oil income.

Talking about the rise in natu-ral gas price supplied to indus-tries, Al Dheeb said the govern-ment had conducted a study on the impact of such a hike and found that the maximum impact would be only 7-8 per cent.

He also noted that the export development agency of Oman has been taking several measures to enhance exports, which include trade exhibitions in several coun-tries. Ithraa will be conducting an Omani products exhibition in Uganda, after a series of such suc-cessful exhibitions in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

An anti-dumping lawsuit has been filed by

the US against Oman and four other countries

for selling steel pipes below its fair price

SMEs are receiving fast-track services: Manpower ministerELHAM POURMOHAMMADIelham@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are receiv-ing fast-track services and good support, said Oman’s minister of manpower, adding that some manpower rules are being re-vised from time to time based on the market requirements.

The SME sector helps Oma-nis become an employer and also creates new jobs for locals so it is important to support them, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri told reporters on the side-lines of the third SME Expo, which was inaugurated at the Oman International Exhibition Centre on Tuesday.

Sustainable economy“We do have windows for them to help them, and we give the opportunity to them to get clear-ance and get expatriates,” the minister said, adding that SMEs are receiving ‘fast-track’ ser-vices as they are the backbone of the economy.

Commenting on whether the new manpower regulations have affected the SMEs and the economy, Al Bakri said that the economy is sustainable and small and medium businesses have not been affected. Efforts are un-

derway to create more and more SMEs, he noted, adding, “We al-low them to invite expatriates to work with them, but we need to be driven by the Omani people.”

Asked whether the two-year visa ban rule will be revised to support SMEs, the official said, “Definitely. That is revised from time to time according to need.”

Revising rules “We do have a committee follow-ing up their needs and require-ments,” he said and added that rules are revised according to the needs and based on the decision of the committee.

One hundred and forty SMEs from 15 different fields have par-ticipated in the third SME Expo, which aims at developing the capacity and skills of Omani en-trepreneurs and help them show-case and promote their services and products.

The exhibition, which con-cludes on November 7, also helps promote support for local brands and services.

The exhibition is organised by the Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada), the Pub-lic Authority for Craft Industry, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Al Raffd Fund and the Oman Internation-al Exhibition Centre. >B2

T H I R D S M E E X P O

Ahmed Hassan Al Dheeb,

undersecretary at the Ministry

of Commerce and Industry

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

B2

MARKETT H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

MUSCATSECURITIES MARKET

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4

REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING ............ 34,480 ............... 3,783........................8 ............0.109 ........... 0.110............0.109 ............0.110 ............. 0.106 ........... 0.004 ............. 3.774 ................0.110 ..............0.109................... 0.110 ...................13,406,250 .........0.100

OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 273,852 ............32,571..................... 27 ............0.118 ........... 0.120 ........... 0.118 ............0.119 ............. 0.115 ............ 0.004 ............. 3.478 ................0.120 .............. 0.119...................0.120 ................... 10,710,000 .........0.100

OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ................................................................5,071 ................1,661........................5 ........... 0.326 ........... 0.328 ...........0.326........... 0.328 ............. 0.318.............0.010 ............. 3.145 ................0.328..............0.322...................0.328 ..................16,400,000 .........0.100

OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 2,411,280 ......462,628................... 138 ............0.190 ........... 0.193 ...........0.189 ........... 0.192 ............. 0.188............ 0.004 ............. 2.128 ................0.193 .............. 0.192...................0.193 ...................28,814,400 .........0.100

OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 1,173,368........121,127......................18 ............0.103 ........... 0.105 ...........0.103 ........... 0.103 .............0.102 ............0.001 ............. 0.980 ................0.103 ..............0.103...................0.104.................... 6,060,851 ..........0.100

OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............. 80,500 .............23,091......................19 ........... 0.286 ........... 0.287 ...........0.284 .......... 0.287 .............0.285 ........... 0.002 ............. 0.702 ................0.284..............0.284...................0.287.................... 6,027,000 ..........0.100

OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 509,211 ............ 90,095..................... 28 ............0.177 ........... 0.178 ...........0.176 ............0.177 ............. 0.176 .............0.001 ............. 0.568 ................0.176 .............. 0.176...................0.177 ..................255,134,880........0.100

OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE .............. 1,057,168 ....... 196,633..................... 74 ............0.186 ........... 0.186 ...........0.186 ........... 0.186 ............. 0.185.............0.001 ............. 0.541 ................0.186 .............. 0.186...................0.187 ...................37,200,000 .........0.100

OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO......................................................................... 81,095 .............62,518......................13 ............0.768 ........... 0.772 ...........0.768 ........... 0.772 ............. 0.768............ 0.004 ............. 0.521 ................0.772 .............. 0.768...................0.772 ................. 502,528,946 .......0.100

OM0000001087 ............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 197,022 ............ 49,847........................6 ........... 0.253 ........... 0.253 ...........0.253 ........... 0.253 .............0.253 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.253 ..............0.253...................0.255...................25,300,000.........0.100

OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY ..................................... 25,000 ............48,500........................4 ............1.940 ........... 1.940 ...........1.940 ........... 1.940 .............1.940 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................1.940 .............. 1.850...................1.940..................174,018,000 ........0.100

OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 365,000 .........164,250..................... 10 ........... 0.450 ........... 0.450 ...........0.450........... 0.450 .............0.450 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.450 ..............0.440...................0.450..................148,892,720 ........0.100

OM0000001889 ............SALALAH MILLS ............................................................. 4,521 ............... 6,736..................... 10 ............1.490 ........... 1.490 ...........1.490 ........... 1.490 ............. 1.490............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................1.490 ..............1.400...................0.000 .................. 71,762,965 .........0.100

OM0000001962 ............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 204,650 ........... 12,348......................14 ............0.061 ........... 0.061 ...........0.060........... 0.060 .............0.060 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.060..............0.060...................0.061 ...................12,429,083 .........0.100

OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ............................................10,000 ...............4,120........................ 1 ............0.412 ........... 0.412 ...........0.412 ........... 0.412 ............. 0.412............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.412 ..............0.410...................0.412 ................... 25,216,160 .........0.100

OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................79,838 .............. 8,004........................8 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.101............0.100 ........... 0.100 .............0.100 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.101 ..............0.100................... 0.101 ....................3,000,000 ..........0.100

OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 173,205 ........... 21,602......................18 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.124 ............0.125 ............. 0.125............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.124 ..............0.124...................0.126 ................... 38,845,618 .........0.100

OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,059,842 ...... 568,125..................... 36 ........... 0.536 ........... 0.538 ...........0.536 ........... 0.536 .............0.536 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.536 ..............0.536...................0.540 ............... 1,228,416,912 ......0.100

OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ...... 30,300 ............ 59,388........................9 ............1.960 ........... 1.960 ...........1.960 ........... 1.960 ............. 1.960 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................1.960 ..............1.960...................2.145 ..................135,240,000 .......0.100

OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT .................... 5,000 ...................515........................ 1 ............0.103 ........... 0.103 ...........0.103 ........... 0.103 ............. 0.103............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.103 ..............0.099...................0.103 ...................20,600,000 ........0.100

OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 253,775 ............ 22,098......................16 ........... 0.088 ........... 0.088 ...........0.086........... 0.087 .............0.087 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.087 ..............0.086...................0.087...................25,228,315 .........0.100

OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ....................................................... 3,864 ............... 1,669........................7 ........... 0.432 ........... 0.432 ...........0.432........... 0.440 .............0.440 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.432 ..............0.432...................0.448 ..................26,620,000.........0.100

OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER ................................................................ 4,140 ............... 1,573........................3 ........... 0.380 ...........0.380 ...........0.380........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.380..............0.350...................0.378...................83,983,800 .........0.100

OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL ...............................................79,950 ............... 6,796........................9 ........... 0.085 ........... 0.085 ...........0.085 ........... 0.085 .............0.085 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.085 ..............0.084...................0.085...................14,875,000 .........0.100

OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................ 226,133 ..........101,758..................... 52 ........... 0.450 ........... 0.450 ...........0.448........... 0.450 .............0.450 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.450 ..............0.448...................0.450...................23,625,000 .........0.100

OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 257,823............ 43,620......................13 ............0.170 ........... 0.170 ...........0.168 ............0.169 ............. 0.170............-0.001 ........... -0.588 ...............0.168 .............. 0.168...................0.170 ...................49,120,023 .........0.100

OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 115,704 ...........188,161..................... 20 ............1.630 ........... 1.630 ...........1.625 ............1.625 ............. 1.635 ............-0.010 ........... -0.612................1.625 .............. 1.625................... 1.635 ................ 1,218,750,000 ......0.100

OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 378,208 ........... 43,872......................11 ............0.116 ........... 0.116 ............ 0.116 ............0.116 ............. 0.117 ............-0.001 ........... -0.855 ............... 0.116 .............. 0.116................... 0.117 ................. 232,036,284 .......0.100

OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ...........................................................9,146 ............. 10,185........................4 ............ 1.115 ............1.115 ............ 1.110 ............1.115.............. 1.125 ............-0.010 ........... -0.889 ............... 1.110 ...............1.110................... 1.125 ................. 223,000,000 .......0.100

OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ..............................................................54,032 .............12,968........................2 ........... 0.240 ...........0.240 ...........0.240 .......... 0.240 .............0.244 ...........-0.004 ............-1.639................0.240 ............ 0.240...................0.246 .................370,734,851 ........0.100

.............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 9,163,178 ....2,370,241...................584 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......30........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000002580 ...........OMAN EDU. & TRIN. INV. HOLDING.................... 27,455 ...............5,097........................3 ............0.182 ........... 0.192 ...........0.182 ........... 0.186 ............. 0.175 .............0.011 ............. 6.286 ................0.182 ..............0.182...................0.192 ...................13,020,000 .........0.100

OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 207,000 .............. 7,452........................4 ........... 0.036 ........... 0.036 ...........0.036........... 0.036 .............0.035 ............0.001 ............. 2.857 ................0.036 ..............0.035...................0.036....................3,060,000 ..........0.100

OM0000001053 ............OMAN TEXTILE HOLDING ................................... 186,310 .............70,810..................... 47 ............0.374 ........... 0.382 ...........0.374 ........... 0.380 .............0.370 ............0.010 ............. 2.703 ................0.378 ..............0.378...................0.382 ...................2,280,000 ..........1.000

OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ......................................................... 9,000 ...................531........................3 ........... 0.059 ........... 0.059 ...........0.059 ........... 0.059 .............0.058 ............0.001 ............. 1.724 ................0.059 ..............0.057...................0.059.................... 7,375,000 ..........0.100

OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................... 61,720 ............... 5,531........................9 ........... 0.090 ...........0.090 ...........0.089........... 0.090 .............0.089 ............0.001 ............. 1.124 ................0.089 ..............0.087...................0.089.................... 6,768,720 ..........0.100

OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS .................................................23,500 ............. 11,145........................3 ............0.474 ...........0.480 ...........0.474 ........... 0.474 .............0.470 ........... 0.004 ............. 0.851 ................0.480..............0.474...................0.500 ..................74,655,000 .........0.100

OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 250,498 ........... 38,290..................... 37 ............0.152 ........... 0.153 ...........0.152 ............0.153 ............. 0.152.............0.001 ............. 0.658 ................0.153 .............. 0.153...................0.154 ..................223,778,023 ........0.100

OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 836,310 ........... 64,401......................31 ........... 0.077 ........... 0.078 ...........0.077 ........... 0.077 .............0.077 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.078 ..............0.077...................0.078..................115,500,000 ........0.100

OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK................................................41,500 ...............3,083........................4 ............0.075 ........... 0.075 ...........0.074 ........... 0.074 .............0.074 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.074 ..............0.074...................0.075 ...................74,000,000 ........0.100

OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ............................. 30,000 ...............3,270........................3 ............0.109 ........... 0.109 ...........0.109 ........... 0.109 ............. 0.110 ............-0.001 ........... -0.909 ...............0.109 ..............0.108...................0.109 ...................10,900,000 .........0.100

OM0000001590 ............MUSCAT FINANCE ......................................................59,000 ...............8,142........................2 ............0.138 ........... 0.138 ...........0.138 ............0.138 .............0.140 ...........-0.002 ........... -1.429 ...............0.138 .............. 0.138...................0.000 ..................34,723,349 .........0.100

.............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,732,293 ....... 217,751................... 146 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ...... 11........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 ......................................... 102,607 ............10,261........................3 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.100 ...........0.100 ........... 0.100 .............0.095 ........... 0.005 ............. 5.263 ................0.100 ..............0.100...................0.103 ...................31,964,268 .........0.100

OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 ...........................5,198 .................. 577........................ 1 ............0.111 ............0.111 ............ 0.111 ............0.111.............. 0.111 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................ 0.111 ...............0.111................... 0.115 ................... 33,605,151 .........0.100

OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ................... 198,410 .............18,254......................12 ........... 0.092 ........... 0.092 ...........0.092........... 0.092 .............0.092 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.092..............0.092...................0.000 ..................29,822,868 .........0.100

.............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 306,215 ............29,091......................16 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 3........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME .................................................................. VOLUME ..... TURNOVER ............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE ......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % ............. LAST PR .....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP .PAR VALUE

O M A N S T O C K S

INDICESIndex .................................................High .................Low ..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff %MSM30 Index ........................................5,955.93 ...............5,941.58 ................... 5,941.58 ...................5,948.37 .................. -6.79 ...................-0.11Financial Index .....................................7,339.62 ............... 7,315.37 ....................7,324.81 ....................7,316.67 .................... 8.14 ................... 0.11Industrial Index ....................................7,303.07 .............. 7,292.28 ................... 7,292.28 ................... 7,297.92 .................. -5.64 .................. -0.08Services Index .......................................3,277.70 ...............3,275.12 ................... 3,276.09 ...................3,274.53 .................... 1.56 ................... 0.05MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................912.54 .................. 911.06 ....................... 911.06 ....................... 911.31 .................. -0.25 .................. -0.03

Trading SummaryVolume ................ Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up ............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded11,201,686 ...................2,617,084 .....................746 ................14,734,012,712 ................ 17 ........................7 ....................20 .........................44

MSM index in red zone

MUSCAT: Despite renewed re-tail interest in investment hold-ing companies, MSM general in-dex inched down by 0.11 per cent on Wednesday amid dull trading to close at 5941.58 points. The marginal drop in index was driv-en by decline in prices of index heavyweights BankDhofar and Raysut Cement with thin trading volumes. Sharia index was rela-tively flat at 911.06 points.

Al Anwar Holding was the most actively traded stock in terms of volume, while Bank Muscat remained as the most ac-tive in terms of turnover. The top gainer, Oman Education &Train-ing, closed higher by 6.29 per cent, while the top loser of the day, BankDhofar was down by 1.64 per cent.

As many as 746 trades were executed on Wednesday, generat-ing turnover of OMR2.61 million with 11.20 million shares chang-ing hands. The advance decline ratio was in favour of the gain-ing trend with 17 out of 44 stocks closing higher, while seven stocks declined. Prices of 20 stocks re-mained unchanged.

Foreign investors were net sell-ers to the tune of OMR562,000 while Omani investors were net buyers of shares amount-ing to OMR334,000 followed by GCC and Arab investors at OMR229,000.

Financial Index closed higher by 0.11 per cent at 7,324.81 points. Oman & Emirates, Sharqia Invest-ments, Al Anwar Holding, Gulf Investment Services and Bank Sohar increased by 3.77 per cent, 3.48 per cent, 2.13 per cent, 0.98 per cent and 0.57 per cent, respec-tively. Prices of BankDhofar, Mus-cat Finance, Takaful Oman, and HSBC Oman declined by 1.64 per cent, 1.43 per cent, 0.91 per cent, and 0.85 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index also declined by 0.08 per cent and closed at 7,292.28 points. Construction

Materials, Oman Textile Hold-ing, Oman Fisheries, Al Hassan Engineering, and Oman Flour Mills increased by 2.86 per cent, 2.70 per cent, 1.72 per cent, 1.12 per cent, and 0.85 per cent, re-spectively. Raysut Cement was the only stock that registered a decline from the industrial sec-tor companies and was down by 0.89 per cent before closing at OMR1.115.

Services Index inched up by 0.05 per cent to close at 3,276.09 points. Oman Education & Train-ing, National Gas, Phoenix Pow-er, OIFC, and Ooredoo also in-creased by 6.29 per cent, 3.14 per cent, 0.66 per cent, 0.54 per cent, and 0.52 per cent, respectively. Prices of Oman Telecommuni-cations Company (Omantel) and Renaissance Services declined by 0.61 per cent and 0.59 per cent, respectively.

Dubai stocks fallDubai stocks declined the most since August led by real estate companies and banks, putting the benchmark index about 1 percent off a bear market.

The DFM General Index dropped 2.7 per cent to close at 3,426.74, the lowest level since Aug. 24. It was the worst per-former among more than 90 gauges tracked globally. Emaar Properties led the retreat with a 5 per cent slide, the biggest in two months. Dubai Islamic Bank fell 4.2 per cent to the lowest in six months.

Dubai’s index declined for three straight months after a collapse in the price of crude battered economies in the oil- producing nations of the Gulf Co-operation Council. While Dubai doesn’t depend on crude directly, the capital of UAE relies on in-come from oil to fund govern-ment spending. S&P last week cut Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to A+. – United Securities/Bloomberg News

The top gainer, Oman Education & Training,

closed higher by 6.29%, while the top loser of

the day, BankDhofar, was down by 1.64%

Boost to local products

Speaking to Times of Oman, Khal-ifa Al Abri, acting chief executive officer of Riyada, said that the an-nual exhibition is a platform to support small and medium enter-prises and help them market their services and products.

It also allows the people in

the Sultanate of Oman to get ac-quainted with local products and encourages them to start buying Omani products and use the ser-vices of Omani companies.

The participating small and medium enterprises in the SME exhibition represent various

sectors such as green economy, craft industries, medical ser-vices, training services, hospital-ity services, e-services, travel and tourism services, food products, fashion accessories, incense, frankincense as well as restau-rants and cafes.

S M E E X H I B I T I O N

< FROM

B1

SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS: The SME sector helps Omanis to become employers and also

creates new jobs for locals so it’s important to support them, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri,

Minister of Manpower, told reporters. - A. R. RAJKUMAR/Times of Oman

B3T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

MARKET

$65b power contracts awarded in Middle EastTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Major power contracts worth more than $65 billion were awarded throughout the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region between September 2014 and September 2015, according to Mena Power 2016, the latest market intelligence report from MEED Insight.

More than 22 per cent of these contracts are represented by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Approximately 87 per cent of the total power investments have been channeled into genera-tion projects and the remaining 13 per cent into transmission sys-tems and distribution systems.

Additional demandThe report estimates that installed generating capacity across 14 na-tions analysed needs to rise by 143,221MW by 2020, an increase of about 50 per cent on the current level, to meet demand forecasts.

Author of report, Andrew Ro-

scoe, MEED’s power and water editor explained, “While several governments have taken steps to reform subsidies in an attempt to curb consumption in the wake of lower oil prices and rising subsidy bills, there can be no let-up in the drive to build new capacity to cope

with the additional demand and restore reserve margins to at least 15 per cent.”

Key factors driving up the de-mand for power include robust in-dustrial growth, rise in population and increase in housing and es-sential infrastructure investments

across various sectors. In the GCC, peak demand growth averaged 8.4 per cent in 2014, while for the en-tire Mena it was slightly higher at more than 9 per cent.

Looking ahead, the largest requirement for power will be in Egypt, where an estimated

27,985MW of new capacity is needed as a result of its fast grow-ing population.

While Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will require additional capacity of 20,239MW and 5,758MW re-spectively, the actual new build requirement will be much higher because of the need to replace or upgrade existing units on account of age, MEED says.

Key challenge“With some of the region’s govern-ments facing the prospect of dou-bling generation capacity by 2020, a key challenge will be securing financing to cover the significant investment required,” says Roscoe.

As mentioned in the report, faced with a shortage of read-ily available gas supplies, govern-ments are turning to alternative energy to bolster capacity-build-ing programmes.

The GCC’s first nuclear power plant is nearing completion in Abu Dhabi, with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia also planning major

nuclear power programmes. Dubai and Egypt are set to join

Morocco in adding coal-fired pow-er plants to their generation mix, while Jordan is exploring oil shale as an option.

A key feature of the report is the emergence of renewable en-ergy into the region’s power sector. “The year 2015 will be remem-bered as the year renewables fi-nally made a breakthrough on a large-scale in the MENA region,” says Roscoe.

The Mena Power 2016 report provides a comprehensive coun-try-by-country review of the re-gional power sector with in-depth analysis on supply and demand, projected investment levels, the role of the private sector and the search for alternative energy.

E L E C T R I C I T Y

StanChart bad loans show cracks in Asian economies

NEW YORK: As China’s growth sputters, the troubles at Standard Chartered are another bad omen for what were once Asian eco-nomic darlings.

The bank, which generates most of its income in the region, had gambled on success in emerg-ing markets such as India, which instead saddled the lender with delinquent loans. As a result, the company which opened its offices in Mumbai under Queen Victoria is now axing 15,000 jobs and is ask-ing investors for $5.1 billion.

“Standard Chartered are Asian specialists and are in all the main markets in the region, so in looking at them you can get a good sense for credit direction and lending appe-tite,” said Mark Holman, chief ex-ecutive officer at TwentyFour As-set Management in London, which oversees £5 billion ($7.7 billion).

Corporate debt defaultsFor now, Asia still has fewer corpo-rate debt defaults than other devel-oping countries, but rising leverage from India to Indonesia point to the risk of further non-payments. More stringent conditions from banks like Standard Chartered are slowing loan growth in the region, exposing more fissures in the cor-porate credit market.

“The bank’s struggle reflects the slowdown in Asian growth, higher bad debts, falling profit margins and weakening emerging-market currencies which hurt its earnings as it reports in US dollars,” said David Marshall, senior analyst at CreditSights Inc. in Singapore.

Like other developing nations, Asian companies took advantage of low interest rates. - Bloomberg News

B A N K I N G HSBC Bank Oman doubles small unit fund to OMR40m

Times News Service

MUSCAT: HSBC Bank Oman on Wednesday said that it is dou-bling the size of its International Growth Fund, which is focused on small and medium enter-prises (SMEs) and was initially launched last year.

HSBC is committing an addi-tional OMR20 million to Oman’s international and internation-ally aspirant SMEs, bringing the total value of the fund to OMR40 million. The fund con-tinues to be open to new and existing importing and export-ing customers who are based in Oman, and have cross-border trading requirements or aspire to grow internationally.

Announcing the launch, Iain Morrison, general manager and

head of commercial banking, HSBC Bank Oman, said, “Last year, we launched this first fund of its kind in Oman in the knowledge that SMEs are critical to the fu-ture of Oman’s economy and that supporting their growth and pros-perity is vital.”

“Today, we are reaffirming this commitment and are confident that the unique combination of our local knowledge and interna-tional expertise will continue to

enable international and interna-tionally aspirant SMEs in Oman to thrive,” he noted.

Range of sectors“Our initial fund has been allocat-ed across a range of sectors, such as those supporting oil and gas, as well as construction and general trading, for example, foodstuffs,” added Morrison.

The fund continues to be ad-ministered by HSBC Bank Oman’s

business banking team. “International and interna-

tionally aspirant SMEs play an important role and have a unique opportunity to increase their con-tribution to the local economy. Industry research reports that SMEs represent over 90 per cent of the total number of registered firms in Oman but the combined contribution to GDP (gross do-mestic product) is only around 15 per cent,” noted Daniel Felton,

head of corporate and business banking for HSBC Bank Oman.

This, combined with the fact that 78 per cent of firms in Oman employ five people or fewer and therefore account for less than 10 per cent of total employment nationwide, demonstrates the op-portunity that these businesses have to make a material contribu-tion to the growth and diversifica-tion of the economy in Oman.”

‘Growth Series’ seminars“At HSBC Bank Oman, supporting SMEs is not just about financing. There are other solutions that a bank can offer, including cash management, corporate cards, online banking and more. In ad-dition, and perhaps most impor-tantly, educating SME owners and providing them with access to the right information is critical in helping them to achieve their growth ambitions,” added Felton.

“Our quarterly ‘Growth Series’ seminars have been very popular with our SME clients, helping to share useful industry information as well as providing direct access to industry experts,” he said.

HSBC Bank Oman provides access to a wide range of busi-ness products and services for SMEs through to large corporates. Corporate financing solutions, including trade, treasury, global payments and cash management, corporate credit cards, custody, clearing, and time deposits are available to more than 10,000 cor-porate clients across the county.

HSBC Bank Oman is part of a global network of 6,100 offices in 72 nations and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa.

The fund continues

to be open to new and

existing importing

and exporting

customers who are

based in Oman, and

have cross-border

trading requirements

or aspire to grow

internationally

Fenchurch insurance

starts Oman operations

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Fenchurch Faris Insurance Services, a joint ven-ture between the OHI Group of Companies and Fenchurch Faris, Greece, announced the launch of its Oman operations on Tuesday.

The launch ceremony was held at the Chedi, Muscat, was inau-gurated by Ahmed B. Hassan Al Dheeb, undersecretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the presence of company officials and guests.

This milestone marked the beginning of Fenchurch Faris’ operations in Oman, building on its legacy of three decades as in-surance consultants and brokers. The company will transact direct and wholesale insurance broker-ing services for the Omani market.

Fenchurch Farishas a success-ful track-record as an independent insurance and reinsurance broker operating in the Middle East and Africa, with offices in Athens, Ku-wait, Amman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh and now Muscat.

The OHI Group is a premier

corporate house in the Sultan-ate, with its business interests ranging from contracting, tel-ecommunications, hospitality, broadcasting, real-estate, com-munications, and information technology solutions to marine, petroleum, and energy services in the core industrial sector. For over three decades, guided by the group’s philosophy of the ‘Power of Partnerships’, the OHI Group of companies has created some of the most enduring and successful partnerships.

Joint ventureThis joint venture will see Fen-church Faris Insurance Services offer direct and wholesale insur-ance broking services to meet the growing needs of clientele in Oman.

The new company is headed by S. Ramasubramanian, who joins Fenchurch Faris with over 25 years of experience in the in-surance field. Ramasubramanian is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute in London (ACII) and a Fellow of the Insur-ance Institute of India (FIII).

F E N C H U R C H F A R I S I N S U R A N C E

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

ADDITIONAL FUNDS: HSBC is committing an additional OMR20 million to Oman’s international

and internationally aspirant small and medium enterprises, bringing the total value of the fund to

OMR40 million. - A. R. RAJKUMAR/Times of Oman

Don’t litter a beautiful

country like OMAN.

Ensure proper disposal of garbage.

INCREASING DEMAND: Approximately 87 per cent of the total power investments have been chan-

nelled into generation projects and the remaining 13 per cent into transmission systems and distribu-

tion systems. – Bloomberg News

B4

FEATURET H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

IS JEEP THE NEW

JAGUAR?Last month, Consumer Re-

ports readers ranked the sport

utility vehicle line the second-

least-reliable in the United

States market, leading only

Fiat. If quality alone mattered,

Jeep would be doomed to the

bargain bin.Instead Jeep is, by any other

measure, a massive hit. The

iconic brand is closing in on

a second-straight year as the

fastest-growing major auto

line in the US sales in the mar-

ket rose 23 per cent this year

through September, outpacing

second-place Subaru’s 14 per

cent, after soaring 41 per cent

last year. Jeep, along with Ram,

is the main moneymaker for the

third-largest automaker in the

US, Fiat Chrysler.“Jeep reminds me of the Eu-

ropean sports cars of the late

’50s and ’60s,” said Michelle

Krebs, an analyst with Au-

totrader.com. “They were just

nightmares in terms of quality

and reliability, but people still

loved them. Jeep is unique. Peo-

ple of all ages really aspire to

owning one. It has a certain ca-

chet, regardless of the surveys.”

America’s renewed affection

for trucks and SUVs (sports

utility vehicles), deepened by

available credit, affordable fuel

and the latest technology, is

pushing auto sales to the high-

est level in at least a decade,

helping fuel Jeep’s expansion.

When automakers report

October sales, the industry

may show a 10 per cent jump

in car and light-truck deliver-

ies, to 1.41 million, the average

of four analyst estimates. The

annualised rate, adjusted for

seasonal trends, will probably

be 17.6 million, the average of

13 estimates in a survey. The

projected gains include 14 per

cent for Ford Motor, 12 per

cent  by General Motors and

13 per cent for Fiat Chrysler,

led by the 31 per cent gain that

TrueCar projects for Jeep.Long roadIt would be Fiat Chrysler’s 67th

consecutive monthly sales gain,

a run that owes a lot of its resil-

iency to Jeep. The brand’s go-

anywhere image was born on

the battlefields of World War

II and popularised in the 1980s

SUV boom with the debut of

the original Cherokee. Todd

Goyer, a Jeep spokesman, de-

clined to comment.Brand sales have been helped

by longtime stalwarts, Wran-

gler and Grand Cherokee, but

also relatively newer ones,

like the  resurrected Cherokee,

which went on sale in 2013, and

the Renegade, which started

selling in the US this year.

It isn’t just Consumer Re-

ports. J.D. Power ranked Jeep

below industry average in this

year’s survey of issues in the first

90 days of ownership. Only Sub-

aru, Smart, Chrysler and Fiat

ranked lower. Jeep placed third

from the bottom in J.D. Power’s

vehicle dependability study, a

longer-term look at quality. Jeep

outpaced only Land Rover and,

once again, Fiat.Teflon brandsTeflon-coated auto brands

aren’t new, they just tend to

be niche. Jaguar was a small

but infamous blend of beauty

and dubious dependability. It’s

since evolved into a brand with

above industry average reliabil-

ity and aspirations of BMW-

like volume.Last month, Consumer Re-

ports withdrew its recom-

mendation for Tesla Motors’s

Model S after owners com-

plained about quality issues as

minor as a squeaky roof and as

mission-critical as an electric

motor that needed replacing.

Despite the complaints, Tesla

owner satisfaction remains

high and demand outstrips sup-

ply. Through September, Tesla

had already topped last year’s

31,655 deliveries.Jeep’s resiliency isn’t just

a US phenomenon. Globally,

sales rose 39 per cent last year,

topping 1 million for the first

time. As recently as 2009, Jeep

was forecasting global sales

of 800,000 for 2014. A year

ago, Sergio Marchionne, Fiat

Chrysler’s chief executive offic-

er, said Jeep would sell 1.9 mil-

lion vehicles by 2018. Last week

he said that target ‘is probably

understated’.David Kelleher said he has

been selling Jeeps at his store

just west of Philadelphia since

2007. Ratings from Consumer

Reports, whether positive of

negative, have much less influ-

ence, he said, than what shop-

pers’ friends and neighbors

might say. “Build a Jeep, they’ll

come,” he said. -MARK CLOTHIER/ Bloomberg News

ues as ky roof and as

as an electric ded replacing. plaints, Tesla n remains tstrips sup-mber, Tesla ast year’s

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B5T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

ROUND-UPLove us on Facebook

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Zubair SEC offers retail business opportunities

MUSCAT: Zubair Small Enter-prises Centre (Zubair SEC) has announced, in collaboration with Oasis Logistics, one of the Zubair Group companies, the allocation of a wholesale business opportunity for members of Zubair SEC.

The centre announced at the beginning of October the launch of its third round of the Direct Sup-port Programme with an addition-al distinctive scheme, which is the allocation of a wholesale business for a seat out of the 10 winning seats of the programme for 2016. This step was taken by the centre in an effort to promote a wider span of business opportunities for entrepreneurs and build genuine commercial partnerships through the Zubair Group of companies, says a press release.

'Wholesale business' seat The idea was developed in collabo-ration with Oasis Logistics, to pro-vide a wholesale market contract for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). The entrepreneur win-ning this contract will be adopted by Oasis Logistics who will cover most of the operational costs in-cluding the wholesale shop with reasonable storage area, which

may be rented or owned by the winning entrepreneur. Earlier, the centre carried out a study on the local market and concluded that such projects will be successful due to the extreme market need for such warehouses and shops spe-cialising in consumption goods.

Support dedicated by Oasis LogisticsThe support to be provided by Oa-sis Logistics will include a range of logistical support such as provid-ing shop interior design, planning the complete commercial iden-tity to be introduced to the local market, as well as the provision of products to be sold in the whole-sale market. The company will also allow for a flexible payment method, in ad-dition to paying 50 per cent of the rent and operating cost up to OMR500 monthly, and the entre-preneur will be provided with ca-pacity building sessions in inven-tory management.

“Oman Oasis being a market leader in packaged water segments always believes in social responsi-bility as one of the focus areas and always encourages local talents in all fields. We are really happy

to join hands with Zubair SEC for encouraging local entrepreneurs to do a start-up collaboration,” says N. S. S. Subramanian, general manager of Oasis Water Company.

Role of Zubair SECOn the other hand, in addition to the logistical support provided by Oasis Logistics, the winning entrepreneur will receive from Zubair SEC an inclusive supervi-sion during the design stage of the corporate identity and will follow up on the business performance of the start-up. Zubair SEC will also support the winner in choosing the right location for the wholesale shop and provide the necessary training in marketing and sales. Moreover, the specialised team in the centre will follow up on the continuity and sustainability of the business.

Adel Al Hubaishi, senior adviser at Zubair SEC, said: “This coop-eration between Zubair SEC and Oasis Logistics comes to emphasis the determination of The Zubair Corporation to provide real oppor-tunities for small entrepreneurs in line with its strategic vision in sup-porting this important and prom-ising sector. Zubair SEC worked with Oasis Logistics to formulate

an integrated adoption model that provides all necessary elements for the success of such project.

“The adoption model was based on market analysis performed by both parties. We, in Zubair SEC, are pleased to provide all the help and support necessary for the suc-cess of such start-ups, as entrepre-neurs today require various types of support that exceed financial grants or equities to a fully inte-grated genuine support based on sound direction and real business opportunities.”

Role of the entrepreneur winning the contract Zubair SEC indicated during the launch of the third round of the Di-rect Support Programme some of the responsibilities to be carried by the winner of this wholesale con-tract. These responsibilities include allocating the project site, obtaining the required licenses, recruiting employees, project maintenance, building local business network and establishing business relationships with restaurants and the communi-ty in general in the area the business will operate through.

The last date to apply for the Direct Support Programme is No-vember 20.

This is an effort to promote a wider span of

business opportunities for entrepreneurs

and build genuine commercial partnerships

through the Zubair Group of companies in

collaboration with Oasis Logistics

Pizza Hut highlights

importance of hygiene

MUSCAT: Pizza Hut reinforced hygiene as a pillar of its food safety culture by participating in the Global Handwashing Day, an annual initiative by World Health Organisation, observed on Octo-ber 15. The Global Handwashing Day is a commemoration of in-ternational efforts for a healthier and more hygienic future.

In observance of the Global Handwashing Day, 34 Pizza Hut outlets across Oman reaffirmed their commitment to maintain high level of hygiene and deliver ‘trust in every bite’ to customers. A specially designed hand washing station, equipped with anti-bacte-rial soap, sanitiser, warm running water at 38 degrees Celsius, tis-sue and a foot-pedal dustbin, was installed at Pizza Hut outlets in Oman, says a press release.

“Hand washing is an inte-gral part of our quality assur-ance practice. We adhere to the 20-second hand wash rule, post the application of anti-bacterial soap, followed by a warm water rinse, patting the hands dry with a tissue and using the same to close the water tap. This prac-tice is crucial for the restaurant business, before and after food service, as it keeps germs and dis-eases at bay,” stated Alex Chacko, quality assurance manager, Pizza Hut Oman.

More than 250 internal audits

were conducted within Pizza Hut. In addition, unannounced swab testing was carried out by Atyab Foodtech, a leading ISO 17025 certified food technology and re-search institute; appointed to as-sess the restaurant chain’s com-mitment to hygiene standards.

“Cleanliness and hygiene are important to Pizza Hut not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because hygiene is a pil-lar of development and health. Hand washing is an easy and af-fordable practice that prevents infections and saves lives. At Piz-za Hut, we work towards deliv-ering customer experience that surpass all expectations. In doing so, we try to set measurable goals with respect to product, people and the planet. As part of this commitment, the observance of Global Handwashing Day, aims to instil handwashing awareness to raise the food safety culture in our outlets,” stated Yogesh Shah, general manager, Khimji Restau-rant Division.

The first-ever Global Hand-washing Day was held in the year 2008, a day that calls for im-proved hygiene practices. Global Handwashing Day is at the centre of a week of activities that mo-bilise millions of people in more than 20 countries across five continents to wash their hands with soap.

G L O B A L H A N D W A S H I N G D A Y

Al Madina Takaful opens customer

experience centre at Avenues Mall

MUSCAT: Al Madina Takaful, Oman’s first Islamic insurance provider, opened its new customer experience centre in Oman Ave-nues Mall, reaching out to custom-ers, closer to where it’s convenient and comfortable. This new centre is part of Al Madina Takaful’s all round approach to be where its customers is.

Al Madina Takaful has been finding new ways to bring about immeasurable ease by being con-

veniently located and easily acces-sible. This new customer centre is designed to aid the process of choosing the right insurance and get to know more about the dif-ferent product offerings, while ex-isting customers can renew their policies and seek assistance.

“With this new customer ex-perience centre, we bring ease and convenience to our custom-ers. We are committed to bring-ing convenience to the process

of choosing insurance and this is another way in which we can be closer to our customers,” said Us-ama Al Barwani, deputy CEO and secretary of Board of Directors, Al Madina Takaful.

Apart from this new centre, mInsurance, Oman’s first mobile app by Al Madina Takaful and yet another new branch in Ruwi are some of the other ways in which Al Madina Takaful has been expand-ing its reach to its customers.

N E T W O R K E X P A N S I O N

Al Hashar Koba batteries continue

to be customers’ preferred choice

MUSCAT: The technologi-cally superior, ISO 9001/ 14001/ 16949-certified Koba batteries, distributed in Oman by automo-tive giant Al Hashar, continue to be the preferred choice of discerning customers, owing to a host of unparalleled features including zero maintenance, ex-tra durability, fool-proof safety and enhanced starting power, to name a few.

“Choosing Koba is choosing peace of mind,” an Al Hashar spokesperson commented, add-ing, “The ultra high performance Koba batteries could easily get ahead of competition due to their high innovative quotient as reflected in its power-packed features that ensure utmost cus-tomer satisfaction.” Koba’s highly optimised X-Frame Grid Tech-nology improves overall battery performance, and in particular ensures fast and powerful start, while the advanced grid pro-tection feature extends battery life significantly. The optimised grid structure also prevents grid growth and short circuits. X-Frame Technology also makes production process more eco-friendly, says a press release.

The batteries are maintenance-free; and since they use Calcium-Tin alloy they are corrosion-free as well, which also significantly reduces self-discharge. Further, the enveloped separator design for low electric resistance boosts starting power by as much as 30 per cent and eliminates internal short, while the advanced Center Lug technology and cast-on-strap features minimise outside impact and vibration, he said.

Extended durability is achieved through using ultra micro-fibre special tissue, while hot melt glue helps resist vibration. Moreover, Koba batteries are protected from acid leakage, sparks inflow and gassing by using state-of-the-art special sealed cover. The batter-

ies come with an innovative han-dle design facilitating easy trans-portation and installation.

Another innovation is the Mag-ic Eye Indicator that helps easy monitoring of charging state.

Manufactured by the Seoul-headquartered ATLASBX Co, Ltd, Koba batteries enjoy high customer loyalty in the Sultan-ate. Koba batteries are available at all Al Hashar outlets and dealer network across the Sultanate and cater to various applications including automotive (including heavy truck), industrial and ma-rine. They suit all global standard specifications such as JIS, DIN and BCI.

Founded in 1944, the multiple award-winning ATLASBX is con-sidered a pioneer in manufactur-ing maintenance-free batteries, and today the company is a major player in the automotive batter-ies industry. ATLASBX has been manufacturing maintenance free batteries for the global market since 1980, and KOBA is one of its most reputed brands.

As a market leader, ATLASBX bagged the Korean government’s Export Awards in 1985, 1997, 2005, 2007, and 2008.

H I G H P E R F O R M A N C E

Majan University College celebrates 20th anniversaryMUSCAT: Under the auspices of Dr Rawya bint Saud Al Busaidi-yah, Minister of Higher Education, Majan University College sup-ported by National Bank of Oman celebrated 20th anniversary of its inception recently at the Hotel In-terContinental Muscat gardens.

The establishment of the college in 1995 as the first private higher education marked an era of close partnership in higher education between the public and private sectors. The institution began as the College of Administrative Sci-ences with 140 students and just one course.

Currently, Majan University College offers quality programmes with robust quality assurance sys-tems at the graduate level in Busi-ness Studies, Information Tech-nology and English language with over 3,750 students.

It also offers post graduate

programmes in business admin-istration, international human re-source management as well as an MSc. in Computer Science with (5) pathways, says a press release.

A large turnout of dignitaries, senior officials, Majan Alumni, Majan staff members and former employees were in attendance at the high profile occasion.

Dr Rawya appreciated and thanked the college for its efforts in building a generation able to contribute to the nations’ man-power. Sheikh Nasr Al Hosni, vice chairman of the Board of Di-rectors thanked the current and previous Boards of Directors for their support.

Dr Maha Kobeil, dean of the College noted the significant con-tribution of qualified and skilled human resource to the private and public sectors. She applauded the unique atmosphere of collegiality

and professionalism in the college set by staff as well as students.

The highlights of the event in-cluded video presentations show-casing the two-decade history of Majan University College; fea-turing the Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and

college’s former deans reflecting their experiences in Majan; a rep-resentative group of Majan Alum-ni shedding light on their memo-ries and learning experiences in the college, along with a couple of Majan’s prominent partners and stakeholders reminiscing on the

past and present.An equally interesting live illus-

tration titled ‘The sand narrates the story of Majan’, was presented by Shayma Al Mughairi, a young Omani artist, which brought to light the journey of education in Majan through the years.

A subsequent video titled ‘Ma-jan through the Years’ featured developments in the college from 1995 to 2015 through brief narra-tions from members of the college community.

Another key highlight of the event was the recognition and award certificates handed to 27 long serving members of staff, in appreciation and commendation of their loyalty, dedication and outstanding service to the college. Majan University College also honoured and appreciated the lo-cal media for being instrumental in featuring the educational pro-gress in Oman.

The event concluded by the preview of the new website of the college and a raffle draw. The even-ing rounded off with guests having dinner while listening to live mu-sic played by Bader Al Busafi and Sophi Al Busaidi.

S P E C I A L O C C A S I O N

GATHERING: A large turnout of dignitaries, senior officials, Majan alumni, Majan staff members and

former employees were in attendance at the high profile occasion. – O. K. Mohammed Ali/ TIMES OF OMAN

B6 T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

ROUND-UP2015 Chevrolet Tahoe named ‘Best Large SUV’

DUBAI: The 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe was named the ‘Best Large SUV’ at the 2015 Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) Awards, held re-cently at Dubai’s Raffles Hotel.

The 2015 model was complete-ly redesigned for today’s active families to offer a great range of features and components to help keep them safe, connected and on the road for the long haul, says a press release.

The vehicle strongly resonated amongst MECOTY’s independ-ent jury panel, which, this year, consisted of 12 of the region’s auto journalists and editors. As for the selection criteria, they were based on several scoring parameters in-cluding design and quality; han-

dling and drivability; safety and durability; performance and ca-pability; technological innovation; emotional appeal and driver satis-faction; value for money; comfort and practicality; environmental friendly; and regional appeal.

All nominated vehicles were test driven by the jurors to ensure precise and accurate scoring.

“The 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe has been developed to meet the needs of our Middle East customers, and being awarded MECOTY’s ‘Best Large SUV’ is further proof that

the Tahoe delivers by providing the perfect blend of contemporary design and legendary capability and performance, no matter where our customers go or what they do,” said Abdallah Madhoun, Regional Sales & Marketing manager, Chev-rolet Middle East. “MECOTY’s judging panel comprises some of the Middle East’s top auto indus-try experts and media.

These credible experts continue to move the needle of influence when it comes to motoring trends and products.”

The 2015 Tahoe incorporates a slew of new safety technologies – including a radar – that contribute to 360 degrees of crash avoidance and occupant protection. Stand-ard and available features include forward collision alert, front park

assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist, rear cross traf-fic alert and adaptive cruise con-trol. The model also offers the seg-ment’s only front-seat center air bag, in bucket-seat models.

This is the latest accolade for the 2015 Tahoe, including be-ing named Best Buy of the Year among full-size SUVs according to Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, one of the 15 Best Family Cars by Kelley Blue Book and a 2015 Most Popular on Edmunds.com (Large Traditional SUV).

All 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe own-ers will receive a new level of customer experience courtesy of Chevrolet Complete Care. The comprehensive aftersales pack-age promises additional value with competitive and transparent maintenance pricing; one-hour servicing; 2 days advanced book-ing; a regional 3-year/100,000-km warranty; and 4 years of regional 24x7 roadside assistance.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest automotive brands, doing business in more than 140 coun-tries and selling more than 4.9 mil-lion cars and pickups a year.

Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, ex-pressive design, high quality and outstanding value. Chevrolet also offers customers a high-level after-sales service experience through Chevrolet Complete Care.

The vehicle

strongly resonated

amongst MECOTY’s

independent jury

panel, which this

year consisted of 12

of the region’s auto

journalists and editors

Takaful Oman CEO

wins Asian Women

Leadership Award

MUSCAT: Sayyida Rawan Ahmed Al Said, managing direc-tor and CEO of Takaful Oman In-surance Company, won the highly acclaimed ‘Asian Women Leader-ship Award’ at the World Leader-ship Congress held recently at the Taj Palace, Dubai, UAE.

The award identifies and cel-ebrates the outstanding leader-ship and achievements demon-strated by women leaders who are reflected by their distinct innovations and initiatives in various private/public sectors and entrepreneurship, says a press release.

As managing director and CEO of Takaful Oman, one of the full-fledged Islamic insurance pro-viders in the Sultanate, Rawan’s leadership acumen and contribu-tions are reflected in the success and rapid growth of the company. The company increased its cus-tomer base across all product of-

ferings and also became the first listed company in the GCC to achieve breakeven the first year of commencing operations.

“It is an honour to be recog-nised and awarded the ‘Asian Women Leadership Award’. I am humbled by this honour and grateful for the privilege to be able to achieve this success. I thank my team for supporting and contributing to this achieve-ment and I hope many more women in the Sultanate achieve this distinction,” said Rawan.

This award recognises Rawan’s contributions, leadership skills and acknowledges her achieve-ments in making a difference to society, people, the industry and the community as a responsible citizen. The company’s stellar performance and other major achievements like winning pres-tigious regional awards bear tes-timony to this win.

A C C O L A D E

OAB executives take part in workshopMUSCAT: A number of execu-tives and managers from Oman Arab Bank (OAB), the pioneer-ing financial organisation in the Sultanate, participated in the workshop titled: ‘Leading Culture of Change in the Work Environment’.

‘Marcus Child’, an interna-tionally renowned motivational speaker, led the workshop. It aimed at motivating the bank’s leaders and decision makers to become role models in a chang-ing work environment, and to adapt to any potential changes within the work environment, along with maintaining high per-formance efficiency and service quality, with effective communi-cation between management and employees, says a press release.

Held recently at Bait Al Zubair, the workshop highlighted certain themes focusing on the partici-pants’ leadership of institutional performance, including the im-portance of achieving self-satis-faction by the participants, and how the same can be reflected on

their performance, as well as the importance of adhering to the work environment values, and to show flexibility in the face of any potential changes that the organi-sations may encounter, including the organisational expansion.

It also shed light on the im-portance of change and innova-tion in the work environment and staff motivation and their positive impacts on the internal workplace environment as well as the overall interaction with the bank’s customers.

The workshop also stressed the importance of focusing on the employee satisfaction, and how a leader can instil positive atti-tude into their teams and create a healthy and productive workplace environment.

The speaker explained to the participants how to utilise certain effective psychological tools for the purpose of building a positive personality which, in turn, can promote the conception of change in behaviour patterns and help adapt to the same, citing a number

of case studies conducted on cer-tain international organisations in this regard.

In his comment on the sig-nificance of participation by the bank’s senior executives, Al Salt Al Kharousi, head of Corporate and Institutional Banking, said that the workshop was specifi-cally targeted at the senior lead-ership executives from various departments across the bank.

He added that it was a great op-portunity to host Marcus Child who has an impressive reputation for enabling corporate change through people and for helping people in management and ser-vice embrace change positively and successfully.

He concluded by saying that the workshop helped partici-pants to learn how emotion, commitment and engagement impacts them as individuals and how this has a positive effect at work especially on the managers who are considered as role mod-els for their teams on all the pro-fessional and human levels.

I N F O R M A T I V E S E S S I O N

Seven top comedians

entertain audience

MUSCAT: GCC’s finest standup comedians set the stage on fire, at the Hormuz Grand, recently.

The event coined as ‘Racy Desi’ staged seasoned talents from In-dia, Pakistan, UAE, Oman and Bahrain. The event, organised by Gazelle International, was packed with entertainment and humour, says a press release.

“We had a lineup of seven tal-ented comedians who entertained the crowd with ‘Hinglish comedy’,” stated Adnan Nalwala, who was the headliner at Racy Desi.

Raised in Oman by Indian par-ents, studied in the US and having lived in over seven countries, Ad-nan has the deft of churning social subjects into humour.

Adnan who has both manage-ment and creative skills, is an en-trepreneur during the day and a co-median during the night. He is the executive director, Strategy and Investment, Al Ansari Group of Companies. He has performed at several shows in India and Dubai and has shared the stage with sev-eral leading artistes in the indus-try. Adnan received his Bachelor of Science in supply chain manage-ment from Arizona State Univer-sity and graduated with honours and completed Masters in busi-ness administration from Boston University with a specialisation in strategy and business analysis.

“I think we have something re-ally special with the lineup of Racy Desi. We had seven brilliant come-dians perform. The troop compris-

es Junaid Akram, the Internet sen-sation and master of wit; Dr Amit Asudani, an orthodontist who can make you smile in more than one way; Manju Nath, a hypnothera-pist but tends to mesmerise the crowd with his humour; Rushdy, an accountant who spreads laugh-ter at night when he is done with his spread sheets; Salman Qureshi, co-founder of Dubai Laughing and arguably one of the best comedi-ans in the UAE and Imran Al Aradi, Bahrain’s leading RJ and one the prominent comedians in the Mid-dle East. It was an absolute delight to share the stage with these come-dians. We have plans of taking this show to other GCC countries and even India,” stated Adnan.

Amit Sampat, director, Gazelle International, said: “As soon as I heard the concept from Adnan, I was eager to bring this show to Oman, which has a growing appe-tite for performing arts, specially comedy. We are planning to organ-ise similar events with different concepts and will frequently be conducting events in Oman. Watch out for our upcoming events.”

Gazelle International is a 15-year-old local event manage-ment company. As one of the top event companies in Oman, Gazelle has conducted a variety of events like Muscat Festivals, concerts, road shows, seminars and much more. Gazelle Interna-tional handles a variety of specific event-related services in Oman, UAE and India.

‘ R A C Y D E S I ’

Waljat College signs agreement with OCA

MUSCAT: Waljat College of Ap-plied Sciences (WCAS) signed an MoU with Oman Cancer Associa-tion (OCA) to extend whole heart-ed support for a noble cause by conducting workshops, seminars, awareness activities in collabora-tion with OCA in the college.

The MoU was signed recently, by Yuthar Mohammed Al Raw-ahy, founder and chairperson of OCA and Dr Shankar Lal Gupta, dean, Waljat College of Applied Sciences. The initiative was tak-en by Vikash Sharma and Arbind Kumar Choudhary, in-charge, Health and Safety Club, WCAS, says a press release.

“It is the need of time to create a sense of belongingness and patri-otism among the youth.

“Every year the number of par-

ticipants is increasing in the an-nual Pinkathon event.

“But still it is felt necessary for a larger part of society to partici-

pate in it,” stated Rawahy. She also expressed her pleas-

ure that WCAS is one among the first technical college in Oman that has came forward and joined hands with OCA for the noble cause. Speaking on this occasion Gupta stated that not only the stu-dents but the faculty members of WCAS will actively get involved in large number in all the activi-ties initiated by OCA.

“This year a team of 40 stu-dents and staff participated in Pinkathon. By signing the MoU we are feeling greater re-sponsibility towards serving the society,” said Gupta.

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Renault Safrane comes with enhanced features

MUSCAT: Renault from Suhail Bahwan Automobiles comprises a prestigious lineup of vehicles that include the sleek and new Renault Fluence and the strikingly good looking Renault Safrane, which now comes with a host of en-hanced features

The SUV range comprises the Renault Duster and the Renault Koleos. Their newly launched Re-nault Captur and Renault Symbol is a rave amongst auto enthusiasts.

Safrane provides a smooth and luxurious drive The Renault Safrane V6 fitted with an automatic six-speed trans-mission comes equipped with the Carminat TomTom navigation system, a solution as efficient as it is easy to update and use, with the intuitive joystick.

The hands-free card allows you to open and close the doors as well as start the engine, without even leaving your pocket. Bluetooth technology allows you to make calls in perfect safety.

For easy manoeuvring, the re-

verse parking camera displays ob-stacles on the colour screen, while the parking brake is activated automatically when the engine is turned off. On board the Safrane, technology is also harnessed to provide onboard pleasure in the form of the Bose audio system giv-ing you larger-than-life sound.

Upbeat styling and featuresThe Safrane name has become synonymous with quality, dura-bility and performance. With the next generation Safrane, there is a growing buzz and excitement around the Renault range as the Safrane is a generously-dimen-sioned saloon car.

Its nicely balanced proportions, fluid and elegant lines sweeping over the broad shoulders denote a powerful presence. A carefully engineered blend of comfort and performance, and a choice of mod-ern engines, the Safrane has an ef-ficient new chassis including the Nissan multi-link rear suspension arrangement for enhanced ride comfort and driving pleasure.

Additionally, it also comes with

an athermic windshield, electric mirrors with memory function, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, tri-zone climate control, deadlock-ing with an anti-intruder device, electric rear windows with anti-pinch, Bose CD/MP3 stereo with 10 speakers, Bluetooth, Renault keyless smart card, panoramic sunroof, cream leather seats, power front seats with massage, integrated rear sunblind, as well as front and rear parking sensors. Items such as HID headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels and an electronic parking brake. Some engines will settle for flattering performance, the V6 engine adds nobility, flex-ibility and power; the engine has generous torque available from low engine revs and across a very broad range of uses. This technol-ogy is accompanied by reduced consumption, compared to con-ventional automatic gearboxes.

Bespoke interior Renault Safrane combines unique facilities for a complete sense of well-being. The driver’s seat has multiple settings for optimal com-

fort. Thanks to its pneumatic air-cushion system, it will massage the driver’s back, according to the mode and intensity of their choice, in perfect silence. The Safrane also offers an innovative system of air quality management. Its toxicity sensor prevents polluted air enter-ing the passenger compartment, while it’s combined pollen and ac-tive carbon filter removes these particles from the air.

The system also includes a Samsung Super Plasma bi-mode ionizer, which ensures clean and calming air, as well as a fragrance diffuser for a touch of subtle am-biance. Finally, the tri-zone air conditioning gives each passenger personalised thermal comfort.

The fabric seats boasts of ele-gance and functionality that make a perfect match. The 3.5 V6 Sa-frane has a silent cabin with negli-gible wind noise.

The Cabin is well equipped for a luxury drive, from leather seats to the Bose system. What really does impress in the economy car’s cabin is the massaging driver’s seat with the option of electric heating and cooling as well.

Suhail Bahwan Automobiles is largely committed to support-ing Renault Oman’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 80 show-rooms, service centres and parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent cus-tomer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

The Safrane

name has become

synonymous with

quality, durability and

performance

First Omanexpo international trade show ends in IranMUSCAT: Leading exhibi-tions and conferences organiser Omanexpo concluded its first International Trade Exhibition Iran, held recently at the Khuz-estan International Exhibition Center in Khuzestan, Iran.

The products and services at the exhibition ranging from beauty, skin treatment, food, steel, industrial, packing and packag-ing items, power cables wires and transformers, pipes and fittings, safety wear to general mechanical engineering, oil and gas, consul-tancy, banking and financial ser-vices, were an attractive ‘come-on’ to more than 6,000 visitors welcomed by Omanexpo and co-organiser Khuzestan Internation-al Exhibitions Company (KIEC), says a press release.

About 65 companies occupied the 2,850-square metre exhibi-tion space, almost half of which were Omani companies under the Oman Chamber of Com-merce and Industry and Public Establishment for Industrial Es-tates umbrellas. The other half represented companies from

Brazil, Bulgaria, Italy, Jordan, India, Palestine, Bosnia and Her-zegovina, Bangladesh, and the UAE. A number of companies reported signing business con-tracts onsite.

“This is our first participation in any exhibition in Iran. We received a good visitor response to our stand, which is an encouragement for us to participate in the next edition,” commented an executive from Voltamp Power, Oman.

Rahim Jalilli, MD, KIEC, said: “It is my honour to work hand-in-hand with Omanexpo, who has seen the opportunity our rich country offers and who has paved the way for companies to take ad-vantage of the emerging business and investment opportunities that Khuzestan province presents.”

Nader Abbas, GM, Omanexpo, remarked: “We are glad with the outcome of our first interna-tional venture outside the GCC area. This is a stepping stone to-wards our geographic expansion plan to Asia and Africa. The next two years will see more of these events outside Oman.”

B U S I N E S S O P P O R T U N I T I E S

Bank Muscat launches paper recycling initiativeMUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flag-ship financial services provider in the Sultanate, as part of its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in sustainable de-velopment, launched a unique pa-per recycling and waste disposal programme at the head office.

The launch ceremony of the ‘Let’s Go Green’ environmental protection campaign, coinciding with the Omani Tree Day, was held in the presence of the man-agement team members and rep-resentatives of the HSE and facil-ities management departments. The new initiative launched in association with a local daily, is aimed at facilitating a secure re-cycling and disposal process for paper waste, says a press release.

As part of the ‘Let’s Go Green’

campaign, new ‘secure’ bins have been placed in the bank to dispose paper waste.

All paper waste is shredded be-fore being collected by the paper recycling team.

The ‘Let’s Go Green’ activities launched by Bank Muscat as part of its CSR initiatives are aimed at

promoting sustainable develop-ment in Oman.

The bank strives to raise envi-ronmental awareness by bring-ing about positive behavioural change towards environmental protection through activities such as paper recycling which re-duces felling of trees resulting in

conservation of forests. The bank accords balanced con-

sideration to environmental, social and economic issues when pursu-ing development goals benefiting the country and people. The pro-gramme highlights that everyone ought to take responsibility for preserving the environment.

‘ L E T ’ S G O G R E E N ’

Bank Sohar extends support to SMEs Trade ExhibitionMUSCAT: In line with the gov-ernment’s initiatives to boost the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector within the country and as part of its support to the SMEs in the Sultanate, Bank So-har is participating as a sponsor of the ongoing third edition of ‘SMEs Trade Exhibition’, as the only banking representative.

The exhibition focus is to devel-op the capacity and skills of Omani entrepreneurs by showcasing and promoting their services and prod-ucts, says a press release.

The conference and exhibition which will conclude on Novem-ber 7, is being organised by Public Authority of SME Development (Riyada), Public Authority for Craft Industry, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI),

Al Raffd Fund, in addition to Oman International Exhibition Centre. The exhibition opened on November 3, under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower.

The opening ceremony was at-tended by members of the execu-tive management from Bank Sohar, including Rashad Ali Al Musafir, acting CEO, Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi, Senior AGM of Marketing and Customer Experience, Nanda-kumar R., Senior AGM, SME Cor-porate, Talal Al Zedjali, senior chief manager of Micro and Small En-terprises and Abdullah Hamed Al Mahmoodi, chief manager, Events and Promotion.

Commenting on the bank’s sponsorship and participation, Al Musafir said, “This sponsorship

comes as part of our continued support and commitment towards the development and growth of the SME sector within the Sultanate. We, at Bank Sohar have always demonstrated our support and en-

gagement towards the initiatives from the government to support the SME sector due to the im-portance and positive impact the sector has on the local economy. However, our involvement in the

SME sector is more than provid-ing financing, we also offer SME clients guidance and help wher-ever required, and work together with them to ensure their business is a success.

“In doing so, each success-ful SME established contributes towards an improvement of the economy as a whole and the sus-tainable growth of the sector.”

The exhibition is seeing partici-pation from 140 SMEs from across 15 different fields.

As part of the sponsorship, Bank Sohar has been given three stalls that have been dedicated by the bank to three entrepreneurs whom have obtained financing from Bank Sohar, to showcase the pro-jects and business they have estab-lished as well as sell the products

and services they offer. “We have had numerous success

stories so far with our SME financ-ing programme with some of our entrepreneurs having even suc-cessfully witnessed development and growth in their business and even expanded their operations. Aside from supporting and help-ing our three valued SME cus-tomers showcase their products at the event, the expo, as a whole, also offered us the ideal avenue for networking; providing us with an opportunity to offer our as-sistance to even more young and upcoming entrepreneurs. I would like to take this opportunity to en-courage everyone to attend the ex-hibition and show their support to this very important sector within the country,” added Al Musafir.

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Come to ‘Big Weekend’ to pick top quality used cars

MUSCAT: General Automotive Company (GAC) and Wattayah Motors have joined forces to launch the Big Weekend used car event.

With over 100 carefully selected pre-owned cars on offer, the event offers an opportunity for custom-ers to buy a high quality pre-owned Audi, Volkswagen or Mitsubishi at unbelievable prices.

The event will be held today, tomorrow and the day after and during this weekend custom-ers will be offered superb part exchange prices as well as cash gifts of up to OMR1,000 on all cars, says a press release.

There will be a wide range of cars available, ranging from the

Volksagen Polo small family sedan, through the world famous Pajero to the luxurious Audi A6. There is something for everyone to suit all tastes and budgets.

The three-day promotional offer has been devised to meet the growing demand across the Sultanate for quality pre-owned cars. The event will ensure that customers can buy with confi-dence as all pre-owned models of Wattayah Motors and General Automotive Company in Oman are put through rigorous testing programme by trained engineers. During the event customers will be able to take advantage of in-stant part exchange valuations

and review finance options to suit their own personal requirements.

Each vehicle on sale goes through an extensive interior, exterior and mechanical inspection so that the quality is guaranteed across the range ensuring customers can buy with absolute confidence.

Commenting on the launch of the promotion, Andrew Squires, general manager of Volkswagen said, “Many of our customers pre-fer to save money in buying a pre-owned vehicle but still require the quality and reliability confidence of buying new. The Big Weekend event offers exactly this, as all of our cars are quality checked to ensure customers are buying the same quality of a new car but at

used car prices. Not only are our vehicles checked for mechanical and bodywork integrity but also mileages and service histories are also validated taking out the worry of buying a used car. This is fur-ther supported by all cars sold be-ing offered with a minimum of a 12-month warranty.’’

Great choiceHe also added, ‘’I am delighted that three exceptional brands in Mit-subishi, Audi and Volkswagen have come together over a long weekend to no just offer great products but also great choice. I believe that we have a car to meet most customer’s requirements and I know that we will not disappoint.’’

With over 100 carefully selected pre-owned

cars on offer, the event, starting today, offers

an opportunity for customers to buy a high

quality Audi, Volkswagen or Mitsubishi at

unbelievable prices

Sky Jewellery launches special Diwali promotionMUSCAT: Gold jewellery pur-chase during the Diwali season becomes totally hassle-free at Sky Jewellery due to the exclu-sive provision to book your fa-vourite Diwali jewellery with just 10 per cent advance.

By booking in advance the customers are privileged to get additional benefits. They can en-joy the lowest gold rate for their favourite jewellery designs, and if the rate goes higher than the booking rate, customer can get the lowest of the two rates. In case the rate is going lower than the booking rate they get the low-er of the two. Pre-booking offer also includes instant free gifts/gold coins on purchase, says a press release.

“Far beyond the expectations every Sky showroom has also arranged exclusive fast track counters enabling the customers to finish their purchase hassle-free within five minutes,” said Babu John, managing director, Sky Jewellery.

Fifty one tola bars are at grab for winners along with free gold coins and gifts. The lucky draw will take place on November 15. Thirty six lucky winners will have the chance to bag the 51 tola

gold bars as well. Besides, all gold and diamond purchases come along with free gold coins. Every OMR100 worth jewellery pur-chase will entitle you for a free gold coin and gold jewellery pur-chase worth OMR800 will give you one gram gold coin free. Gold coins of all denominations come without any making charges. Gold exchanges will not have any deductions and full value is as-sured on all old gold transactions.

To enhance this Diwali celebra-tion, customers purchasing dia-monds worth OMR250 are privi-leged to enjoy festive discounts along with free 2g gold coins, free 12g gold on diamond purchases worth OMR1,000, and all exclu-sive Diwali diamond designs will benefit you with an instant 10 per cent cash back as well.

“Amazing array of offers like full value for all exchanges, making charges free on all gold coins, easy payment plans with major banks and easy purchase plan and other exclusive tie ups with major credit cards during the season extend the best offers during the season. So it becomes a celebration more of the heart and rightly called ‘Dilwale – Diwali’ with Sky Jewellery,” added Babu John.

B E N E F I T S

BankDhofar unveils new credit card offerMUSCAT: Adding to the wide ar-ray of exclusive services and spe-cial offers available to its custom-ers, BankDhofar launched a new offer to their credit card holders, giving them free access to Oman Air lounge at Suvarnabhumi Air-port (BKK) in Bangkok, Thailand, says a press release.

Ali Taqi, head of Cards Services Centre at BankDhofar, said: “The offer is available to all Visa and MasterCard Infinite (Al Riyadah), Platinum, Gold and HAWA credit cards. All they need to do is present their BankDhofar credit card and enjoy the lounge facilities at the international departure terminal.”

Oman Air lounge at Suvarnab-

humi Airport offers an oasis of calm, serenity and exceptional comfort. It is located conveni-ently on the second floor junc-tion between concourse G and concourse E of the international departure terminal.

BankDhofar credit card holders

can now enjoy world-class lounge services that include: a profes-sional team of customer service agents, an extensive selection of snacks from a buffet counter, a quiet relaxation lounge area with recliner chairs and dimmed light-ing, daily varieties of international

newspapers and magazines, full HD satellite TV entertainment system, shower rooms with towels and toiletries, free wireless Inter-net access, business centre facil-ity and an adjacent facilities for prayer rooms.

In addition to Oman Air lounge at Bangkok International Airport, BankDhofar credit card holders also have free access to Majan Lounge at Muscat International Airport and Al Luban Lounge at Salalah International Airport. Both lounges offer an exceptional stand-ard of hospitality and comfort, all within a uniquely modern ambi-ence which retains key elements of Omani culture and heritage.

P R O M O T I O N

Godrej Properties’ roadshow to offer top projects in three Indian cities tomorrowMUSCAT: Godrej Properties has come to Muscat once again to launch an attractive and unique offer for their projects in Mum-bai, Pune and Ahmedabad.

The exclusive property road-show is set to be held tomorrow and the day after at Haffa House Hotel, Ruwi, says a press release.

Godrej Properties brings the Godrej Group philosophy of in-novation and excellence to the real estate industry. Each Godrej Properties development com-bines a 118-year legacy of excel-lence and trust with a commit-ment to cutting-edge design and technology. Godrej Properties is currently developing residential, commercial and township pro-jects spread across 10.25 million square metres (110.30 million square feet) in 12 cities. In the last three years, Godrej Properties has received over 100 awards and recognitions, including the ‘Most Reliable Builder for 2014’ at the CNBC Awaaz Real Estate Awards 2014, ‘Innovation Leader in Real Estate’ award at the NDTV Prop-erty Awards 2014 and ‘Popular Choice - Developer of the Year’ award by ET NOW in 2013.

The property road show re-mains the number one choice for those interested in buying property and it is hard not to see why Godrej is still going strong - with great deals, exciting of-fers, the best living conditions to choose from. The exclusive road show in Muscat makes it a per-fect platform for providing buy-ers and investors with a ‘never be-fore one stop shop’ opportunity to buy/invest in properties in these three cities.

Meet and interact with India’s top real estate developer present-ing the finest properties with at-tractive, affordable investment options in Mumbai starting from INR 2.45 million; an offer so ir-resistible that you cannot ignore. The road show has been designed to help the Indian expatriates of the Sultanate providing with in-formation about the upcoming

projects and latest trends in the real estate sector. This is a rare opportunity that Godrej proper-ties brings to the Sultanate of Oman. Ongoing and upcoming residential projects in these three cities will be showcased under one roof.

“We are very excited in hav-ing this roadshow in Muscat. We believe that all our properties do provide our customers with at-tractive offers, luxurious living spaces, large residential town-ships and contemporary lifestyle in a green and natural environ-ment,” said Godrej Properties’ lo-cal channel partner.

Some of the projects that will be showcased are:

Godrej Vihaa, Badalpur, Mumbai: Attractive prices start-ing from INR 24.5 lacs. Excellent venture of Godrej Vihaa for pro-viding a classic living experience in Badlapur near the metropoli-tan city of Mumbai. The property values of Mumbai are prevailing in huge ranges which most peo-ple could not afford. Therefore to facilitate all sorts of people for owning their residential property in affordable ranges have chosen this location. The region remain-ing in neighbourhood of Mumbai provides best connectivity op-tions to various famous destina-tions and landmarks. Therefore travelling to educational institu-tions, hospitals, shopping malls, restaurants will not be complex for the individuals. Vihaa pro-vides the best living environment to assure secured lives, in this gated community appropriately.

The Trees, Vikhroli, Mumbai: Today, Vikhroli and Godrej are synonymous to the citizens of Mumbai, and Vikroli is a suburb in transition, undergoing an ex-citing new renewal.

The Trees by Godrej Properties is situated a stone’s throw from Godrej Platinum and aims to be the new face of Vikhroli, offering a well-connected mixed devel-opment with commercial, retail, hospitality and residential spaces conceived with good living and sustainability in mind.

Godrej Prana, Undri, Pune – 1,2,2.5 & 3 BHK residences with prices starting from INR 33 lacs. This project is strategically locat-ed in Undri and offers excellent connectivity to Pune railway sta-tion, Nagar road, Pune-Kolhapur Highway, IT hubs and the city centre. It is in close proximity to major urban areas like NIBM, Hadapsar and M.G. road. Godrej Prana is being developed in the picturesque backdrop of hills and sloping meadows

Godrej Infinity, Keshavnagar, Pune - 1, 2 , 3 BHK residences with prices starting from 41 lacs. This property is a 43 Acre resi-dential development located on the banks of the Mula-Mutha river, in Keshavnagar, Pune. The township will offer a holistic lifestyle to its residents and will come with a fully equipped club-house, swimming pool, state of the art gym, kids play areas, jog-ging and cycle tracks along with a beautifully landscaped central green area of 2 Acres in its Phase 1 offering.

P R O P E R T Y S H O W

Shah Nagardas achieves best sales award

MUSCAT: Shah Nagardas Manji & Co. was recently awarded Best Sales Achievement Award by Case Logic & Thule Group.

Laurent Brusacoram & Arnaud Dumont presented the award to Chetan Shah and Jitu Shah at a conference held in Dubai recently. This is the third award received by Shah Nagardas in five years from Case Logic, says a press release.

Thule was established over 70 years ago in Sweden. Case Logic is part of Thule group based in Malmo – Sweden. They are known for making cases that provide solu-tions to help you follow your pas-sions and simplify your life! The spirit of innovation is still core to their business today. The Thule Group has over 3,000 employees at more than 50 production and sales locations all over the world.

A C C O L A D E

‘Char Yaar’ enthrals Muscat audienceMUSCAT: Presented by Minara recently at the Oman Auditori-um, the world-renowned quartet ‘Char Yaar’ enthralled the au-dience with their spell binding performance. To lovers of poetry and connoisseurs of Sufi music, the evening was an enriching and deeply moving experience.

“Sufi is one of the oldest and most spiritual forms of expres-sion. Sufism is mainly about con-nectivity and unity or giraha la-gana,” explained Dr Madan Gopal Singh of ‘Char Yaar’.

He demonstrated this vividly through intertwining the works of Bulleh Shah, Bertolt Brecht, Rumi and John Lennon - poets separated by cultures, conti-nents and centuries, but linked in thought. By explaining the context and deep meaning, each composition that he presented in his mellifluous voice became meaningful and thought provok-ing. The magic was complement-ed by Deepak Castelino on the guitar and banjo and lending his voice as well, Pandit Pritam Gho-shal on the sarod, Gurmeet Singh on the tabla.

Kathak dancer Ipshita Misra added colour with her flawless and graceful movements. The prolonged standing ovation for ‘Char Yaar’ at the end of the grand finale, said it all.

The guest of honour, Indian Ambassador Indramani Pandey, commended the Indian Social Club Charity Wing for their dedi-cation to the cause of bettering

lives for blue collared workers. Dr Sathish Nambiar, chairman of the Indian Social Club, stated: “The tremendous amount of support received by the Charity Wing is an affirmation of the love, respect and happiness that has been ex-perienced with the advent of this body. Kudos to them. During the short span of time that they have existed, they have made a real dif-ference in the lives of so many. An observation from an enthusiastic guest sums up the response to the evening ‘the best two hours I have spent this year’.

‘Char Yaar’ in turn were im-pressed by the beauty and hospi-tality of Oman and the enthusiasm and knowledge of the discerning Muscat audience. “We would love to come back,” they said at the end of the performance.

The curtains came down with a vote of thanks to the many sup-porters and well-wishers who make it possible to bring such high quality events to a discern-ing audience.

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Hansen sizzles on opening day

MUSCAT: Denmark’s Joachim B Hansen shot a spectacular 6-under 66 to take the early lead on a day of low scoring in the opening round of the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final at the stunning Almouj Golf in Muscat while current Road to Oman Rankings leader Ricardo Gouveia opened with an impres-sive bogey-free 67 to lurk just one stroke behind.

“It was perfect, just the opening round I wanted to put me in a good position for the next three days,” said Hansen, who is currently 17th in the Road to Oman Rankings and in with a great chance of finishing in the all-important top 15 to secure promotion to The European Tour.

“I’ve found something good in my swing — it’s working really well ball striking-wise and the putter keeps rolling.”

Hansen was in an all Dane group with good friends Mads Søgaard and Jeff Winter on a day when the infamous coastal wind at Almouj Golf declined to make an appear-ance which made for some low scores across the board.

“It was good fun,” he said. “I think we were all a bit nervous when we started but in the end we had three good rounds — Mads shot level par, Jeff was 2-under; so it was a great start.”

Hansen has previous experience of battling it out for a Grand Final title, having narrowly missed out to Epsen Kofstad in Italy during his debut season on the Challenge Tour in 2012. He finished fourth

on the Rankings that year to seal promotion to The European Tour, where he played for two seasons. But despite having experienced the big time, he insists there is no add-ed weight of expectation on him to secure promotion this week.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure. I just really want to get back to The European Tour and do well there,” he said.

“I plan to stay patient and take it one shot at a time. It’s quite big to win a Grand Final, it’s the last tour-nament of the year so there are prob-ably more emotions involved than in the other tournaments we play dur-ing the year but I’ll stay calm.”

Gouveia, meanwhile, got off to the perfect start in his bid to be crowned European Challenge Tour Number One. The Portu-guese showed the kind of consist-ency which has seen him sit atop the Rankings for much of the sea-son with a blemish-free round.

“I hit the ball really well today and holed a few good putts that kept the momentum of the round going,” said Gouveia who is 115th in the Of-ficial World Golf Ranking making him the highest ranked Portuguese player of all time. “I missed one shot, which could have resulted in a bogey, but it didn’t so it was pleasing to start off with a good round.

“I enjoy conditions like this

without much wind but I assume there will be more wind coming in the next few days!”

The 23 year old is just €3,980 ahead of good friend Sebastien Gros in the Rankings and the Frenchman also got off to a solid

start at Almouj Golf, shooting 3-under 69 to lie in a share of sixth place, but Gouveia insists he’s fo-cussed only on his own game.

“I’m only looking at the top of the leaderboard — that’s my goal, to win the event. I just want to keep

up with the lead,” he said before ex-tolling the virtues of Almouj Golf as a fitting stage for the climax to the Challenge Tour season.

“It’s a great venue for this tour-nament and it was a good move by the Challenge Tour to come over

here. We’re all really happy to play here for the Grand Final.”

Azaan leads Amateur FinalOman’s amateur golfers also got the 36-hole NBO Oman Amateur Final underway playing on the same course as the professionals with Azaan Al Rumhy taking the lead with a round of 81 to move eight shots clear of Ali Hameed.

“It’s a great experience for us to play on the same course as the pro-fessionals this week,” said Azaan.

“It’s the first time there has been an event only for Omanis and we must thank NBO, the Oman Golf Committee and Almouj Golf for giving us this opportunity.”

Fifteen-year-old Fahad Al Ki-tani, the youngest of the six play-ers taking part in the NBO Oman Amateur Final, impressed with a round of 94 off the Champion-ship tees while former Oman Na-tional Team Member Mohammed Mawly, the oldest of the bunch shot 99 and joked: “It’s been a long time since I’ve walked 18 holes of a golf course so I’m a little tired but I’m looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow.”

The second round gets under-way at 7.30am on Thursday at Al-mouj Golf, Muscat with the second round of the NBO Oman Amateur Final commencing at 10.30am.

Oman’s amateur

golfers also got the

36-hole NBO Oman

Amateur Final

underway playing

on the same course

as the professionals

with Azaan Al Rumhy

taking the lead with

a round of 81 to move

eight shots clear

of nearest rival Ali

Hameed

I plan to stay patient and take it one shot at a time. It’s quite big to win a Grand Final, it’s the last tournament of the year so there are probably more emotions involved than in the other tournaments we play during the year but I’ll stay calm

Joachim B Hansen, Denmark

OMAN CHALLENGE: Oman’s Azaan Al Rumhy, Hamad Al Rumhy and Ali Hameed, who are participating in the NBO Classic Amateur Final. – Supplied photos

NBO chairman officially opens Grand Final at Almouj Golf

MUSCAT: The curtain on the 2015 NBO Golf Classic Grand Final was officially raised We-denesday morning in an open-ing ceremony led by Mohammed Mahfoudh Al Ardhi, Chairman of NBO, and attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Omar Al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Services and Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardouf Al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs.

The prestigious event at Al-mouj Golf in Muscat marks the

climax to the European Chal-lenge Tour golf season, with the top 45 players on the Road to Oman Rankings competing for a €375,000 purse of which the win-ner of the tournament will receive €64,000.

In addition to the bumper prize fund, the top 15 players on the Rankings at the conclusion of play will be promoted to play on next season’s European Tour, making this a potentially life-changing tournament for the players this

week, all of whom have a chance of making the top 15.

The tournament was first host-ed at Almouj Golf in 2013 but af-ter two highly impressive editions as the penultimate event on the European Challenge Tour Sched-ule it has been elevated to become this year’s crucial season-ending finale, while the rebranding of the Challenge Tour Rankings as the ‘Road to Oman’ has kept the Sul-tanate in the media spotlight for throughout the year. >C5

O P E N I N G C E R E M O N Y

CEREMONIAL INAUGURATION: Sheikh Khalid bin Omar Al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Services, wins applause after he hits a ceremonial tee shot from the first hole to inaugurate the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final at the Almouj Golf. – Supplied photo

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Aston Martin picks Ahmad for Vulcan demo in Dubai

MUSCAT: Successful sportscar racer Ahmad Al Harthy has been hand-picked by prestigious auto-motive giant Aston Martin to get behind the wheel of the manufac-turer’s brand new Vulcan hypercar for a special public demonstration in downtown Dubai on Thursday.

The Omani racing driver, who is brand ambassador for Aston Mar-tin Middle East and North Africa, will become one of a select few in-dividuals to have had the opportu-nity to get behind the wheel of the incredible track-only car which was officially launched at the Ge-neva Motor Show in March.

First ArabAs the first Arab to be entrusted with the immense 200mph-plus Vulcan, the 34-year-old feels, quite rightly, very proud to be demon-strating the car later today at Emaar Square in the shadow of the world renowned Burj Khalifa skyscraper.

“I am incredibly proud to have been chosen by Aston Martin to drive the Vulcan during this very special demonstration in Dubai, it really is a huge honour and under-

lines the fantastic relationship we have established with the Aston Martin brand”, said Ahmad.

“To be entrusted with the Vul-can is very humbling for me, very

few people have had the oppor-tunity to get behind the wheel of this amazing, and extremely valu-able, new car. This event will be a great way to not only promote

Aston Martin throughout the Mid-dle East, but also my racing career with the brand too. I’d like to say a very big thank you to all at Aston Martin for this opportunity.”

The awesome Aston Martin Vul-can — named after the iconic Royal Air Force military aircraft which used to be stationed at Gaydon in England, Aston Martin’s modern day headquarters — is powered by an immense 7.0-litre V12 en-gine producing an eye-watering 800bhp through the rear wheels.

Special eventNotably, the Aston is the most pow-erful normally aspirated car in pro-duction and will be limited to 24 examples which each carry a price tag of $2.7 million (£1.8 million).

Constructed of carbon-fibre and similar lightweight materi-als, the Vulcan meets full FIA safety regulations and features carbon ceramic brakes, limited-slip differential and six-speed se-quential gearbox.

Following its launch in Switzer-land earlier in the year, the Vulcan made its global dynamic debut in the UK during the summer as part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, in the hands of factory Aston Mar-tin racer Darren Turner.

Looking ahead to the Emaar Square event, Neil Slade, General Manager of Aston Martin Middle East and North Africa, said: “This special event in Dubai is very im-portant for Aston Martin globally, as well as in the Middle East, and it was a natural choice to select Ahmad to drive and showcase the Vulcan due to his racing experience and strong links with our brand.”

“Ahmad is a key part of the As-ton Martin family and his profile in the Middle East brings a great deal of added attention to what we are doing in Emaar Square,” the Aston Martin official added.

“The Vulcan is a spectacular car and will undoubtedly raise many eyebrows when Ahmad gets be-hind the wheel later today.”

The Omani racing

driver, who is brand

ambassador for Aston

Martin Middle East

and North Africa,

will become one of a

select few individuals

to have had the

opportunity to get

behind the wheel

of the incredible

track-only car I am incredibly proud to have been chosen by Aston Martin to drive the Vulcan during this very special demonstration in Dubai, it really is a huge honour and underlines the fantastic relationship we have established with the Aston Martin brand

Ahmad Al HarthyOman racing star

T.K. MOHANDOSSsportseditor@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Oman’s ace racer Ahmad Al Harthy will not take part in the Porsche GT3 Cup this season. This was confirmed by the illustrious Sultanate racer on Wednesday.

To be recalled, Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy represented Al Nabooda Racing last season, where his combination with Clemens Schmid just missed

the third successive title for the team and had to settle for the runners-up spot.

According to information received from the United Arab Emirates, Al Nabooda Racing have linked 2013-14 individual champion Zaid Ashkanani with talented Swiss driver Jeffrey Schmidt as they look to celebrate a 10th season in motor racing by reclaiming the team title in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.

Reacting to a Times Sport query, Ahmad said: “I will not be doing the Porsche event this time as I am tied up with Aston Martin.”

Ahmad, who will be tak-ing part in an Aston Martin promotional event in Dubai, said he will not be away from action.

“We have big plans for the fresh season and the excit-ing news will be out soon,” Ahmad said.

Al Harthy not to take part in Porsche GT3 Cup

TRACK-ONLY CAR: The awesome Aston Martin Vulcan is named after the iconic Royal Air Force mili-

tary aircraft which used to be stationed at Gaydon in England, Aston Martin’s headquarters. – Supplied photo

Yousef to represent Oman at Pan Arab golf championship

MUSCAT: Yousef Al Balushi is all set to represent Oman in the Pan Arab Championship in Tuni-sia beginning on Thursday at the Golf Kantaoui compound in the Tunisian city of Sousse. Around 100 golfers from 13 countries will vie for the coveted trophy in the senior championship.

Oman will miss the services of its in-form golfer Azzan Al Rumhy, who is busy playing in the NBO Golf Classic Amateur Final in Muscat.

Yousef, who is the lone repre-sentative from Oman in the com-petition, said: “I am eager to take part in the competition and proud to represent Oman. I have pre-pared well. It’s going to be a tough competition.”

The Omani will face competi-tors from Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Sau-di Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Libya, Mo-rocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon. Yousef had reached Sousse on Tuesday and underwent a practice session on Wednesday.

He said: “It is necessary to get a feel of the course before I go out for the competition. I practised well and now I am ready to face the challenge.”

Oman Golf Committee (OGC) chairman Mundhir Al Barwani said: “This is a great opportunity for Yousef to make his presence felt at the Arab level, which is quite challenging. I am sure he will enjoy the challenges ahead in Tunisia.”

G O L F

EAGER TO TAKE PART: Yousef

Al Balushi. – Supplied photo

Mogaveera Cup begins today

MUSCAT: The Mogaveera Cup volleyball tournament, or-ganised by Mangalore Spikers under the patronage of Muscat Mogaveers Koota (MMK) and in association with Muscat Sports Club, will kick-off at 7 p.m. today.

Mangalore Spikers are or-ganising the event under the sponsorhip of Bhuvanendra Kidiyoor of Kediyoor Hotels Pvt. Limited, Ashish Kumar of Muscat Parts Centre LLC, Ma-habal Mendon of Al Majadeif International LLC, and Girish Kanchan of Al Kaif Trading.

Star attraction of the tourna-ment Anup D’Costa, an Indian national player, Ashwal Rai, a state level player, and Dhanraj have already arrived in Muscat on Tuesday.

In all 10 teams from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Pakistan, Oman and Indian Teams from Oman have confirmed participation in this tournament. A spectacular show of volleyball action is going to be witnessed on two nights which is going to be a thrilling experience to one and all.

V O L L E Y B A L L

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Malaysia to play in Palestine: ministerKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will proceed to play next week’s World Cup qualifier in Palestine but have the option to withdraw upto 24 hours before arriving in Hebron if safety becomes an issue, the country’s sports minister said on Wednesday.

Malaysia had written to FIFA three times to request the Novem-ber 12 Group A match be moved to a neutral venue after a month of violence in the Palestinian territo-ries but minister Khairy Jamalud-din said the fixture would now go ahead as planned. - Reuters

W O R L D C U P Q U A L I F I E RAl Attiyah eyes Bin Sulayem record at his ‘favourite’ rally

A. SESHAGIRI RAOraoas@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Describing the Oman International Rally as his ‘favour-ite’ rally, Qatari great Nasser Al Attiyah expressed delight in arriv-ing in the Sultanate to take part in the ‘special’ event that is making a return to the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) after a gap seven years.

Speaking on the eve of the No-vember 5 to 7 rally, Nasser Al At-tiyah, who had already sealed the title — his 11th MERC crown — in Jordan, said: “I was very happy when they declared that Oman rally will be returning to the Mid-dle East championship. This is my favourite rally event because of it’s unique and challenging terrain.”

The multi-talented Qatari, who has to his credit two Dakar Rally and a World Rally Champion-ship 2 (WRC2) crowns to add to his 2012 Olympic trapshooting bronze medal, said: “I have been in this sport for more than 28 years, taking part in cross-country, Darkar Rally, WRC and Middle Rally championships. But I have special liking for Oman Rally.”

Al Attiyah, who also took part in the last Oman International Rally organised back in 2007, explained: “Oman Rally is completely differ-ent and it’s very special. It’s very challenging terrain — with sec-tions in on flat tracks, the moun-tains and on the coast.

“It is also very challenging be-cause it’s very technical. Speed alone is not sufficient. For a driver to succeed here he needs skill and he was to be technically good,” he said adding: “We have to really thank the Oman Automobile As-sociation and all others who are involved in bringing this back into the MERC fold.”

Asked if there is enough mo-tivation to compete for top hon-ours, especially after winning the championship, he said: “Of course, I am here compete and compete well. And to win.”

“I have won 59 rally events on the MERC circuit. I want to win here and match (Mohammed) Bin Su-layem’s record,” he said referring to UAE rally legend’s 60 victories.

Fellow Qatari Abdulaziz Al Ku-wairi, who is behind Al Attiyah in the championship, while echoing the the latter’s views on the unique-nesss of Oman Rally, said: “Nasser had already won the championship. Now we are in the second place. We

came here to win and hopefully we will achieve that target.”

Kuwait’s Salah Bin Eidan also described Oman Rally as a very rich event with a lot of beautiful stages and expressed his delighted to be competing in the rally.

Local driver Zakariya Al Oufi, meanwhile, said his focus is on local championship. “My concen-tration is on the local champion-ship because there will be double points in the Group N,” he said.

Admitting the competition will ‘tough’, he said: “It’s a tough event. No two opinions about. To win here first you need to finish the rally,” he said to make his point on the difficulty of the rally.

Meanwhile, Oman Automobile Association (OAA) Managing Di-rector Sulaiman Al Rawahi said: “It has been a big challenge for all us to make this rally happen. I would like to thank everyone who made this possible with their hard work and dedication.

“I would also like to thank all the sponsors who have come on board to support the rally.”

Clerk of the course Ahmed Al Zadjali spoke about the difficulty in readying the stages. “It was a big challenge. There has been tre-mendous development all around the country. So it was difficult to prepare the stages and also the re-cent rains washed out half of the stages we had in mind.”

“But we have managed to pre-pare suitable stages for the event and with safety as our top prior-ity,” he said.

Speaking on the eve

of the November 5

to 7 rally, Nasser Al

Attiyah, who had

already sealed the

title in Jordan, said

‘this is my favourite

rally event because

of it’s unique and

challenging terrain’

SPECIAL RALLY: Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah, second right front row, speaks during a press conference on the eve of the Oman International Rally at Hormuz Grand Hotel on Wednesday. – SHABIN E./Times of Oman

MUSCAT: The Oman Au-tomobile Association (OAA) is planning to organise an international cross-country championship next year.

OAA board member Brig. Jamal Al Tai revealed this on the sidelines of a press conference organised on the eve of the Oman Internation-al Rally on Hormuz Grand Hotel on Wednesday.

“It has been our endeavour

to oraganise more and more motorport events. In the recent times, we have organ-ised competitions in various disciplines, including rallies, motocross and drift races.

“Now we are planning to host an international cross-country championship. If everything goes to according plan we will have that next year and that will run from Salalah to Muscat.”

OAA to host cross-country championship in 2016

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India eye redemption in Tests under Kohli

MOHALI: Outwitted in both the T20 and the ODI cricket series, India will seek redemption in the Test format by trying to spin a web around the formidable South Africans in the four-match series starting here from Thursday.

India failed to make use of the home advantage in the limited-overs games while the South Africans displayed remarkable adaptability to emerge the better of the two teams so far. In Thurs-day’s match, Virat Kohli’s men would take the field without pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, who is serving a one-match ban for his ag-gressive outbursts during the away series against Sri Lanka.

Therefore, India will be relying heavily on their spin brigade to out-manoeuvre the potent opposi-tion batting, which has been sub-lime to say the least.

With Ravindra Jadeja back in the mix of things, Kohli will be looking to go with three spinners at the PCA track, hoping to pose a threat to the visitors.

Premier off-spinner Ravichan-dran Ashwin, who missed the last four ODIs with a side strain he suf-fered in the opening game in Kan-pur, seems to be fit and raring to go.

Having been India’s strike bowl-er in the Test series win in Sri Lan-ka, Ashwin, who bagged 20 wickets against the Island nation, will be key to the home team’s chances with opposition players like Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar acknowl-edging the in-form spinner’s threat.

Team Director Ravi Shastri though has asserted that even Amit Mishra and Jadeja, who has been in stellar form in the current Ranji season, will be crucial to the home side’s fortunes.

Playing for Saurashtra, Jadeja, whose last Test appearance was against England last year, has bagged 38 wickets in four games to win back the selectors’ trust.

His left-arm slow bowling, com-bined with Mishra’s leg-spin and

Ashwin’s offies could turn out to be the much-needed winning for-mula for the hosts on what seems to be a track that will favour the home team’s strength.

On the batting front, India will be spoilt for choices on with Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma fighting it out for the top-order slots.

Speaking highly of Dhawan and his 187 against Australia at the same venue in 2013, Shastri said, “Getting runs at a venue in your last Test match, nothing like it.

But the biggest mistake people make is that they mix Test and ODI form. Test match form he comes back at the back of two Test hun-dreds, so he is very much in form,

he is hot. “That 187 against Australia will

certainly be in his mind. Compe-tition for places, nothing like it. It goes to show everyone is on his toes, nobody will rest on his heels. If you miss out somebody else will grab the opportunity. It’s healthy.”

South Africa, on the other hand, will be a tad worried about the form of Hashim Amla, who takes over as captain for the Test format.

In contrast, ODI captain AB de Villiers, termed Superman by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, seems to be in the form his life and his wicket will certain-ly be a prized scalp for the Indian camp. South Africa rode on three ODI hundreds from their skipper to clinch the five-match series 3-2, while they won the three-game T20 rubber by a 2-0 margin.

Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl and Faf du Plessis also add muscle to their batting while Temba Bavuma is expected to fill in the large shoes of Jean-Paul Duminy, who is still recovering from his hand injury picked during the third ODI.

The Proteas attack rests on the broad shoulders of speedster Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel while the spin force is led by the in-form Im-ran Tahir. Tahir is not unfamiliar with sub-continent tracks and af-ter making an impression for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL has become South Africa’s trump card on a turning wicket.

The Amla-led squad will also be tempted to field an extra spinner even if it’s the inexperienced offies in Simon Harper and Dane Piedt.

With numbers on their side, the world No.1 South Africa start favourites on paper but consider-ing that India are playing in their backyard, the series could well be an evenly contested battle.

The Proteas are on a roll with a formidable run in the last seven years in the longer format and are looking to become the first interna-tional team to win in every format in India. Even the head-to head count tilts comfortably in favour of South Africa as they lead with a 13-7 margin in 29 matches. - PTI

India failed to

make use of the

home advantage in

the limited-overs

games while the

South Africans

displayed remarkable

adaptability to

emerge the better of

the two teams so far

Trump-card Ashwin ‘will deliver again’MOHALI: Ravichandran Ash-win has emerged as one of the world’s top spinners in the last couple of years and the lanky off-spinner will again be India’s go-to bowler in the four-match Test series against South Africa, home captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old from Chen-nai has been India’s main strike bowler in recent times, claiming 21 wickets in the recent three-test series in Sri Lanka to walk away with the man-of-the-series award.

India’s limited pace option means Ashwin will once again be expected to take the bulk of the South African wickets in the four-match series starting on Thursday and Kohli is confident the tall spinner will deliver again.

“For the last two to three years, he has been the go-to man in test cricket,” Kohli told reporters on the eve of the first match.

“Even in conditions that suit you, you have to pitch the ball in the right area and you see him taking five-six wickets consist-ently in those conditions. He is definitely someone who has tak-en his game to the next level.

“The way he bowled in Sri Lan-ka, he proved he is among the top two-three spinners in the world.”

Ashwin, who has taken 145 wickets from 28 Tests, is known for his guile and control, best exemplified in his ‘carrom-ball’ which he flicks with his finger.

“He is certainly believing in himself a lot more now and is a match-winner for India. He is that main bowler (for the team),” Kohli added.

The Indian captain will play a similarly crucial role for the hosts being the team’s batting mainstay. Many, however, feel the mercurial Indian captain needed to be more in control of his emo-tions while leading the side.

Kohli said Test captaincy has helped him mature but it would be wrong to say he has drastically changed.

“The only things that has changed is that I have got 40 grey hairs in my beard,” said the feisty 26-year-old top order batsman.

“Obviously you do make mis-takes and you learn from them along the way. I thought I was wasting too much energy in being too expressive on the field at times.

“You get smarter with age and with the amount of games you play at the highest level and that has happened with me as well. So it’s not something very unnatural and I have not changed in a mas-sive way. - Reuters

K O H L I ’ S M A N

GO-TO-MAN: India’s Ravichandran Ashwin bowls in the nets

during a practice session ahead of their first Test cricket match

against South Africa, in Mohali. – Reuters

HOPEFUL: India captain Virat Kohli exercises during a practice ses-

sion on eve of first Test match against South Africa in Mohali. - PTI

Australia go with Hazlewood over Siddle for first TestSYDNEY: Josh Hazlewood will be Australia’s third pace bowler in this week’s first Test against New Zealand after Peter Siddle was named 12th man on Wednesday.

Both seamers were in the squad for the match, which starts in Bris-bane on Thursday, but it is Hazle-wood who will join Mitchell John-son and Mitchell Starc in the pace attack at the Gabba.

Australia captain Steve Smith told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday that Siddle would be frustrated not to be included.

Disappointing“It’s obviously disappointing for him,” said Smith.

“He bowled extremely well in the last Test match at the Oval but that’s the team we’ve gone with.”

Siddle, 30, had fought his way back into the side during the Ashes series in England last year and his match haul of 6-67 helped Australia to a thumping innings and 46-run consolation victory in the fifth Test.

Hazlewood, six years Siddle’s junior, took 16 wickets in four Tests against England last year but, low on confidence and struggling with the intense pressure of the Ashes campaign, was rested for the fifth Test.

With more height and bounce to his bowling than Siddle can offer, Hazlewood’s five-wicket haul on

debut against India at the Gabba last year also clearly played a part in his selection ahead of Siddle.

“Josh Hazlewood had a lot of success out here last year against

India,” added Smith. Smith had expected to lead Aus-

tralia into a series for the first time in Bangladesh last month only for the trip to be postponed indefinite-

ly because of security concerns. The 26-year-old, who took over

as full-time captain after Michael Clarke retired in the wake of the Ashes defeat, confirmed he would

drop down a spot to play at number four in the batting order to make way for Usman Khawaja at first drop.

Australia will be looking for some big performances at the

heart of the new-look batting order from Smith, who averages 56.27 with the bat after a stellar couple of years.

“As a leader, my philosophy is to lead from the front,” said Smith, who scored centuries against In-dia in all three matches as stand-in skipper for the injured Clarke last season. That was what I tried to do last year when I got the chance to captain. I’d like some more success like that.”

First taskHis first task as permanent skipper is to defend Australia’s long un-beaten record in Brisbane, which stretches back to a loss to the West Indies in 1988, against a confident New Zealand team.

Smith made it clear that despite extending an invitation to the New Zealanders to share a drink after the match, Australia would not be adopting Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum’s approach to the game. “They’re playing that nice-guy act again but we’re going to continue playing that hard and aggressive cricket,” Smith said.

Team: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle. - Reuters

T E S T S E R I E S

SYDNEY: New Zealand will be hoping Doug Bracewell can revive his form of 2011 after he was named as the third seamer in Brendon McCullum’s pace attack for the opening Test against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Although his stock is not nearly as high as fellow quicks Trent Boult and Tim Southee, Bracewell’s match-winning performance against Australia in Hobart four years ago will always give him a special place in New Zealand’s Test history.

In only his third outing, Bracewell took a match haul of 9-60 and the wickets of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey in one dizzying spell as the Blacks Caps won their first Test on Australian

soil since 1985. The 25-year-old has not entirely fulfilled the potential he displayed at Bellerive Oval but his recent performances have been strong enough for him to be preferred to Matt Henry for the first test, which starts on Thursday.

“It was a bit of a coin toss with them but we were com-fortable either way,” McCullum told reporters at the Gabba

on Wednesday. “They’re both very similar bowlers. We just thought Doug was bowling a touch better at this time.” McCullum also confirmed that all-rounder James Neesham would bat at number six ahead of wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

Unbeaten in seven Test series since 2013, New Zealand are widely viewed to have their best chance in a good while to secure a second series victory on Aus-tralian soil to go with the Richard Hadlee-inspired 1985 triumph.

“It’s been a while and nice to know when you enter a series against Australia that you’ve got three tests, to Test yourself against one of the best teams in the world,” McCullum added. “We’re under no illusions how difficult our task is but we’re in a

good space. I’m pretty confident our guys will play well and if we are beaten then we’ll make it bloody tough for them to do so.”

Hadlee was at the Gabba on Wednesday, 30 years after he took 15 wickets to fire New Zealand to their only win at the ground. While the pace bowling great made the hosts slight favourites for the series, which continues after Brisbane with tests in Perth and Adelaide, the 64-year-old liked what he saw in the 2015 New Zealand side.

“Test cricket particularly needs some sort of revival,” he told reporters.

Team: Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, James Neesham, BJ Watling (wicketkeeper), Mark Craig, Doug Brace-well, Tim Southee, Trent Boult. - Reuters

Black Cap Bracewell gets the nod for Brisbane Test

NO ILLUSIONS: B. McCullum

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OMAN HOCKEY VETERANS TO PLAY IN BAHRAINOman veterans hockey team, under the patronage of Oman Hockey Association (OHA), will

be participating in the Bahrain Six-A-Side Hockey Tournament on Friday. According to Oman

Veterans Hockey Committee Chairman Mohammed Shambeh Al Raisi, the team have prepared

well for the tournament and are hoping to achieve good results in Bahrain. Earlier this year, the

team had played in a similar tournament in Egypt where they won second place. — Supplied photo

NBO chairman opens Grand Final

Mohammed Mah-foudh Al Ardhi said: “It is my pleasure to

welcome you all to the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final — four days of professional golf of the high-est quality, here at Almouj Golf, Muscat, Oman, in spectacular surroundings.

“In hosting the NBO Golf Classic in 2013 and in 2014 we impressed many people in the golf world, not least the play-ers, their managers and officials of The European Tour and the Challenge Tour.

“The overwhelming success of the two tournaments earned Oman the respect of all who at-tended the two events which led directly to the introduction of the ‘Road to Oman’ concept. In demonstrating that we could organise such a world-class enjoyable tournament we were able to utilise the opportunity to promote Oman to interna-tional corporate businesses and to promote golf tourism and tourism in general and show the world what the Sul-tanate has to offer.

“The 226 players who came to Amouj Golf to compete in the tournaments in 2013 and 2014 from all around the globe, left Muscat with glowing praise of the event, the golf course, the organisation, the Omani people and the Sultanate itself.

“It was a chance for us to showcase Oman to the world and we grasped the challenge enthusiastically. Those players, their families and supporters, officials and spectators took away some memorable mo-ments which have enhanced the reputation of Oman as a must-visit destination.”

Meanwhile NBO also sig-nalled its commitment to help-ing to grow the game of golf at grassroots level in the Sultan-ate by hosting the first ever amateur event only for Omani amateurs.

Following the opening cere-mony the distinguished guests were given a guided tour of the tournament venue, media centre and public village be-fore Sheikh Khalid bin Omar Al Marhoon got involved in the golfing action by hitting a cer-emonial shot off the first tee.

N B O G O L F

< FROM

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UTSC Oman for Bahrain tourney

MUSCAT: UTSC an all-encom-passing and inclusive movement for sport will take part in the Bah-rain Hockey 6s tournament sched-uled to commence on Friday.

This tournament is being hosted by the Bahrain Hockey As-sociation under the patronage of Bahrain Olympic Committee.

In the spirit of promoting hock-ey and as a long time supporter of hockey in the Middle East, the event will feature has represen-tations from from Oman, Dubai (UAE), Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qa-tar and the home team.

The guest of honour at this year’s Bahrain Hockey 6s is field hockey icon, Olympian, former Indian Hockey captain and re-nowned field hockey coach Jude Felix Sebastian, better known as Jude Felix.

UTSC Oman through this par-ticipation aims at promoting the social, physical and cultural wel-fare of its members and players.

The tournament includes two Omani teams, thereby, showcas-ing the interest and enthusiasm of Omanis in this sport. Hockey

is fast gaining recognition and acceptance as a popular sport for young Omanis and Indians. The Association has endeavored to carry the spirit and pride of this sport in Oman with many of its members participating in regional and international competitions.

The UTSC team playing in Pool C along with Dadabhai Saudi and

Bahraini Hawks will be led by Javis Ahmed, which includes four Omani national players of repute Hussain Ali Mubarak, Khalid Juma Salim Hamood, Asharaf Talib, Alu Salim Humaid to name few. The team is being supported by Formula 3 Adhesive Products and will be managed by Lijihas Hussain and Siraj Puthalath.

H O C K E Y

UTSC OMAN: Members of Team UTSC Oman who will take part in

the Sixes Hockey in Bahrain. – Supplied photo

Malik strikes twice as England chase victory

SHARJAH: England were 46 for two wickets against Pakistan at the close of the fourth day in Shar-jah on Wednesday, chasing a target of 284 to win the third and final Test and draw the series.

Captain Alastair Cook was 17 not out with Joe Root on six af-ter Moeen Ali and Ian Bell were dismissed by Shoaib Malik in the space of two overs.

Having taken a first innings lead of 72, England finally dismissed Pakistan for 355 in their second innings, with opener Mohammad Hafeez making 151.

Pakistan, who have never lost a series in the United Arab Emirates since their home matches were

moved there in 2010, won the sec-ond test by 178 runs after the first was drawn.

They struck two heavy blows in the last session when Malik, playing in his last test, dismissed Moeen Ali and then Bell in quick succession with the score on 34.

Moeen, who has been unable to make a success of his role as opening bat, fell leg before for 22 and Bell lost his off stump with-out scoring. Root, who survived a controversial leg-before decision

as Pakistan used up their final DRS review, stayed in until the close along with Cook, and at least one of them must make a big total if England are to score the 238 runs still needed.

Earlier, Hafeez (151) struck his ninth Test century to help Paki-stan consolidate their position af-ter losing nightwatchman Rahat Ali for a duck.

England challenged the um-pire’s not out verdict against Ha-feez on the first ball of the day off leg-spinner Adil Rashid but could

not get it overturned. Wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow missed a stumping chance in the same over and later Stuart Broad dropped a tough return catch from him.

Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq shared a fifth-wicket stand of 93 with Ha-feez and when Malik grabbed his two wickets Pakistan became firm favourites to win the series if not the match as well.

“We’re very happy with the total on the board and we’re very confi-dent of winning the game,” Hafeez told Sky Sports. — Reuters

Alastair Cook was 17

not out with Joe Root

on six after Moeen

Ali and Ian Bell were

dismissed by Shoaib

Malik in the space of

two overs

Pakistan 1st innings: 234 (Misbah-ul-Haq 71; J. Anderson 4-17) England 1st innings: 306 (J. Taylor 76; S. Malik 4-33) Pakistan 2nd innings:M. Hafeez c Bell b Ali 151A. Ali run out 34S. Malik lbw b Anderson 0Y. Khan lbw b Broad 14R. Ali b Anderson 0 Misbah-ul Haq lbw b Broad 38A. Shafiq b Broad 46S. Ahmed b Patel 36Y. Shah c Broad b Rashid 4W. Riaz run out 21Z. Babar not out 0Extras (b-6, lb-5) 11Total (all out, 118.2 overs) 355Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-105, 3-146, 4-152,

5-245, 6-257, 7-312, 8-319, 9-354, 10-355Bowling: J. Anderson 26-8-52-2, S. Broad 23-6-44-3, S. Patel 19-1-79-1, M. Ali 21.2-1-72-1, A. Rashid 29-3-97-1England 2nd innings:M. Ali lbw b Malik 22A. Cook not out 17I. Bell b Malik 0J. Root not out 6Extras (nb-1) 1Total (for 2 wickets, 22 overs) 46Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-34Bowling: R. Ali 2-0-13-0 , W. Riaz 2-0-10-0 (nb-1), Z. Babar 9-2-11-0, S. Malik 7-3-8-2, Y. Shah 2-0-4-0Umpires: Chris Gaffaney and Bruce OxenfordTV umpire: Paul Reiffel Match referee: Andy Pycroft

S C O R E B O A R D

GOOD KNOCK: Mohammed Ha-

feez celebrates his 150. – Reuters

Oman Sail’s Women’s Sailing Initiative successfulMUSCAT: Oman Sail has suc-cessfully trained over 40 Omani girls aged 8-12 from government schools as part of the ‘Women’s Sailing Initiative’ in partnership with Occidental of Oman, Inc (Oxy Oman). At a special ceremony held at Oman Sail’s headquarters attended by parents, Oman Sail coaches and mentors, Oxy Oman’s representatives recognised the achievements of the newly-certi-fied instructors and schoolgirls.

Designed to empower the sport-ing ambitions of Omani women, the first phase of the programme armed six female sailors with the necessary skills and knowledge to become certified instructors. Local schoolgirls were then intro-duced to the sport in the second

part of the initiative in an effort to broaden their horizons and be-gin shaping the next generation of Omani female sailors.

“The programme has taught young Omani girls and women the

benefits of an active lifestyle and set them on the path to what could be a prosperous sporting career,” said Hussam Al Nabhani, Vice President of Corporate and Ex-ternal Affairs at Oxy Oman. “We

hope our partnership with Oman Sail sets the standard as a shining example of how to innovatively en-act social change to benefit people across the Sultanate.”

David Graham, Oman Sail CEO, said, “We thank Oxy Oman for sharing our vision in helping de-velop women’s sport in Oman. To-gether we can change the individu-al lives of young women across the country. The commitment shown by the girls in this programme proves the potential for women to succeed in the sport of sailing.”

Newly-certified instructor, Mar-wa Al Khaifi, said, “I have to thank Oxy Oman and Oman Sail for the chance to learn sailing and develop as a person. Sailing has changed my life and I have seen first-hand how

participating in sport and healthy activities can have a positive im-pact on women in Oman. The chil-dren joining the programme are incredibly lucky to have this op-portunity and gain valuable skills while having fun. This is the first step in a long and exciting journey that I have seen can lead to great things and the chance to represent my country on the water.”

The female sailors now have the opportunity to join Oman Sail’s Women’s Programme, established in 2012 to promote the sport as a fun and healthy activity for wom-en. Operating the first and only all-female sailing team in the region, Oman Sail is working towards fur-ther building and expanding the team into new classes and races.

S A I L I N G

GOOD INITIATIVE: Oman Sail has successfully trained over 40

Omani girls aged 8-12 from government schools . – Supplied photo

Sri Lanka ride Perera’s blitz to clinch seriesCOLOMBO: Opener Kusal Perera fell for 99 but his free-flowing knock powered Sri Lanka to a comfortable eight-wicket win in a rain-hit second one-day international against West Indies on Wednesday as the hosts sealed the series with a match to spare.

Needing 225 in 38 overs un-der the Duckworth-Lewis sys-tem, Sri Lanka reached the tar-get with nine deliveries to spare thanks to an unbeaten knock of 81 from Lahiru Thirimanne.

Sri Lanka lost Tillakaratne Dilshan (17) early but man-of-the-match Perera and Thiri-manne ensured there were no hiccups with a second-wicket stand of 156. Perera, who hit six fours and four sixes during his 92-ball innings, suffered severe cramps as he closed in on his third ODI hundred.

Visibly in pain Perera went for a hook shot off paceman Ravi Rampaul on 99 but much to the disappointment Brathwaite safe-ly held on to the top edge. Dinesh Chandimal and Thirimanne took Sri Lanka home with an un-broken partnership of 29 runs.

Earlier, a blistering 83 off 70 balls from opener Johnson Charles gave West Indies a strong start. - Reuters

O D I

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Haka fest in Auckland as rugby world champions arrive home

WELLINGTON: World champi-ons New Zealand were welcomed home by chanting crowds and a string of hakas on Wednesday as the All Blacks embarked a three-day journey around the country to celebrate their third Rugby World Cup triumph.

The festivities began at Auck-land airport even before the doors of the Air New Zealand jet had opened when a group of ground crew in high visibility vests per-formed a haka, the traditional Maori war dance, on the tarmac.

Captain Richie McCaw had the Webb Ellis Cup clutched in his

hands as the players entered the terminal to be greeted by some 4,000 fans, many of whom had been in position for hours, chant-ing “All Blacks! All Blacks!”

Another haka performed by Maori in more traditional garb later welcomed the squad to Vic-toria Park in the centre of the city for a welcome ceremony, where

the players signed autographs and took “selfies” with fans.

As the All Blacks took their place on stage, a group of school-girls performed another Maori

welcome followed by a third haka of the morning from their male counterparts.

“The boys left eight weeks ago on a mission that started perhaps

four years ago,” McCaw told the cheering fans.

“We knew the challenge was go-ing to be a big mountain to climb ... but getting home this morning has certainly made all that hard work worthwhile.

“We heard that this country was going pretty nuts on Sunday morn-ing and now we can all smile for the next four years knowing we are world champions.”

Greatest sideHailed as the greatest side to have played the game, New Zealand were the first team to win the World Cup three times and the first to retain the trophy after their 34-17 victory over neighbours Austral-ia at Twickenham last Saturday.

The festivities will continue with a street parade and reception in Christchurch on Thursday and more celebrations in the capital Wellington on Friday.

For the likes of World Player of the Year Dan Carter, centres Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, as well as veteran hooker Keven Mealamu, the trip will be a valedictory tour as all have played their last match for the country.

McCaw has yet to confirm whether or not he will be retiring af-ter a record 148 Tests for New Zea-land but Smith thought the future of the All Blacks brand was safe.

“It’s been a dream come true,” Smith said of his 94-match inter-national career. “I’ve loved it but it’s time for the young fellas to take over. And they’ll do a good job so that makes it a bit easier.” - Reuters

Captain Richie

McCaw had the Webb

Ellis Cup clutched

in his hands as the

players entered the

terminal to be greeted

by some 4,000 fans,

many of whom had

been in position for

hours, chanting “All

Blacks! All Blacks!”

HAKA ALL AROUND: Students perform a Hakka for New Zealand’s All Blacks after their arrival at a parade and official welcome for the team in Auckland on Wednesday . – AFP

TOAST OF THE NATION: All Blacks captain Richie McCaw holds the Webb Ellis Cup during a public event celebrating the victory by the New Zealand team at the recent Rugby World Cup in Auckland on Wednesday . – Reuters

Jazz Boys host FRiENDi Mobile Challenger Cup tourney draw

MUSCAT: The draw for the 18th edition of FRiENDi Mobile Chal-lenger Cup, being organised by Jazz Boys Cricket Club, was held at the Palm Restaurant in Al Khu-wair on Tuesday.

Joseph Rajan, Brand Manager of FRiENDi Mobile, and Anisha Pervin of AFMNC, presided over the draw ceremony.

With 16 teams registered for the tournament, the organiser re-gretted that they were not able to accommodate more than 10 other

teams who wanted to participate due to time and schedule con-straints.

The Challenger Cup will be conducted in the coming two weekends at the Ghubrah Power Plant Ground. The draw was witnessed by the managers and captains of the respective teams followed by a briefing from the sponsors.

The tournament is mainly sponsored by FRiENDi Mobile, Danube, Abdul Fatah Mohd Noor

Co, Cluttons, National Metal Cans, Al Hajiry Group, The Body Shop and Al Faisal.

1st round fixtures (Friday): Royal Strikers vs Mangaloreans (6.30 am), Mobile Point Ruwi vs SS Friends (7.30 am), Ashes vs AKCT Muscat (8.30 am), Al Dasser Friends vs Masters XI (9.30 am), National Gas vs As-fandyar XI (10.30 am), Indian XI vs FAP UTSC (1.30 pm), Future CC vs Darsait XI (2.30 pm), Attic Outdoors vs Tely Boyz (3.30 pm).

C R I C K E T

Whistles from Real crowd but Benitez focuses on pre-quarters

MADRID: Real Madrid strug-gled for long spells in their 1-0 win over Paris Saint Germain and there were whistles from the Bernabeu crowd but coach Rafa Benitez said the most im-portant thing was reaching the Champions League last 16.

Benitez’s side are still un-beaten this season in all compe-titions but they rode their luck against PSG who dominated especially in the first half and Real scored through Nacho Fer-nandez from one of their few chances after 35 minutes.

“We have played against a strong side in PSG and I am happy because we have quali-fied which is what is impor-tant,” Benitez told reporters. “We won, we were able to bat-tle and we are now first in the group without conceding a goal, which are reasons to be positive against a difficult rival.”

Real handed PSG to their first loss of the season in all compe-titions and are through to the knockout stage with 10 points from four games, three more than the French side. Still there were whistles from some fans who were expecting more from the 2014 winners. “We must reflect on what we didn’t do well in the first half and a lot of things in defence,” said Benitez. - Reuters

F O O T B A L L

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

CultureSECTIONC L I F E S T Y L E T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

REDISCOVERING CLASSICSMulti-talented artiste, Dipti Raval, casts

a spell on music lovers with her beautiful

renditions of old Hindi film songs in her

debut album, ClasSix ReloadedStory: T.A. Ameerudheen

Photography: Courtesy of Dipti Raval

LIFESTYLEC8 T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

Dipti Raval is living her dream now. She is busy receiving calls and text messages two months after the release of her first al-bum, ClasSix Reloaded.

Music lovers in Oman have found a new star who casts a spell on them with her beautiful rendition of old Hindi film songs.

For Dipti, however, the album is a tribute to the legendary singers. “I grew up listening to Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Asha Bhosale, Kishore Kumar and Geeta Dutt. They are my idols since childhood. It gives me immense pleasure to dedicate my first album, ClasSix Reloaded, to those luminaries,” says Dipti.

All the six songs featured in the album have stood the test of time, and the magical melodies evoke memories of the golden era of Bollywood music. The iconic singers oc-cupy a special place in the hearts of Hindi music lovers all over the world. “It was a real challenge to sing those ever-green songs. I practised them many times over before I travelled to a studio in Mumbai, India,” she says.

Dipti has been dreaming of a career as a singer since childhood. She began to learn the nuances of music from the age of six, and performed Bhajans (devotional songs) on the radio. Her passion for Hindi film music grew stronger even as she continued her tryst with classical music.

“I love all musical genres but I got special energy when I rendered Hindi film songs,” she confesses.

She came to Oman in 1992 and the peace-ful country gave her positive energy to pur-sue her passion vigorously. Her persever-ance paid dividends when she launched ClasSix Reloaded on August 28, 2015.

“When I stood in front of the micro-phone at the state-of-the-art recording studio in Mumbai, I got a rare energy and I was able to give a creative touch to my rendition. I could sing one song each day. When I finished the task after six days, I was over the moon,” says Dipti.

Dipti had the same feeling four years ago when she got an opportunity to sing in the presence of Asha Bhosale, another legend-ary Hindi playback singer.

“It was during a private function in Mus-cat in 2011. I got an opportunity to sing Asha Bhosale’s songs at a function graced by her. The versatile singer congratulated me after each song. It was an unforgettable day in my life.”

Though she made a mark as a singer,

Dipti is passionate about dancing, draw-ing and nurturing artistic talents among youngsters. She is the women’s wing co-ordi-nator of Indian Social Club’s Gujarati Wing and one of the founders of Muscat Kalakaar Parivar (erstwhile Muscat Kathiyawadi Parivar), which organises cultural events in Muscat. MKP’s recent live show fea-turing Bollywood singer Javed Ali at the Qurum Amphitheatre was a huge suc-cess. “I am an artiste and I want to pro-mote youngsters. MKP is in the forefront of fostering the talents,” she says.

Dipti and her team visits labour camps, where blue collar workers live, to organise musical events on Thursdays and Fridays.

“Art of Living Foundation members visit camps where workers from In-dia, Pakistan and Bangladesh live and organise musical shows. The aim is to bring happiness in their lives. I have performed in 36 camps from Muscat to Salalah. We will resume the programme during winter. I am so happy to entertain the labourers.”

Following the excellent feedback for ClasSix Reloaded, Dipti now plans to launch the second part of the album. “I thank music lovers in Oman for their support. I am seriously thinking about producing the second part of the album that will feature songs by Mohammed Rafi and Manna De.” - ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

CLASSICS DIPTI “RELOADED” Lag Jaa Gale (Singer: Lata Mangeshkar Film: Woh Kaun Thi, 1964)

Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye (Singer: MukeshFilm: Anand, 1971)

Haule Haule Saajana(Singer: Asha BhosaleFilm: Sawan Ki Ghata, 1966)

Ek Ajnabee Haseena Se(Singer: Kishore KumarFilm: Ajnabee, 1974)

Ai Dil Mujhe Bata De(Singer: Geeta DuttFilm: Bhai Bhai, 1956)

Bahon Me Chale Aao (Singer: Lata MangeshkarFilm: Anamika, 1973)

LIFESTYLEC9T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

SO TO SPEAK

SALEHAL-SHAIBANY

Emotional Rollercoaster of a Student

Iknew right away that I let down one of my students when I let her walk out of my class. I often take pride to listen

to every word a student tells me. I also trained myself to look for any sign of despair in their faces. But not that time. I let my own emotional turmoil get the better of me. She said something that I should have taken the time to lis-ten but did not.

When I realised what I did, pangs of guilt started to bite deep in my consciousness. I called her but she did not pick her phone. I rushed through the corridors, nearly colliding with students who were hurrying to their classes, desperately searching for her. I walked to the library, cafeteria, and all the places stu-dents hang around after classes but she was not there. I knew I would fail her if I did not attend to her problem on the same day. It had nothing to do with aca-demics because she was good enough to pass her exams. There was something in her body lan-

guage that I totally ignored. I re-alised it was a cry of help though she did not shed a tear.

I finally traced her in the car park. She was sitting alone. She buried her face in her hands. I felt a tug of emotion when I saw her like that and felt somehow re-sponsible for her problem. I am not sure if she knew I was there when I stopped next to where she was sitting. I needed time to come up with the right words because I knew a question like “what’s wrong?” would not open up her feelings. It was moments like those that a teacher like me would not know exactly how and where to begin. It was all about the first approach. Should I place my hand on her shoulder hoping that the gesture would connect with her emotion? Or should I find the right words and hope there would be enough gentle-ness in my voice to assure her that I was there to help?

I decided to do neither but walking away was never an op-tion for me. What I did next was not inspired by impulsiveness

but from indecisiveness that was laced up by a string of inse-cure emotions. I sat there next to her. I listened to her sobbings and waited patiently. Perhaps I could not trust what I was going to say thinking it might make it worse or just simply I needed her to make the first move. When she

finally removed her hands from her face, she showed no surprise to the fact that I was sitting next to her. However, she did not look my way but focused her tearful eyes at a spot on the ground. I am not sure why but student and teacher sat there out in the open for quite a long time without say-ing a word to each other. Later on I realised it must have been fif-teen minutes until she got up and walked away.

She left me sitting on the same spot wondering if I should have said something to make her feel better. But in all honesty, I was just lost for words. I was still there when she came back five minutes later and said just three words with a faint smile on her lips. It was “thank you, Sir.” It took me a full minute to realise what it meant. It did not hit me right away. When it did, I was thankful that she was not around to see my eyes were lined up with tears. The fact that I was just there in her moment of need, without any exchange of words, was all she needed from me.

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Learn piano, guitar, violin and keyboard from Talentz

I knew a question like

“what’s wrong?” would not

open up her feelings. It was

moments like those that

a teacher like me would

not know exactly how and

where to begin. It was all

about the first approach

James McAvoy to Star in ‘Submergence’

Actor James McAvoy will star in filmmaker Wim Wenders’s romantic thriller Submergence, which begins shooting in March in Eu-rope and Africa. The story of the film is based on author J.M. Ledgard’s 2011 novel of the same name. Submer-gence centres on two lovers, immersed in life or death situations and separated by thousands of miles, who find solace in memories of their intense romance the previous Christmas after a chance meeting on a beach on the Atlantic coast. One is enduring captivity by fighters in Somalia, while the other is exploring the greatest depths of the ocean floor from her submersible. McAvoy next stars as Victor Von Frankenstein in Victor Frankenstein.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Not Worried About Wrinkles

Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar says she doesn’t care what people say about smiling causing wrinkles. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, 38, has created a new company Foodstirs, which offers convenient and healthy ways to bring families together in the kitchen. While talking to The New Potato site about it, she also shared her beau-ty secret. “Honestly, I don’t care what they say about smiling causing wrinkles, happiness is my key to eve-rything,” said Gellar.

J.K. Rowling’s Death Fears

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is worried she will die before she finishes writing her new children’s books. The 50-year-old is busy working on new mate-rial and revealed she has “so many ideas” to put down on paper - but she fears she won’t have the time to realise her ambitions. “I sometimes worry I’ll die before I’ve written them all out. That’s my midlife crisis - that I will leave this earth without having written them all,” Rowling said on a radio show. — IANS

HOLLYWOOD

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FIND-IT-ALLC10 T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

CITY CINEMAContact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68. www.citycinemaoman.netfacebook.com/citycinemaoman

SHATTI

The Last Witch Hunter (Action)(2D)(PG12)Cast : Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood2:30, 9:30, 11:45 pmParanormal Activity: The Ghost Dimen-sion (Horror)- (3D)(15+)Cast : Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Ivy George6:00 pmThe Martian(3D) (Adventure, Sci-Fi) (PG)Cast : Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain6:45 pmApocalypse (Horror)(2D)(18+)Cast : Leo Gregory, Sean Cronin11:45 pmGoosebumps (Action, Adventure) (3D)(12+)Cast : Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush2:30, 7:00, 9:15, 11:30 pmBurnt (Comedy, Drama) (2D)(12+)Cast : Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller4:00, 7:45 pmGuardian Angel (Action, Drama) (2D)(12+)Cast : Vahik Pirhamzei, Bokeem Woodbine4:45, 9:45 pmCoconut: The Little Dragon (Animation) (2D)(PG)2:15 pmThe Program (Biography, Drama) (2D)(PG12)Cast : Jesse Plemons, Lee Pace, Ben Foster4:45, 9:45 pm

MUSCAT GRAND MALL

He Named Me Malala : 2D (Doc) PGCast : Malala Yousafzai, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Toor Pekai01:15, 05:30 & 07:30PMGold Class : 06:45PMGoosebumps : 3D (Action | Comedy) (12+)Cast : Jack Black, Dylan Minnette09:15PMGold Class - 02:00PMThe Last Witch Hunter : 2D (Act| Adv) PG12Cast : Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood3:15, 07:15, 09:30 & 11:45PM

Pan : 3D (Adventure | Fantasy ) (PG)Cast : Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund,11:00 & 03:00PMThe Walk : 3D (Adventure | Bio ) (PG)Cast : Joseph Gordon-Levitt,12:45PM & 05:10PMGold Class : 04:25PM

AZAIBA

Spectra – 2D (PG12) Act, Adv, ThrCast – Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes12:01 AM(Midnight)He Named Me Malala – 2D (PG) DocumentaryCast – Malala Yousafzai, Ziauddin Yousafzai06:15 PMThe last Witch Hunter – 2D (PG12) Adv Cast – Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood03:00, 04:45, 08:45, 11:45 PMShaandaar – 2D (PG) Comedy, RomanceCast – Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant03:15, 06:00, 09:00, 11:00 PMEnnu Ninte Moideen – 2D (PG12) ThrillerCast – Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon, Saikumar06:45, 08:45 PM

Goosebumps - 3D (12+) Act, Adv, ComCast – Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, 04:30, 06:45, 09:45 PMCoconut: The Little Dragon – 3D (PG) AnimationCast - Max Von Der, Dustin Semmelrogge02:45 PM

RUWI

Screen 1Shandaar (Comedy/ Drama ) – PGCast : Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant.2.30, 8.30 PMJazbaa (Action / Drama ) – 12+Cast : Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Shabana Azmi, 5.30 PMSpectre (Action) – PG12Cast : Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz,12.00 MidnightScreen 2Jazbaa (Action / Drama ) – 12+Cast : Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Shabana Azmi, 3.45, 9.15 PMShandaar (Comedy/ Drama ) – PGCast : Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant.

6.30, 11.45 PMScreen 3Pyaar Ka Punchnama-2 (Drama ) – PG12Cast : Kartik Aaryan, Nushrat Bharucha, Sunny Singh Nijjar, Sonalli Sehgall, Ishita Sharma.3.45, 6.30, 9.00, 11.45 PM

SUR

Spectre 007 (Action | Adventure ) (PG12) Cast: Daniel Craig, Christopher Waltz11:59 PMGuardian Angel (Action | Drama) (12+) Cast: Vahik Pirhamzei, Bokeem Woodbine, Justine4:30, 9:30, 11:30 PMApocalypse (Horror) (18+) CP#Cast: Leo Gregory, Sean Cronin04:15, 6:00, 7:45, 09:45 PMEnnu Ninte Moideen (Mal) (Rom) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon06:40 PM

SOHARThe Last Witch Hunter - 2D (PG12) ActionCast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 04:15, 09:30, 11:45 PM

Shandaar - 2D (PG) Romance| ComedyCast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant04:15 , 06:45 , 09:00 PMEnnu Ninte Moideen - 2D (M) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon8:45 PMGoosebumps - 3D (12+) Action | ComedyCast: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush02:45 , 09:15 , 11:15 PMCoconut: The Little Dragon - 2D (PG) Animation02:30, 07:00 PMBurnt - 2D (12+) Comedy| DramaCast : Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, 04:45 , 06:00 PMGoosebumps - 2D (12+) Action | Adventure Cast : Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush07:00 PMJem and Holograms - 2D (PG12) Adventure | Drama | FantasyCast : Aubrey Peeples, Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau02:30 , 04:45 PMSpectre - 2D (PG12) Action |Adventure |ThrillerCast : Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes

11:59

BURAIMI

Spectre– 2D (Adventure, Thriller) (PG12)Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, 11:59PMThe Last Witch Hunter – 2D (Action, Adventure, Fantasy) (PG12)Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood3:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30PMHotel Transylvania 2 – 3D (Animation, Comedy, Family) (PG)Cast: Selena Gomez, Adam Sandler, 2:45, 5:00PMGuardian Angel– 2D (Action, Drama) (12+)Cast: Vahik Pirhamzei, Bokeem Woodbine, Justine3:00, 4:30, 5:30, 11:50PMShandaar– 2D (Romance, Comedy) (PG)Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant6:45PMEnnu Ninte Moideen – 2D (Romantic | Thriller) (PG12)Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon8:30PM

SALALAHSpectre (2D) (PG12) (Act/Adv/Thr) Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, 12:01AM Midnight ShowThe Last Witch Hunter (2D) (PG12) (Act) Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood12:45/04:35/06:35/09:15/11:35PMJem and Holograms (2D) (PG12) (Adv) Cast: Aubrey Peeples, Stefanie Scott, 11:55AM/04:45PMHe Named Me Malal (2D) (PG) (Doc) Cast: Malala Yousafzai, Ziauddin Yousafzai10:15AM/12:45/07:00PMCoconut: The Little Dragon (3D) (PG) (Animation) 11:00AM/05:00PMGoosebumps (3D) (12+) (Action/Comedy) Cast: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush10:45AM/02:30/02:45/06:45PMShandaar (2D) (PG) (Romance/Comedy) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant02:00/08:55PMEnnu Ninte Moideen (2D) (PG12) (Malay-alam) (Romantic/Thriller) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon08:45PM

CINEMA SCHEDULE CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

ROYAL OMAN POLICE

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999

General Directorate of

Passport and Residence 24569603

Directorate General

of Customs 24521109

Traffic violations inquiries 24510228

Public Relations Admin 24560099

EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Afghanistan 24698 791/4

Algeria 24605 593

Bahrain 24 605 074/133

Bangladesh 24 698 660

Brazil 24640100

Brunei 24 603533

China 24 696782

Cyprus 24 699815

Egypt 24 600 982/411

France 24681 800

Germany 24835000

India 24684500

Indonesia 2469 1050

Iran 24 696 944/7

Iraq 24603642

Italy 24693727

Japan 24 601 028

Jordan 24692760/1/3

Kazakhstan 24 692418

Kenya 24 697664

South Korea 24 691490

Kuwait 24 699628

Lebanon 24 693208

Libya 24603466

Malaysia 24698329/643

Morocco 24696152/3

Nepal 24696177

Netherlands 24603706

Pakistan 24603439

Palestine 24601312

Philippines 24605335

Qatar 24 691 153/2/4

Russia 24602894

Saudi Arabia 24601705

Senegal 24694139

Somalia 24697977

South Africa 24647300

Spain 24691101

Sri Lanka 24697841/2

Sudan 24697875

Switzerland 24603267

Syria 24697904

Tanzania 24601 174

Thailand 24 602684/5

Tunisia 24603486

Turkey 24697050/1/2

UAE 24400000

United Kingdom 24609000

United States 24643400

Yemen 24600815

PHARMACIES

Round the clock

Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24782666

Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi 24702542

Salalah 23291635;

Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra 24503585

Muscat Region

Apollo, Al Hamriya 24787766

Muscat, A Seeb Market 24421691

Muscat, Al Khuwair 24485740

Muscat, Al Hail South 24537080

Dhofar Region

Muscat, Al Nahdha Road,

Salalah 23291635

HOSPITALS

Al Amal Medical & Health Care

Centre 24485052

Atlas Hospital

Ruwi 24811743/

Ghubra 24504000

Al Musafir Specialised

Medical Clinic 24706453

Hatat Polyclinic LLC,

Ruwi 24563641

Azaiba 24499269

Sohar 2683006

Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2

Al Massaraat Clinic &

Laboratory 24566435

Al Makook Medical

Coordinance Centre 24499434

Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780

Capital Polyclinic 24707549

Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic,

Ruwi 24799760/1/2

Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740

Ceregem National Raak 24485633

Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217

Elixir Health Centre 24565802

Emirates Medical Centre 24604540

1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274

Lifeline Hospital Salalah 23212340

International Medical

Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5

Kims Oman Hospital 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency 24760123

Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128

MBD 24799077

Al Khuwair 24478818

Magrabi Eye and

Ear Hospital 24568870

Muscat Private Hospital 24583600

Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment

Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666

Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC 22004000

AIRLINE OFFICES

Muscat Airport Flight information

(24 hours) 24519456/24519223

Aeroflot 24704455

Air Arabia 24700828

Air France 24562153

Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732

Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128

British Airways 24568777

Cathay Pacific 24789818

Egypt Air 24794113

Emirates Air 24404400

Ethiopian Airlines 24660313

Gulf Air 80072424

Indian 24791914

Iran Air 24787423

Japan Airlines 24704455

Jazeera Airways 23294848

Jet Airways 24787248

Kenya Airways 24660300

KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737

Kuwait Airways 24701262

LOT Polish Airlines 24796387

Lufthansa 24796692

Malaysian Airlines 24560796

Middle East Airlines 24796680

Oman Air 24531111

Pakistan International

Airlines 24792471

Qatar Airways 24771900

Qantas 24559941

Royal Jordanian 24796693

Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485

Singapore Airlines 24791233

Shaheen Air 24816565

SriLankan Airlines 24784545

Swiss International

Airlines 24796692

Thai Airways 24705934

LISTINGS

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

Dept Destination Arrival Operatingtime time days

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36)

15:00 Quriyat 16:30 Daily

15:00 Sur 18:00 Daily

15:00 Jaalan 19:30 Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 Sohar 08:50 Daily

06:30 Buraimi 11:00 Daily

08:00 Buraimi 14:30 Daily via Ibri

13:00 Sohar 15:45 Daily

13:00 Buraimi 17:40 Daily

16.00 Sohar 18.35 Daily

16.00 Buraimi 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

17:30 Sinaw 20:50 Daily

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

14:30 Nizwa 16:50 Daily

14:30 Yanqul 19:30 Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

08:00 Nizwa 10:20 Daily

08:00 Al Araqi 12:30 Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

07:30 Sur 12:00 Daily

14:30 Sur 18:45 Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62)

06:30 Fahud 10:30 Daily

06:30 Yibal 11:15 Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100)

07:00 Salalah 20:00 Daily

10:00 Marmul 20:30 Daily

10:00 Salalah 23:30 Daily

19:00 Salalah 07:40 Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

06:00 Marmul 16:50 Daily

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102)

15:00 Dubai 07:00 Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201)

06:00 Sohar 08:30 Daily

06:00 Dubai 11:30 Daily

13:00 Sohar 15:30 Wed,Thur

13:00 Dubai 18:30 Wed,Thur

15:00 Sohar 17:35 Daily

15:00 Dubai 20:55 Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily

07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily

07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

Dept Destination Arrival Operatingtime time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily

05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily

05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

07:00 Sohar 08:55 Daily

07:00 Ruwi 11:40 Daily

13:30 Ruwi 20:20 Daily via Ibri

13:00 Sohar 14:55 Daily

13:00 Ruwi 17:40 Daily

13:00 Sohar 19:20 Daily

17:00 Ruwi 22:15 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

07:00 Ruwi 10:25 Daily

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

06:00 Nizwa 08:40 Daily

06:00 Ruwi 11:00 Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

15:40 Nizwa 17:55 Daily

15:40 Ruwi 20:20 Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

06:00 Ruwi 10:45 Daily

14:30 Ruwi 19:00 Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

12:30 Fahud 13:15 Daily

12:30 Ruwi 17:30 Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100)

07:00 Ruwi 19:50 Daily

10:00 Marmul 13:15 Daily

10:00 Ruwi 22:30 Daily

19:00 Ruwi 07:30 Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

06:00 Marmul 16:30 Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

15:00 Salalah 07:00 Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201)

07:30 Sohar 10:50 Daily

07:30 Ruwi 13:40 Daily

13:00 Sohar 16:15 Thur-Fri

13:00 Ruwi 19:10 Thur-Fri

15:30 Sohar 18:45 Daily

15:30 Ruwi 21:35 Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily

16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily

16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

BAHJA CINEMAFilm information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

Jem and the Holograms ( Drama / Fantasy)Cast : Stefanie Scott, Molly Ringwald, Ryan Guzman3.15, 7.30, 9.45 & 11.55 pm, CP No: 2916 (PG12)The Guardian Angel (Action / Crime / Drama) Cast: Numan Acar, Volker Albers, Loyd Bateman3.45, 5.30 & 7.45 pm, CP No: 2894 (12+)Apocalypse: ( Horror ) Cast: Leo Gregory, Sean Cronin, Brian Woodward10.00 pm, CP No: 2895 (18+)The Culling: (Horror / Thriller) Cast: Jeremy Sumpter, Elizabeth Di Prinzio, Brett Davern6.00 pm, CP No: 2578 (18+)The Last Witch Hunter (Action /Adventure/Fantacy) : Vin Diesel,Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood1.15 pm, CP No: 2816 (PG12)The Curse of Downers Grove ( Drama / Horror / Mystery) Cats: Kevin Zegers, Penelope Mitchell, Bella Heathcote2.00 pm, CP No: 2867 (15+)Spectre (Action / Adventure / Thriller) Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes12.01 am (Date 06/11/15) CP No : 2915 (PG12)

STAR CINEMAFilm information 24791641 / 24786776Website: www.isurf.co.om

Ennu Ninde Moideen (Mal) (Drama) Cast: Prithviraj, Parvathi Menon, Bala & Lena 3-30, 6-30, 9-30 pm Cinema Main10 Endrathu Kulla (Tamil) (Act ) Cast: Vikram, Samantha & Jackie Shroff3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema -4 Bruce Lee (Telugu) (Act)Cast : Ram Charan Teja & Rakul preet Singh 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema -3Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (Tamil) (Act/Rom) Cast Vijay Shethupathi and NayanThara 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 at Cinema -2 NEXT CHANGE: Vedalam (Tamil) Thoongavanam Prem Ratan Dhan Payo ( Hindi)

Programmes are subject to change

@MGM @RUWI

He Named Me Malala : 2D (Doc) PGCast : Malala Yousafzai, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Toor Pekai01:15, 05:30 & 07:30PMGold Class : 06:45PM

@SHATTI

Goosebumps (Action, Adventure) (3D)(12+)Cast : Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush2:30, 7:00, 9:15, 11:30 pm

@BURAIMI

The Last Witch Hunter – 2D (Action, Adventure, Fantasy) (PG12)Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood3:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30PM

Spectre (Action) – PG12Cast : Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes12.00 Midnight

Dhuhr 11.55pmAsr 3.08pmMaghrib 5.31pmIsha 6.43pm Fajr (Tomorrow) 4.58am

PRAYER TIMINGS

WEATHER

320

Maximum

230

Minimum

TEMPERATURE

50-80%RELATIVE HUMIDITY

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and

parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to

extra@timesofoman.com

SAMAY SANDEEP

November 5, 2012

ANANYA ANIL

November 6, 2009

DHANYA HIRIYANNA

November 6, 2006

DANIA ANN

November 11, 2009

WITH LOVE

LIFESTYLEC11T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

GHAWIBAZAAR

BUY LOCAL: OUD OILPerfumes play an important role in the lives of the

people in the Middle East. Exotic fragrances are

appreciated not just for the aromatic notes but also

for the integral role it plays in Arab societies.

WHATAgarwood oils, also known as Oud in Arab countries,

is a popular fragrance in the Arabia region. A resin

from the Aquilaria tree, it is valued for its distinct

and mysterious aromatic smells and should not be

confused with Bakhoor. The Aquilaria tree produces

this dark aromatic resin as part of its natural defence

mechanism when infected or introduced with fungus

(Phialophora Parasitica). This can be a natural or an

artificial process. The greater the age of the infec-

tion, the higher the grade of Oud oils. Oud has always

found big takers across most Arab countries.

WHEREAquilaria species that produce natural agarwood are

found throughout Asia, in South, and Southeast Asia.

The sub-continent of India has been the primary

source of agarwood for centuries, and agarwood

cultivation was slowly introduced and extended to

Indonesia and Malaysia.

HOW MUCHOud oils are graded into AAA, AA, A. AAA is the pur-

est of blends, high quality and priced highly. A tola

could go as high as OMR600 or more. AA is pure oils

of good quality, and are generally five years old. A

tola could be in the range of OMR200 to OMR300. A

is usually the freshest blend of oils, and are usually

cheaper than AAA or AA. (A tola is sold in the range

of OMR30 to OMR100.

Have a favourite Omani product or shop? Tell us about it: ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

FASH I ON

International value retailer, Splash, showcased its latest autumn and winter collection at a grand func-tion held in Dubai recently.

The Splash Café Society, a space that brought a section of people who connect through their mutual love for fashion, travel and music, was a glamorous one which saw the Be-spoke Military and Retro Futuristic trends coming together to create the ultimate look for a jet setting indi-vidual. Effortless pieces, structured look and the retro chic silhouettes were dominant on the runway that was seen across the fashion weeks in the past days.

Raza Beig, CEO Splash & Iconic said, “Harnessing the power of sim-plicity, classic and utilitarian in fash-ion, this season we have embraced two classic trends namely Military and Retro with a modern spin. The collection defines a well read, trav-elled person who was part of the very

niche cult called Café Society. The show is a way of showing our sup-porters and consumers the creativ-ity that the brand imbibes, not just in our collection but in the way we conceptualise a theme that breaks boundaries and presents fashion like never before.” The venue was Madinat Jumeirah where the guests were welcomed into a pre-function area that was designed as a café with heavy French and retro influences. A café deemed fit for hi-flyers, the guests relaxed and soaked in the lux-urious ambience. As many as 25 top models sashayed down the runway in a surreal set that came to life with the energy from the audience.

The collection presented on the runway will be available in stores while most looks from the catwalk will be available on landmarkshops.com/splash. You can revisit mo-ments from the show by tuning into Youtube.com/SplashFashion.

Splash Showcases This Year’s Autumn and Winter Collection

Oman’s iconic Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in November.

The festivities will also com-memorate the Sultanate’s 45th National Day.

For the record, Al Bustan Palace was officially opened in 1985 on the occasion of the first GCC Summit to take place in the Sultanate.

In the last 30 years, it has set the standard for luxury hospitality in Oman and helped transform Mus-cat into a must-see destination.

To mark the beginning of the fes-tivities, the national emblem will be displayed at the hotel.

On November 12, an exclusive concert will be held to celebrate the combined 30 years anniversary of the Royal Oman Symphony Or-chestra and the hotel. It will be an evening to cherish for music lovers as Classical and Romantic Music, including the virtuosic First Piano Concerto in E flat by Franz Liszt,

will reverberate the Oman Audito-rium. World-renowned pianist and guest artist Daniel Grimwood will lead the concert.

The programme will also include Beethoven’s First Symphony. Tick-ets will go on sale from November 1 at the hotel.

Guests will get an opportunity to taste finest culinary delights of Oman and the magic of the Ara-bian Nights at Al Khiran Terrace. The all-day dining venue overlook-ing the infinity pool and the beach front, will dress up for an Omani feast each Thursday night through-out November.

Guests will be invited to dine in an authentic Omani ambi-ence, surrounded by the pool, garden and the sound of a tradi-tional kanoun player.

Another highlight of the celebra-tion is an exclusive, limited 30th anniversary package to discover the ‘Secrets of the Palace’. It will help those who wish to explore the life of the palace and discover all of

its secrets and history. Giving back to the local community is one of the strongest pillars of the brand’s social responsibility programme, Community Footprints.

Teams at Al Bustan Palace will take part in a series of activities to help the local community. They will mobilise skill-based volun-teering and resources to make a difference.

Proceeds from the Omani traditional buffet on Thursday nights at Al Khiran Terrace will be donated to Al Khoud Child Care Centre, to support the ho-tel’s commitment to child well-being. The anniversary year will also see the beginning of a huge renovation project which will be completed by the end of 2016. The project will introduce new expe-riences to Muscat’s rich social, cultural and culinary scenes.

The hotel will remain open while pacing renovations in several phas-es throughout the low season.- lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Al Bustan Palace All Set to Celebrate 30th Anniversary

On November 12, an exclusive concert will be held to celebrate the combined 30 years anniversary of the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra and the Al Bustan Palace

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LIFESTYLEC12 T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 5

TOP 5 PLACES TO PURCHASE ART IN OMAN

BAIT AL ZUBAIR MUSEUMBait Al Zubair (House of Al Zubair) is a private museum that opened its doors to the public in 1998. It is totally funded by its founders, the Zubair family. The museum displays the family’s collection of Omani artefacts, which is considered to be the finest that is privately owned. Bait Al Zubair exhibits two magnificent old canons presented by His Majesty Sul-tan Qaboos bin Said to the museum on the occasion of its opening. The main museum building, Bait Al Bagh (house of gardens) showcases information regarding the Al Busaidi Dynasty. Bait Dalaleel next to it symbolises the true essence of vernacular architecture in Oman. Bait Al Oud (grand house) exhibits early European maps of the Arabian Peninsula, typical Muscati furniture, early prints of the Arabian Peninsula and photographs of Mus-cat with an exhibit of historic cameras.

Website: baitalzubairmuseum.comE-mail: museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com+968 2473 6688 Opening hours: Saturday - Thursday, 9.30am to 6.00pm

STAL GALLERY & STUDIOStal Gallery and Studio is a purpose designed visual arts studio and ex-hibition space in Al Khuwair. It aims to promote the creation, ap-preciation and engagement of visual arts in all media in Muscat and the surrounding region. The gallery is committed to promoting a contem-porary visual arts programme with a balanced focus on promoting new work and supporting the develop-ment of artists while simultane-ously affirming and challenging the public’s appreciation and under-standing of contemporary and inno-vative approaches to the visual arts. It develops projects in collaboration with artists, and is itself a site of ar-tistic production with an associated dedicated residential artists’ studio.

Website: stalgallery.comE-mail: info@stalgallery.com +968 2460 0396Opening hours: Sunday - Thursday, 10am to 6.00pm (by appointment on Friday and Saturday)

BAIT MUZNA GALLERYBait Muzna Gallery was founded by Sayyida Susan Al Said in 2000, in a three-storey traditional Omani house. Located in the old city of Muscat, the space has been renovated into a modern, trendy space for future art and culture. The Gallery exhibits artwork including mixed media paintings, sculptures, photography, installation and concept art. Bait Muzna Gallery promotes culture and art within Oman, and places Omani art on the inter-national arena. It also creates a strong and productive connection between the artists of Oman and the interna-tional art world. The beautiful and historic location, and the art displayed make the Gallery a cultural and artistic epicentre.

Website: baitmuznagallery.comE-mail: art@baitmuznagallery.com+968 2473 9204Opening hours: Saturday - Thursday, 9.30am to 7.00pm

GALLERY SARAHGallery Sarah is part of the Bait Al Zubair Museum and offers an array of paintings and photographs by up and coming and already established local and international artists. Gallery Sarah, set up in memory of Sarah White who passed away in 2013, is a commercial art space. It enables artists and photographers to sell their work locally and internationally. Gallery Sarah is working with collaborating local artists and photographers, and invites them to register and exhibit their work at the gallery and online to an inter-national audience.

Website: gallerysarah.comE-mail: info@gallerysarah.com+968 2208 4747Opening hours: Saturday - Thursday, 9am to 6.00pm

Ghalya’s Museum of Modern ArtGhalya’s Museum of Modern Art, opened in 2011, is a dream project of Her Highness Sayyida Dr Ghalya bint Fahr bin Taimour Al Said. Located near the Muttrah Fort, the Old house is a group of typical Omani houses from the period of 1950 to 1975 that tell the story of the Omanis and their deeply rooted heritage, customs and traditions. The Wedding, the Kitchen and Display Rooms, the Mother and Children’s Room, the Winter Room and the Majlis (Living Room) describe the earlier Omani lifestyle. The strikingly modern, minimalist Art Gallery within the traditional Omani house showcases Omani and International modern artists to the world.

Website: ghalyasmuseum.comE-mail: info@ghalyasmuseum.com+968 2471 1640Opening hours: Saturday - Thursday, 9.30am to 6.00pm

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O MSECTION

CONNECT H E D A I LY G U I D E

D

D4 VACANCY CARGO D6

T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5

RENT D2

*Tourist visa arranged

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.comTel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

New flats for rent Darsait Al Sahel.

Contact: 99311525 / 92533356

1BHK R.O 180/- & 2BHK R.O 220/-

near Medical Muttrah House.

Contact: 98748925

For rent Seeb 1 room, 2 rooms, 3

rooms , with all supplements, includ-

ing water electricity and sewage

also. We provide the following ser-

vices free plumber and electrician 2

cleaner for garbage our price on your

hand, just call on Farahat: 98020768

Hilal: 96541283

2 bedrooms flat with hall,

2 bathrooms in Darsait near

Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715 / 24700120

Room in Al Mwalih very close to

Wave. Contact: 95192927

Flat in Sohar Al Traif. Contact :

92853555 / 94222386

2 BHK flats for rent near PDO Gate

No.2 with spilt AC. #94057023

NEW WAREHOUSE FOR RENT at

Ghala Ind. Area. 800 & 2500 approx

sqms Near Hotel Al-Madinah Holi-

day.Ghala. Container can enter. Im-

mediate access to roads & highways.

CONTACT : 94583320

Budget flats 1,2,3 BHK at Wadi Kabir,

Darsait, Ruwi, Wattaya & Al Khuwair.

Contact: 95282986 / 99472457/

99349262 / 24707340

Dental clinic in Buriami for sale

or rent have excellent condition &

excellent location was unoccupied.

Contact 968 98379121

D2 T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Villa & flats for rent with facilities

in Al Amerat (Al Atkefah).

Contact: 97749771 / 99425184

One room for bachelors at W/ Kabir

R.O 110/-. Contact: 99384640

2BHK new bldg at Ghala with A/C

350/-R.O. Contact: 99024730

Villa for rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95562646

1BHK Near Al Nahdha hospital Ruwi

R.O 200/-. Contact: 99617786

3BHK flat for rent at Muttrah.

Contact: 99423596

2 BHK flat available for rent in

Darsait. Contact: 99357586

Shop for rent at Barka.

Contact: 99388898

Flat for rent at Wadi Al Kabir next

Al Hassan.co, 2 bedroom, 3 WS,

1 sitting room. Contact: 99210008

Shops for rent behind buildings

good for offices + stores area 11x4

MT behind Sultan Center Al Am-

erat R.O 250/- PER Month. Contact:

92877449

1000 sq mtrs industrial land for rent

in Ghala suitable for wane house,

work shop etc. Contact 24700120 /

92584715

5 Bedroom Luxury Villa in Al-Ansab

Phase 3. Contact 99417023

Room available for bachelor or

family at Al Hail near Seeb stadium.

Contact: 93077789 / 97982399

Two villas for rent in Mumtaz area

and one villa in Mawaleh next to the

WAVE. Contact: 97296105

Flat 3 bed, 1 Majlis, Hilat Sad rent RO

300, opp. Al Nahdha Hospital, near

Abu Zaki bldg. contact 99489548

4 BHK villa Azaiba, behind Sultan

Center. Contact: 94300909

2 BHK & 1BHK flat in Tilal Bowsher.

Contact: 94300909

6 BHK villa in Al Khuwair next to

Taimoor Mosque. Contact: 94300909

New building 1BHK, 3BHK with

lift and A.C behind Muscat bakery

Wadi Al Kabir. Contact: 92103604 /

92308325

6 bed rooms for rent in Al Khuwair

33 for family only rent 500 R.O.

Contact: 99366624

2 BHK near Oman house behind

Khimji H.O. Contact: 95865686

Available 1 BHK & 2 BHK flats at

Ghala Industrial area, Coco Cola road

(for family/ Exec bachelors).

Contact 92854747

Villa in Arjan complex near Seeb

stadium 4BHK, 1 living room, 1

majles, 1 extra room in ground floor.

Contact 93219597

Unfurnished Villa 5 B/ R @ Madinat

Al Ilam, Fully Furnished Villa 5 B/R

@ Madinat Al Ilam Executive Fully

Furnished 1 B/R Apartment at Al

Khuwair 33. Contact: Atlas Real

Estate & Rent A Car LLC. 24834888 /

99249069 / 92888376/ 99436312.

Email: info@alshahiintl.com

1BHK new bldg with A/C curtains

near Khimji Mart MBD.

Contact: 99061408 / 99024039

2BHK Ghubra R.O 300/-.

Contact 92144045

600 SQT commercial flat for rent

opposite Oman flourmill Darsait

more details. Contact: 91214849/

99364735

Villa at Al Khuwair having six

bedrooms, six bathrooms, sitting,

dinning, hall, kitchen. etc Contact

24833972/ 24833974/ 99367448

ISD, walking distance, 2 BHK, re-

cently renovated flat, new and well

maintained building. Ideal for Keralite

/ South Indian family, 350/- per month,

including air conditioners and main-

tenance. Contact: Iqrar on 99076557.

Available from 1st November.

02 BHK Commercial / residential

(with split AC) flat at Honda road.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

Sohar: 3BHK AND 4BHK FLATS, R.O 200 and R.O 215 respectively.

(New Building with CCTV camera

with Split A/C). Contact 99881426

/ 92123699

02 BHK Residential flat oppo-

site to Al Nahda Hospital. Contact

99342733 / 99795241

1000 sqm Industrial land with

compound wall & 2 rooms at Misfah.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

1/2, B/R – Res / commercial di-

rectly from owner near Bank Muscat,

Bausher. Contact 92158031

Readymade office space for rent

(100sm) in Bank Melli Iran building,

MBA area, Ruwi, opposite Center

Point. Contact: 99011352

Fully furnished office space in

As - Assalah Tower Ghobra.

Contact 98202001

DAILY GUIDET H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5 D3

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

Running furniture showroom for urgent sale.

Ladies beauty parlor

Contact - 91135930

ACC. AVAILABLE

ACC. AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting,

Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery,

Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculp-

tures, to Large Sound Systems and

spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606

2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623

5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.

com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

FOR HIRE WITH OPERATORS1. Back Hoe Loaders (Shovels): 5 Nos

2. 10 Tons Vibratory Roller Compactor: 1 No.

3. 42 Mtrs. Concrete Pump Putzmeister: 1 No.

4. 45 Cbm Tippers: 2 Nos

5. 50 M height, 50 Boom tower cranes: 5 Nos.

Please contact – Mr. Ravi on 96529679Email – ravi@alliedoman.com / narayan@alliedoman.com

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sitting

room, Kitchen & store including

utilities bills at Al hail.

Contact 92817777

Single room for rent at Mumtaz

area. Contact: 96916398 / 95212017

1 room with bathroom for rent in

khuwair with ac, RO 120 not

negotiable. Contact 92724472

4 bedrooms, 2 living room, 3 bath-

rooms, 1 kitchen with ac in Khuwair

asking 500 not negotiable.

Contact 92724472

Single room for expat Indian bach-

elors near Al Aktham restaurant

Al khuwair for RO 120. Water and

electricity included.

Contact:98803261

Sharing accommodation available

for an Executive Bachelor in

Al Khuwair (near Zawawi Mosque).

Contact 92138451 or 93883755.

Sharing accommodation at Ghubra,

opp. Mars hyper market for

bachelors, spinsters or couple .

Contact: 93289109 after 3 pm

Single bhk flat available in Honda

road Ruwi. Contact 24833972/

24833974/ 99367448

Room for rent available in a flat for

Executive bachelor at Azaiba behind

Al Meera Hypermarket Azaiba with

attached bath with Cot & A/C, rent

RO 175/- per month including Water

& Electricity. Contact 96404166 /

97433992

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till

12.00 noon for next day’s publication.

* Subject to space availability

Fully equipped aluminum work shop

with office room & workers

accommodation, barka industrial

area. Contact: 93861300

Food stuff shop for sale at wadi

hathat near bank Muscat (39sy).

Contact 91818184

Building Materials shop for sale in

prime location at Al Amerath near

to Sultan Center. Contact 91127809 /

99008803

Immediate sale of well running

pharmacy at prime location.

Contact 99627621 , 99516236

Shop for sale network accessories,

shop in Honda road Ruwi. Contact

99481931

Ladies tailoring shop for sale in

Ghubra. Contact: 93941622

Comm. & Res land in the heart of

Ruwi 2400 sq mtr for sale.

Contact : 91155779

Comm. & Res land in Darsait, opp.

Pakistani School, 900 sq mtr for sale.

Contact: 91155779

Comm. & res. land for investment for

25 years in Ghala heights.

Contact: 91155779

Comm. & Res land in Ghala heights

400 sq mtr for sale. Contact 91155779

NRI

LOST

LOST

CHANGE OF NAME

New Building in Muttrah, 2 B/D

room flat + Sitting Room,3 Baths+

Kitchen with split unit Ac’s. Behind

Khimji’s main office/opposite to

Oman House Call 99419712

Al Mawalh villa for rent 17 bed-

rooms, all attached toilet, 2 big hall,

1 big kitchen, outside 1 kitchen 1

PVT room near (Mac Donald).

Contact: 99654252 / 95566475

1 BHK for rent at Al-Khud in Baskin

Robbins Building. R.O. 200.

Contact: 94194876, 99478492

Flats and shops for rent in Ruwi,

MBD Mumtaz area. Contact :

97293708 / 92433127

Flats in Wadi Kabir. # 99376454

New flats for rent At Darsait near

to Ministry of Sports, Mumtaz area

the flats includes1 living room, 2

bedrooms, Kitchen, 3 toilets, every

rooms with split A/C, high quality

finishing, rent RO 340 /-.

Contact: 00968 92225523

Brand new residential flats in

Wadi Kabir near Muscat football

club, have 2 bedroom family hall,

2 toilets, Kitchen with spilt AC for

250/- R.O. #95999904 / 98585889 /

92383886

Showroom / storage / office space (area 290 SQM, 6 M Height) avail-

able 4 R.O PER SQM, facing Al Mina

Street, near Darsait Lulu. Contact:

99360631/ 96760819/ 24711184

1BHK flat spilt with A/C Al Khu-

wair, 230/-. Contact: 99358589 /

95570288

Immediate sale , 2BHK 1126 sq ft

in Sahakar Nagar Pune available

amenities including swimming

pool, gym, 24 hrs security, piped

gas covered parking, Building built

by reputed Amit Builders. Contact:

Waghmare 0091 9423580779

Vandana : 91396500

Rajesh Narakathil Balakrishnan

has lost Indian Passport No.

M2924237. Finder please handover

to ROP.

Mohammed Mazahar has lost

Bangladesh passport No AG

0179682. Finder please handover

to ROP.

Ishak has lost Indian Passport No.

H 6533377. Finder please handover

to ROP.

We , Nithesh Kumar Kollira Kariappa

(name of father as per the

passport holder of Indian passport

No F 9283485) and Amitha Kumari

Nithesh Kumar (name of mother

as per the passport holder of Indian

passport No. J 7051222) having

permanent address in Kuttandi

Village & Post , Virajpet Talak,

S. Kodagu 571218 , Karnataka, India

(complete postal address in India)

and presently residing at the

following address in Muscat, P.B No.

1142 P.C No. 114, Sultanate of Oman ,

hereby solemnly affirm and declare

to change the name of our child

Master Mukul Muthanna Kollira

Nithesh (name as per present

passport), holder of Indian pass-

port No. K 8344272 date of issue

15/11/2012 issued at Bangalore. The

name of our child will be henceforth

known as Mrudun Muthanna Kollira

Nithesh (new name for all purposes).

Any objection towards change of

name of our minor child may please

be communicated to Embassy of

India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters,

Al Khuwair, PB No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi,

Sultanate of Oman.

Bachelor accommodation Ruwi

Tower R.O 75/- Contact: 95084850

Furnished room available in Ruwi.

Contact: 92435784

Big room available near Hamriya

R/A for Muslim couple / small family

/ Executive bachelor rent 150/- per

month including W+ E.

Contact 99495131

Sharing accommodation available

for family near Ruwi Church.

Contact: 92308110 / 92837206

CLASSES

IELTS & TOEFL

Academic / General

Target Band 8

TQT Institute.

Ph # 24480800 / 99347202

Karate and self defense classes

at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per

month twice a week Monday and

Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM

CONTACT 98294551

Spoken Arabic class for Non

Arabic Speakers & English

class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

MATRIMONIAL

Nair girl, 24 yrs, MBA fin – Mar,

now working looking for Nair boy.

Contact: 93067505

(After 6pm)

Kerala Nair girl 28 years (M.Tech)

looking suitable alliance.

Contact: 0091 9446303209

Seeking alliance for our son

from Muslim families.

Interested families Contact:

99889590

WEBSITE

WEB, ERP and Business Intel-

ligence (BI) creation and manage-

ment at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

Usman Numbarath Ibrahim has

lost Indian Passport No. K3889652.

Finder please handover to ROP.

COMPUTER

DAILY GUIDED4 T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION VACANT

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.comTel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DOMESTIC HELP

EDUCATION

DESIGNER

ENGINEER/TECH/MECH

ENGINEER/TECH/MECH

ACCOUNTANT

DRIVER

MEDICAL

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED

SALES / MARKETING

SALES / MARKETING

Wanted a lady driver from Muttrah

to Darsait. Call 99426100

Required 2 Expatriate Drivers for

manpower supply company with

Oman driving license.

Contact 94148972 / 94148970

ADMIN

ADMIN

Required licensed lady G.P .or Gynecologist male Asst. Pharma-cist, lab technician for a clinic in

Salalah. Contact: 93129219 Email:

clinincrecruitment@gmail.com

Wanted Gynecologist with MOH

license of minimum 3 years experi-

ence for reputed medical center in

Seeb. Interested candidates please

send CVs rttfravi@yahoo.com

Contact: 99062817 / 91274373

Wanted Dentist for a clinic in Ruwi with or without license. Send CV to

farayil@hotmail.com

Required female Nurse with MOH

license for a private a private clinic

in Bowsher area, Muscat.

Contact 92189807

A reputed Wellness Center is look-

ing for MOH licensed or Prometric

Passed Physiotherapist, Nurse and

Occupational therapy.

Please send your CV to :

hr2015.oman@gmail.com

Required General Physician,

Gynecology, Dentist, Pharmacists,

Lab technicians, Nurses.

Contact: 95133572

Email: kunoozghala@gmail.com

A well known private school is in

need of Science, Maths & English Teachers. Contact: 96910649

Email: staffing.oman@gmail.com

Looking for Tutor of 10 th grade

student, main subjects are Maths &

all Sciences. Tutor will be required

to teach at the student home if

possible. Contact 97915667.

Science, Maths & English Teachers

are required in a private school in

Al Ansab. Send your CV at Email :

94540479, aleithar@hotmail.com

Required Accountant Arabic or

Indian. Please send CV to:

alothman_oman@yahoo.com

Required Junior Accountant

cum Office Coordinator for small

construction company. Send CV:

arabianhomellc@gmail.com

ADMIN/ HR

Female Receptionist required for

play area in Azaiba. Must be ener-

getic, speak good English, and be

good with children. Start date mid-

November. Sponsorship available.

Email CV to playareaom@gmail.com

Young Omani PRO:

deemaild@gmail.com

Wanted Sri lankan Housemaid full

time for Indian family from Delhi.

Should have release. Visa, food,

accommodation will be provided.

Should have good references. Should

know English and household work

including baby sitting.

Contact-99665145 / 99274857

Urgently required a Baby sitter in

Ruwi for an Asian family from

8 30 morning to 7 evening.

Contact 96511169

Wanted Indian Housemaid Hindi

speaking for an Indian family with

cooking experience for part time.

Contact: 93228657

MANAGER

Construction Manager with a

mechanical background required for

an ongoing project with experience

in construction projects of minimum

5 - 8 years required urgently. Profes-

sional personnel well versed in

planning and execution kindly apply

on an immediate basis -

email tgi17@omantel.net.om

ACCOUNTANT, Indian male 28 years,

6 plus years of GCC experience up

to finalization, presently working in

Oman as an Accountant, seeking for a

suitable job, NOC available,

Contact: 95089869

E-Mail: anuchunda@gmail.com

Indian Chartered Accountant having

7 year experience in MIS, Budget-

ing, Taxation, ERP, Cost Accounting,

Liasing with Big 4 Auditors, Cash

Flow etc. working as Asst. Manager -

Finance. NOC Available; # 91789950

Email: igneshmlazar@gmail.com /

MBA International Business in

finance and operations Indian male

24, (3 months visit visa) seeking

immediate placement.

Contact 968 97489409 /

Email: abhay8168@gmail.com

CMA & CIA professional Finance Manager with 10 years middle

eastern experience, inclusive of

Managerial experience with leading

F&B companies. For further informa-

tion, kindly Contact: + 971566561199

Email: babaa-shabir@hotmail.com

Indian female, B. Com, MCA, with

4 yrs experience in teaching, looking

for any suitable teaching/HR/Admin

post. Currently on visit visa-

Contact 92033720 ;

Email: deepss22@gmail.com

Part time Accountant services

available to handle all accounts

related work up to finalization on

monthly basis. Contact: 96247295

Chief Accountant, 12 years Oman

experienced looking for suitable

placement. Contact: 99513082

Technician (3 No’s Omani Nationals)

Experienced in Automobile Electricals

with Valid Driving License

1-2 years of experience. Immediate

Joining. Forward CV’s to

careers@rayoman.com

Experienced construction Civil Engineer with qualification (attested)

certificates & with Omani driving

license. Contact: 99601004

email:slayhawk@yahoo.com

Wanted female Gynecologist, female

Staff Nurse – 2 no., Dental Asst, female

Lab Tech from India or Filipino with

MOH license & data flow for Al Saadi

Specialized Medical Centre in Mussana.

Contact 92025033, dr.srinivas76@gmail.com

IT

Required Software Support Engi-neer for IT Company with minimum

2 years experience.

Contact : 99016180 /98825805

Email: info@rns-group.com

Indian female BA experience in

administration operations, business

development excellent MS office

skills looking for suitable job.

Contact: 94231020

Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf

exp in Administration/ HR & Pub-

lic relationship. Fluent in Arabic/

English with D/L. Looking for suit-

able position. Contact - 99897280

MBA (Graduate, Indian male, 19

years, Gulf experience (6 years

Oman) in HR & Administration,

seeking suitable job, immediately

available with NOC.

Contact: 99103763 / 99519841

Indian male looking for a job as a

HR/Automobile Admin having expe-

rience of more than 6 years, Omani

driving license. Contact 97409450

Indian male, 29 years B.sc with

PGDCA.1 year experience in sales

& 3years experience as computer

professional. Looking for any suit-

able job. Presently on visit visa.

Contact:93262319.

Email : sonysdas1986@gmail.com

HR/ Admin / Operation / Accountant Indian male having 13

years experience in Oman on visit

visa looking for suitable job NOC

available can join immediately. D/L

Available. Contact: 96055815

Email: shaiks111@gmail.com

HR/ Recruitment specialist with

8 years Oman experience in entire

gamut of HR functions like resource

planning , recruitment , HR policies

& procedures, performing appraisal,

expatriate affairs , exit interviews &

ticketing. Contact 93825307

Email: javthath@rediffmail.com

MBA graduate seeking a suitable

position in/as Administration/

Secretary/Front office.

Contact 94627227

Indian 28 ,MBA (HR) with 4 + yrs

exp in MPP, Recruitment, HR, Gener-

alist, t&d, Appraisal, Admin & other

areas, working in Muscat. NOC

available. Contact - 94654626

E-MAIL:-sharique.sajjad@gmail.com

Young Indian Male with post gradu-

ate UK degree in business admin,

4 years Oman experience in admin-

istration & purchase in electrome-

chanical/civil contracting company.

NOC available. Possess valid Oman

Driving License.

Contact: 94400671

26 yrs male, MBA, 3+ years experi-

ence in Administration in MNC,

seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95041201

Email: noyel55@gmail.com

Executive Secretary / Admin Officer

female Indian 8 years experience in

Oman. Contact: 96684705

Omani national looking for

Sr. Manager position having experi-

ence in banking for 28 years in Audit

customers service, finance credit,

Administration HR worked as a

Branch Manager products service

age 45 years. Contact: 99213754

A well experienced manager in

Admin/ HR, transport and real estate

with computer skills and Oman driv-

ing license seeking suitable place-

ment. Contact: 98864937

HR/ Recruitment specialist

with 8 years Oman experience in

entire gamut of HR functions like

resource planning, recruitment,

HR policies & procedures perfor-

mance appraisal, expatriate

affairs, exit interviews & ticketing.

Contact 93825307

Email: javthath@rediffmail.com

WANTEDCivil Engineer (Building Construction)

2 Nos

Qualification: BE in Civil Engineering

Electro Mechanical Engineer (Building

Services)1 No.

Qualification: BE in Electrical or

Mechanical Engineering

Send detailed resume to

sskpvr@gmail.com

Required Sales coordinator (Preferably Filipino). Required Insurance Sales Executive to

handle insurance product sales in

Muscat region. Graduate prefer-

ably with driving license and with

2-3 years experience in insurance

product sales. Send CV to

shiju@spec-link.com or

call 99450811

Sales Executives required for lead-

ing trading company engaged in

sale of oilfield supplies, tools, safety

products, automobile, industrial,

electromechanical spares, pump

sets and generators, for Salalah and

Sohar branches. Diploma holders

with GCC experience, good commu-

nication and D/L apply to

hraljaddgroup@gmail.com

Required Marketing Executive, 2 yrs experience.

Contact 91120552

Sr. Accountant with 14 yrs experi-

ence, 2 yrs in Oman capable of han-

dling all accounting functions. NOC

available. Contact: 92404608

Email: jin_75@rediffmail.com

Fresher 24 years B.Com Graduate,

Tally 7.2 & ERP-9, looking for a

suitable placement in Accounts.

Contact: 97219505

Chartered Accountant with ICWA

Inter having 5 years experience in Fi-

nance, Accounts, Costing, Budgeting,

Audit, Insurance, Treasury & Banking

operations - NOC Available + Oman

Driving License Contact :97881548

Email-financecost2@gmail.com

Indian male 25 years B.Com MBA

2 years experience in accounts

looking for suitable job.

Contact: 99299471 / 96589605

Indian male 32 years, B.Com

Accountant 5 yrs experience in

Oman seeking suitable vacancy.

Contact : 94410485

Male 28 yrs, MBA with 3 years ex-

perience, holding a valid GCC driving

license seeking suitable

opportunity. Contact: 93407095,

Email: syampdm@gmail.com

Indian male B.Com Graduate with

2+ years experience in Accounts &

Administration looking for a suitable

placement. Contact: 96923391

Accountant, Indian Male, 24 yrs, B.

Com Graduate 1 year experience as

Accountant in India. Now on visit

visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact 94129716;

thanoof5736@gmail.com

HR MANAGER

Experiences 5+ years with Relevant

earthmoving.recruitment@gmail.com

A Leading Earthmoving company requires: REQUIRED

SALES EXECUTIVE for furniture &

building material,

minimum experience 5 yrs.

Send CV at

Email :

careeroman@yahoo.com

2. Contracts Manager.

SITUATION VACANTLooking for Dynamic and talented individuals with minimum

Candidates with Oman/ GCC experience, with Valid GCC Driving License,

A LEADING FACILITIES MANAGEMENT COMPANY

REQUIRE

CHIEF ACCOUNTANT * AGE : BETWEEN 35 TO 45

* QUALIFICATION : INTER. CA/ ICWA

* EXPERIENCE : SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE

IN ACCOUNTS, FINANCE

AND PURCHASES

SEND YOUR CVs TO hrdept191@yahoo.com

hr@alalawico.com

Urgently required part time Graphic Designer with 3 to 4 years

experience in graphic designing,

Photoshop, Illustrator, flash.

Email: mhca@mhabibgroup.com

Sales Engineer: Mechanical Engi-

neering holder with 2-4 years’ Exp.

in Sales, preferably in Metal

fabrication Company. Omani D/L is a

must. Contact:

recruitment747@gmail.com

Finance Manager, 12 years experi-

ence in leading Construction and

manufacturing companies (9 years

in Oman) have strategic vision and

proven leadership ability. B.Com,

CPA- USA & modern accounting

certificate from “AUC”. “NOC” in

hand. Contact: 97220505

Sri Lankan CIMA finalist Account-

ant 6 yrs exp accounting, finance,

auditing immediate join & NOC.

Contact: 95522109

Part time accounting finalization

audit. Contact: 98157999

Sudanese, Masters degree in

Economics, 8 years experience in

procurement and finance.

Contact: 94524060

Senior Accountant, Indian male, 18

years experience, currently on visit,

seeks immediate and suitable posi-

tion. Contact- 98569025, 97498809.

Email - hilariankj@gmail.com

Sr. Accountant 12 years experience

6 years in Oman, NOC available D/L

Oman seeking placement. #91127809

/ Email: lyjuvs@yahoo.com

Indian male Accountant with twelve

years experience currently in Muscat

on visit visa. Contact : 96148421

Email: jijokurianp@gmail.com

Part time Accountant Sr. Account-

ant doing all type of accounting

works up to finalization. # 91127809

Indian female 3 yrs experience in

M.B.A HR, Admin & banking looking

for suitable opportunity.

Contact: 94425585

ACCA member / B.Com (3.7 years

experience) looking for Accounts /

Audit job. Contact: 97769145 Email:

mnnaem02@gmail.com

Indian female 5+ yrs Oman exp in

Accounts tally looking for suitable

placement in W.K to Qurum area.

Contact: 95580416

Young 24, ACCA affiliate, Advanced

diploma in Accounting and Busi-

ness, seeking suitable placement in

Accounts, Finance or audit With valid

driving license. Contact 92430152 ,

Email - rau_dey@yahoo.com

Accountant Indian female having 5

years exp in finalization, audit and

administration in GCC presently in

Muscat seeking suitable position.

Contact 97323574

Email: sreeja@236@gmail.com

Indian male 8 years experience

having B.Com and MBA ready to

work in HR customer service,

Admin banking & related field.

Contact : 97436890 / 96939803.

Email: girimub@gmail.com

Indian lady, bachelor degree in

Preparatory Programme (BPP) and

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom),

completed training course in MS

Word, Excel, Power Point and Out-

look from KTI looking for full time /

part time job opportunity in Oman.

Contact 92437568, 96795853,

Email: linda_navs@yahoo.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs

experience, 6 yrs Oman in manu-

facturing, trading & contracting Cos,

capable of handling all accounting,

finance, banking, L/C, import, export

& finalization seeks placement.

NOC Available. Call+968-98932752,

mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com

Looking for job Admin / HR.

Release available.

Contact 94229041

Wanted urgentlyA well known family in

Oman urgently needed an

experienced Indian

female part time or full

time Nursing Assistant to

take care of their Mother

recovering from stroke.

Contact 99717791 or 94084335

Instrumentation & controls Tech-nician with 2-3 years experience

preferably in water sector and hav-

ing valid driving license Send CV to

shiju@spec-link.com or call

Ph:+968 99450811

Leading construction company

requires experienced Site Engineer

and QA/QC Engineer for residential/

commercial project. Require

NOC. Send your CV :

degree.engineer2015@gmail.com

Required Marketing person for

manpower supply company with

minimum 2 yrs experience & GCC/

Oman driving license. Contact

94148970 / 94148972. Send CV at

Email : rastllcmuscat@gmail.com

Indian Salesman required for print-

ing press with minimum 3 years ex-

perience and should have knowledge

of English – Hindi language with GCC

driving license. Contact: 96917952

Email: swapneelbhatt@gmail.com

Required employee for travel agency with the exp in Saham.

Contact :93655939 / 93687666

Omani / Expats, male / female required for gift articles shop with

minimum 2 years experience and

should have knowledge of MS Office

English & Arabic language.

Contact: 96917952

Email: swapneelbhatt@gmail.com

Smart & energetic sales person

with Omani/ GCC & driving license,

ready to join. Kindly send Cv at

Email : hhabsi55@gmail.com

Dynamic sales girl, wanted for

book and stationary shop, fluent in

English and having basic computer

literacy. Contact 92771610

Interested candidate may send their CV’s with recent photographs urgently to - info@gapmct.com

SPARE PARTS SALESMAN (Indoor)Diploma holder with 02 years experience. Good communication and negotiation skill, Computer knowledge, age not more than 35 years. Arabic speaking is an additional advantage.

SALES EXECUTIVE (Outdoor)Diploma in Mechanical fi eld with 5 years experience in tools, hardware, building materials, safety products, good grasp in local market with

Oman driving license.

DAILY GUIDET H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5 D5

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

ARCHITECT

MEDICAL

EDUCATION

HOSPITALITY

MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS

24 years Indian female MSC -

Biotechnology 1 year exp.in clinical

microbiology, worked in ICRISAT

for project work as Trainee,

looking for suitable job.

Contact: 92619048

Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com

Indian male 29 B.Com MBA , 5 years

Gulf exp in oil & gas as planner on

visit visa seeking suitable place-

ment in similar or sales / marketing.

Contact: 93179096

Email: prasanthta@gmail.com

Indian male, 38 years, 17 years

experience in Oman, with valid

Oman 2 wheeler license & own Bike,

seeks suitable position.

Contact: 92287226

Sudanese lawyer with experience

10 years in Judiciary in Khartoum.

Contact: 94458976

DRIVER

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

DESIGNER

Contact - 97203531

Dutch male qualified commer-

cial pilot (Faa-ME-IR certified) is

looking for job openings in middle

east. rutjestom@outlook.com

Sudanese General Manager, 15 years experience MBA from U.K

experience in telecom and oilfield.

Contact: 90182803

Indian male - 15 yrs Gulf Exp as

Warehouse/Store - Manager in Food-

stuff, on Visit visa with Oman D/L.

Contact No. 94543064

Email: Khanmujahidulla@gmail.com

Procurement, contracts and tender

HEAD in construction civil & MEP

20 years vast experience in Oman

with big MNC , seeking suitable

placement. NOC available.

Contact: 93737496

Omani Mechanical Engineer/ GPA-3.49 graduated in 2013.

GSM#95276154 / 99201710

B tech Mechanical Engineer, Indian

male, 33 yrs, having 10 yrs Exp

includes 6 yrs in GCC, Having Oman

D/L. Seeking Suitable placement.

Contact : 96978380,

prajithks@gmail.com.

Electrical Engineer: Indian male 29

years, having 5 years of experience

in industrial automation and utility

maintenance in India (MRF Tyres),

seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 92789995

Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

B.Sc Civil Engineer, 10 years

experience building construction, 7

years in Oman with valid Omani D/L

seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93493547

Searching for Civil Draftsman job

10 years of experience. N.O.C avail-

able. Contact: 00968 97612846

Indian male, 24 yrs B.Tech Civil,

having 2.5 yrs Gulf experience in

site execution operations & struc-

tural designs coordination, looking

for suitable placement currently in

Muscat on visit.

Contact: 98600130

Email: malayparikshit@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer M.Tech

2 years experience as HVAC Design

Eng. Revit MEP looking for suitable

job consultancy or construction.

Contact: 90150913 Email:

rahamanechengg@yahoo.com

Indian male 25 yrs MBA logistics,

2 yrs experience in export & im-

port, storekeeping, transportation,

procurement, goods & service etc

currently in Muscat on visit visa for

3 months, till Dec 28th,

seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 93772901 / 95309001,

E Mail : araj2378@gmail.com

Indian Male 22yrs, B.Tech Mechani-

cal Engineer currently on visit visa

seeks suitable placement.

Gsm:9661 8390

B.Tech mechanical Engineer, 24 yrs,

2 yrs exp seeking job on visiting visa.

Contact: 93523752 Email:

binunechikkadan@gmail.com

BE CIVIL, Indian M29, 5 yrs exp.

having DL & NOC, looking for suit-

able position. Contact: 94576233

Email: suhailmullah@gmail.com

B.SC Civil Engineer, road construc-

tion field with 12 years experience

in Oman. Contact: 92200485

Indian Diploma Engineer NEBOSH

qualified with valid Oman D/L seeks

placement in HSE.

Contact: 97066980

Civil and MEP Procurement Engi-

neer total 16 years experience, NOC

available. Contact: 93083013

(B.E) Civil Engineer 3 yrs of exp. on

(residential) site M.S. Office Auto-

CAD, visit visa till DEC. looking for

suitable job. Contact: 96692175

Email: nazarrizvi1@gmail.com

Sudanese female with bachelors

degree from Caledonian College of

Engineering IELTS (7.0) looking for a

job in the teaching field.

Contact: 92210958

Civil Engineer 6 years experience

in materials & structural valid D/L

3 yrs supervision work in Oman.

Contact: 96086214

Indian male 23 bachelors degree

in Civil Engineering 1 year exp

knowledge in quantity surveying,

presently on visit visa

seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 00968 94657347 Email:

mohammedkenz7@gmail.com

Sudanese Geologist 3 years experi-

ence in mining and geotechnical.

Contact : 97612807

B.Tech Mechanical Engineer 25

years Indian male 3 years experi-

ence in HVAC in India, NOC available

ready to join. Contact: 94760763

Email: muzafferali.mohammed@

gmail.com

Diploma Civil Engineer, Indian

male 29 having 5 years experience

in construction field & Autocad in

Oman, having valid driving license

looking for suitable job in reputed

firm. Contact: 93746877

Email: jackybosko@gmail.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

Female Nurse (Indian) looking for a

suitable job in Capital area.

Contact: 98843139

Indian male Lab Technician seeking for job prometric passed

with 70%. Contact: 97985325

DRAUGHTSMAN

Pakistani male light vehicle driver

looking for job. Contact: 96393805

30 years old Pakistani driver seek-

ing job in Oman, available Omani

license. Contact: Gulzeb 93806381 Light driver. Contact: 94365229

Bangladeshi driver need job.

Contact : 97106424

Looking for light duty driver.

Contact: 92602182

Searching heavy / light driver job

with Qatar and Saudi GCC license.

Has 8 years of experience in Qatar

readymix and Almarai Company,

Saudi Arabia.

Contact: 96080988

Looking for job as light driver

3 years experience in Oman.

Contact: 97311715

Light driver. Contact:

95084826

Pakistani, light driver looking job

exp, 4 years. Contact: 96346582

Driver with car able to do documen-

tation work and delivery.

Contact: 95365938

Driver job wanted.

Contact: 99343782

Light driver looking for job 7 years

exp. Contact: 94208089

Looking for driving job.

Contact: 98219182

Light driver. Contact: 96313100

Light duty driver seeks placement.

Contact: 94435912 /

92439315

Pakistani Driver wanted job,

with 3 years experience.

Contact: 94356465

Light driver for job 5 yrs exp.

Contact: 92171166

Autocad d/man, exp in arch, struct,

now in visit visa PH : 91146914

Auto CAD Draftsman having vast

local experience in architectural

structure and mechanical HVAC also

, looking for good placement.

Contact: 98147600

Email: sahil-shahmohd@yahoo.com

Auto cad d/man, exp in MEP, Arch,

on visit visa. Contact :97422351

Indian male diploma Civil (Drafts-

man) 2 years experience in AutoCAD,

looking for suitable post.

Contact: 91146914

Email: shafnas456@gmail.com

Indian male , 23 yrs, postgraduate

Mechanical Eng. (M.Sc, UK), 1 year

sales exp, having Oman DL, seeking

for suitable employment in re-

puted firm. Contact: 91419764 Email:

z.enggoman@gmail.com

M.Tech (NIT) Mechanical Engineer (Indian male), 28 on visit, 4 years ex-

perience, looking for suitable place-

ment in Electromechanical / Sales /

Marketing. Contact: 98791735

Email: anilengandiyur@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer 16 years experi-

ence India – 10 yrs, Oman – 6 yrs.

NOC available. Contact : 96533493

M.S.C HSE Engineer 8 yrs experi-

ence in oil & gas fields, hold N.D.T

level 2 Master in Radiation protec-

tion. Contact: 95058541

Fresh Graduate female Electrical

Engineer, Graduated with distinction

had training in leading companies,

excellent knowledge and interested

in protection. Contact: 98133281

Diploma computer B. Sc Electrical

and Electronic Eng, IT ISP Network

control server management 4 years

experience in Bangladesh wanted

visa. Contact: 96524904

Civil Engineer (B.Tech) Indian male,

25 yrs having 2 yrs experience in

handling civil projects with strong

knowledge in Auto Cad , 3ds Max

seeking suitable placement as Jun-

ior Project/QA/QC Engineer,

currently on visit visa.

Contact: 96081437 Email:

vibijvenugopal90@gmail.com

B.E Mechanical Engineer Indian

male 27 years having 4 years experi-

ence including 2 years GCC experi-

ence, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 90156984 Email:

noorullahanas@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer Indian Male

2.5Years Experience Looking for suit-

able Job. Contact:91845173 Email:er.

joshidhaval@gmail.com

HSE Engineer, Indian 26 years

B.Tech Mechanical Engineering

Nebosh IGC qualified 5 years exp in

O & G on visit visa.

Contact: 94135234

Email: labythomas@gmail.com

IT

IT

IT Lecturer, Indian male 30yrs,MSc

Computer Science (on visit ) 7 yes

experience in Teaching

Contact: 99842554,

email: riazkalleli@gmail.com

Hardware & net working, 2 years

exp. Contact: 96244031

Oracle ADF Developer: Msc (IT), 2

yrs of Experience in Software Devel-

opment (Oracle ADF, sql, pl/sql), Ora-

cle OCA & SQL Expert, Currently on

visit visa. Contact : +968 93755858

/ 92141644. Email :

shiralkarmuzammil@yahoo.com

Network Professional, CCNP with

6 years experience and Bachelors

degree on visit visa looking for

suitable job. Contact: 96760618,

varghese.manthara@gmail.com

Indian male , IT professional,

8 yrs experience including GCC in

windows server, computer hardware,

networking & office administration

seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 95994227

Looking for computer net working /

IT net working job I have done M.Sc

(IT) and CCNA certified MCSE

Training at Server (2012, 2008),

also having more than 1 year

experience working as IT officer.

Contact : +968 94153542

Email:

shahzadmahmood51@yahoo.com

25 years male BA. English , Quali-

fied as mast in digital animation

having 5 yrs ex in character anima-

tion specialized Auto Desk mago and

motion building software knowl-

edge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 97917357

Creative Designer with 8+ years

experience in web, graphic, video

editing, outsourcing looking for a

suitable placement in a reputed

company. Contact 97276004

Architect, female 23 one year ex-

perience with valid Omani driving

license, under family visa looking

for suitable placement.

Contact: 92670199

Email: tkhaleque92@gmail.com

Architect (BSC), female 23 one

year experience with valid Omani

driving license, under family visa

looking for suitable placement.

Contact 92670199

Email: tkhaleque92@gmail.com

Indian, Architect male 25, two

years experience in UAE design,

tender, site inspection with strong

knowledge in AutoCAD, Photo shop

Microsoft office looking for a suit-

able placement. Contact 91382038

Email: umar16.arch@gmail.com

Architecture Structural Draughts-

man having 5 years Oman experi-

ence, NOC available.

Contact 97312627

Architect with bachelor degree 4

years experience in architectural de-

sign (interior & exterior) professional

in (3D Max- Archicad - AutoCAD -

Photoshop). Contact 96041201

Email: amer.yousfan@gmail.com

Indian female M.Sc Botany, B.Ed ,

M.Ed , 5 years experience in teach-

ing with good communicating skills

on visit visa. Contact: 92890074

Looking for job, steel, fabricator &

helper. Contact : 93015630

Looking for job, Mason, carpenter,

election and helper. Contact: 93015630

SALES / MARKETING

MBA qualified sales and marketing

candidate having an experience of

3.5 years available in Oman on

Visit visa seeks placement.

Contact: 97436706

Email: shusamuel0001@gmail.com

Sales Executive DCS 12 years experi-

ence out door and indoor Gulf UAE and

Oman L/D license of Oman English,

Urdu & Arabic. Contact: 91038343

17 years Gulf experience in Purchas-

ing / logistic and Import, export with

valid driving license in Oman. NOC

available. Contact: 97829152

Indian male 22 years B.Com Gradu-

ate currently in Oman on family visa,

looking for a job, particularly in sales

. Also possess a valid Oman driving

license. Contact: 98504698

Indian Male-MBA Marketing having

12Years Experience (3Yrs UAE &

9Yrs India) in Banking & Insurance

sector. Seeking suitable placement.

Presently on Visit Visa.

Please contact: 92009780

Email: zamannoor1978@gmail.com

Indian (m) 20 years experience in

Purchase / sales / stores seeking

good placement. Contact: 98545907

MBA& B.Com Graduate Indian, 1 year

experience looking for job marketing

& sales. Contact: 97138592 Email:

mohammedathish24@gmail.com

Fresher MBA Marketing & finance

looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 99434489 / 91127809

Sales Manager modular kitchen &

furniture, 46 years Indian.

Contact: 94522616

Male, MBA Graduate with 3 years

experience in Sales & Marketing on

visiting visa looking for job.

Contact: 93242927

Indian, female 28 yrs, B.Com, 7 yrs

call center/marketing experience,

currently on visit, seek suitable place-

ment. Contact Rashmi 96746698.

Purchase experienced 8 years in

Construction Company Indian male

45 yrs, release & D/L available.

Contact: 90268183 / 96987234

Marketing Executive/Merchan-

diser, Omani License, BA 8 years

Experience in Multinational Groups.

Contact 97601343

TOURS & TRAVELS

Indian female 24 yrs, Bachelor in

Travel & Tourism and 2 year exp

in Oman as ticketing executive.

GDS-Sabre, Amdeus, Galilio. seeking

suitable job. Contact- 95610789

Female 26 yrs, MBA (HR) 3 yrs

experience in IT , seeking suitable

placement. Contact: 94769794

Male, 31 years, M.I.T, CCNA, 9

years exp in Qatar as assistant IT

manager, network administrator,

server management and knowledge

of developing website, Qatar D/L.

Contact: 0097477237607,

00968 97683849

Email:mohsin2022@gmail.com

Indian Male more than 10 years

gulf experience in Office / Sales

Coordinator, Admin, Secretarial

and purchase with good computer

skills. Having Driving license and

NOC available. Looking for suitable

placement. Contact: 95149624

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT: Indian

male, Graduate & CA Article ship

completed. 18 Years of experience.

Currently on visiting visa. seeks

suitable placement.

Contact: 97498809, 98569025,

Email: hilariankj@gmail.com

Indian male, B.E. mechanical, 16

yrs experience, for Quotation, Ten-

der, Accounts, Business develop-

ment, Sohar Area, Part Time.

Mb. 94215208

25 yrs male, BA English as Master

in Digital Animation, 5 yrs exp. in

character animation specialized

in autodesk & software knowledge

seeks suitable placement.

Contact 97917356

9 years experience in construction

Purchase seeking suitable place-

ment immediately, NOC available.

Contact: 97332401

Digital marketing / ad words/ ana-

lytics / SEO expert, exp 5 yrs (male)

certified) , (visit visa).

Contact: 93594114 (visit visa).

Email: abeyre@gmail.com

Hotel exp 4 years F+ B (service)

visit visa expires 13/11/2015,

B.A Hotel Management. Contact:

91987013 / 96971643 Email:

shinekls34@gmail.com

Kerala Electrical Technician, fore-

man cum Storekeeper (Electrical).

Contact: 93563744

DAILY GUIDE Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com

D6 T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5

RENT A CAR

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with

Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine

Tours contact 98029602, 92808636

TOURS

SITUATION WANTEDCARGO

SITUATION WANTEDCARGO

TRANSPORTATIONTRANSPORTATIONTransportation. Contact 99508282

Pick & drop. Contact: 96692774

Transportation any time Al Ghou-

bra. Contact: 97681599

Driver with car. Contact: 92279370

Transportation. Contact: 94087276

Transport. Contact: 94510847

MANPOWER

DRIVING

Best Rates for Saloon. Tel: 99826300 / 97869042,

rentacar@modernreem.com

SITUATION WANT-ED

BUSINESS

Ware house space for rent at Ghala

and Barka up to 20000/- Sqm.

Contact: 99509460 / 93731363

M.V.FOR SALE

Mercedes Benz E 280, 2008, 118000

km (Expatriate driven), price: nego-

tiable , Mulkiya expiry January 2016

, color silver. Contact: 24810416 /

24810598

For sale Mitsubishi Galant 2003

model saloon car, expat leaving.

Contact 99783962

Nissan Altima 2.5S, 2012HY, excel-

lent condition dealer maintained.

Contact: 97717152

Hyundai Santafe No.1 2015, K.M

5600 only, still in warranty.

Contact: 99666059

Hyundai Veloster No. 1 2015, 3000

km under warranty, full service, full

Insurance. Contact: 96645709

Hyundai Tucson No. 1, 2-4 C.C, 2013

model K.M 127000. # 99666059

Nissan Tiida No. 1, 1.8 C.C, 2014

Model K.M 50000 still in

warranty. Contact: 96645709

Tucson automatic 2007 – V6,

R.O 2000/-. Contact: 99384640

Transportation available Ruwi to

Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

Learn driving with professional.

Contact: 94022250

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done

till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication.

* Subject to space availability

DAILY GUIDET H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5 D7

SITUATION WANTEDSERVICES

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Con-

tact 99314807/24792998

We are providing services like

Auditing, Accounting, Taxation,

Company Formation & Project

Feasibility Study. ASAS AUDIT

& CONSULTANCY. Contact at

91720465/94319719/24602222

Window & split unit A.C ser-

vicing & maintenance. Contact

93769089 / 95323517

Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing, Ocean Center LLC.

Contact: 99884591

Water proofing ABUQABAS-

Contact 99320217/24788722

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles

polishing, carpet shampooing,

maintenance. contact ABU QABAS-

99320217 /24788722

Maintenance electrical, painting,

plastering, partition. #98767559

Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont

Maintenance services electric,

plumbing and A/C. Contact:

96524904 / 94285064

Split window unit A/ C servicing.

Contact 94694472

Pest Control Treatments. Ocean Center LLC. #99344723

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile

polishing, pest control & anti-

termite treatment, general clean-

ing painting,Plumbing, Electrical,

shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi

trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137,

99450130

Window & split unit A.C servicing &

repairing. Contact: 99557080

Split & window unit A.C servicing &

maintenance. Contact: 96236476

Split & window A/c servicing &

maintenance. Contact: 93769089 /

95323517

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of

your marble. Contact 24793614/

99314807

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION WANTED

Indian male having 7 Years of Expe-

rience in Oman Having Valid Driving

License working as a Office Driver

,Looking for a suitable Position, NOC

Available. Contact: 99680429,

E-mail:anzarkutty1975@gmail.com

Syrian architect have years and

half experience in oman looking for

work, full time perfect in architec-

tural programs 3d max , auto cad

, Photoshop , and sketch up. for

contact : 0096897482871

Female, Indian, 35 years, Bachelor

of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) fresh gradu-

ate with BSc looking for positions in

Front Office, administration office,

or any suitable positions in hospital,

polyclinic, companies or Institu-

tions. Contact 90236481.

Indian Male 47 years MBA-Opera-

tions Management with total 25 Yrs

exp inclusive of 9 yrs in Oil & Gas

sector in Oman, having valid Omani

D/L & NOC, seek challenging posi-

tion in SCM/Logistics/Procurement.

GSM-94236414. Mail id –

dialindia33@gmail.com

Well experienced management

finance specialist having 18 years

experience available for placement.

Contact.95602518

23, Male, ACCA Affiliate, OBU Bsc,

2.5 years of experience in audit and

finance in Big 6 Firms, Looking for

permanent placement in similar

field. Release NOC available. Contact:

95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com

22, Male, Indian, BBA (Marketing),

1 year experience in India, Looking

for suitable placement in Sales and

Marketing. #91897046,

azzamsiddique1@gmail.com

Indian Male,27,ACCA Part

Qualified,B.COM with 7+ yrs exp in

receivables and credit control in

Oman looking for suitable place-

ments. NOC available. # 9657 4343.

Indian Female, Science Graduate,

3 years Experience in Teaching back

home. Looking for a suitable job op-

portunity as a teacher, in Schools in

Muscat Region. Contact : 96431456

/ 95704814

Looking for a suitable job as Jr.

Accountant/ Jr. Administration in

a reputed company. NOC Available.

GSM # 93004738.

ACCOUNTANT, Male, 8 years experi-

ence, presently working in Oman as a

Senior Accountant with oman Driving

license. NOC available, seek suitable

opportunity. GSM:

97705854

Chemical Engineer Indian 2 years

of experience in production field

Contact: 91247222

Email:sahadpoonchola@gmail.com

Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support,

Networking, Security systems, Serv-

er support, IT sales and marketing.

Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable

placement. Contact 91033395

Indian female, MBA, 25yrs Having

4yrears of experience in MNC, hands

of experiences in recruitment and

administration, flexible for any

suitable job placements currently

in visting visa. Contact

Tel : 98864639

Email : neethuvijayan06@gmail.com

Indian Male, 25, Chartered Account-

ant, working with ICICI Bank India.

On a Visit Visa in Oman. Staying with

parents at Azaiba. Ph: 24492638.

Email: shyamal008@gmail.com

Indian Male, 26 Yrs, Business

Management, 6 years in Oman.

Knowledge of MS Office and Arabic

Language. Seeks suitable position.

Contact 93931935

Indian Mechanical Engineer, 30, having 8yrs of UAE Sales/Busi-

ness Development. experience in

Electromechanical and Irrigation

sectors. Contact no-

+971558763220

email id-sangowri@outlook.com

Indian male, with finance and Law

degree, having more than 25 years

of experience in Finance/ Accounts /

Audit (5 years of Oman experience)

seeks suitable placement. NOC

available. Contact: 98421619.

E-mail: talemadhamu@yahoo.com.

Indian male Executive Secretary

having vast experience in admin,

logistics & procurement well versed

with computer seeks suitable place-

ment. Contact : 99514286

Indian male 22yr BBA with LOGIS-

TIC Diploma, exp in tally and data

entry seeking in suitable placement.

Contact; 90151739

email shakeeb.mp280gmail.com

GOOD NEWS

Ayurvedic treatment for joint

pain, backache, paralysis, massage

steambath, obesity, Spondylitis,

Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 No-

vember Street Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 98342990

Ayurvedic treatment for backache,

paralysis, arthritis etc & massage,

All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371664 /

92504980 www.siddhayur.com

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know

more about Islam, please call:

99425598, 99250777, 99353988,

99253818, 99341395, and

99379133. For ladies: 99415818,

99321360, 99730723

Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

Civil Engineer B.Tech with Iosh,

Nebosh certification having valid

Omani driving license looking for

suitable job. Contact: 93631625

Mechanical Engineer (UK), 28

years, male having 3.5 years experi-

ence, looking for suitable placement

with valid Oman driving license NOC

available. Immediate availability

Contact: +968 97612297

Email: ymirza11@caledonian.ac.uk

BE Mechanical Engineer, 23 years,

Indian male on visit available for

immediate placement please

contact: 96145820 or

arunsankar.10.92@gmail.com

BSC (Hons) Civil Engineer with

Oman work experience and valid

driving license looking for immedi-

ate placement in consultancy or

construction firm currently on visit

visa. Contact: 91181680

Indian Electrical Engineer B. Tech,

female 24 seeking job. presently in

oman having 2 year experience in

design and estimation of Ht &Lt pro-

jects. Contact number 96897436557,

Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com

Accountant , Indian (Kerala) male,

more than 09 years experience in

Qatar (02 years) and New Delhi expe-

rience upto finalization of Accounts

& expertise in using Tally ERP-9, MS

Office (Word & Excel). Currently on

visit visa, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 97864890 / 97268429

Email: vinodthomas80@gmail.com

Young 24 yrs, ACCA affiliate , ad-

vanced diploma in Accounting busi-

ness, seeking suitable placement in

accounts finance or audit with valid

driving license. Contact: 92430152

Email: rau_day@yahoo.com

Part time accountant, senior ac-

countant, doing all type of ac-

counting works, up to finalization.

contact.95254864

Indian Diploma Engineer, NEBOSH Qualified with valid

oman D/L, Seeks placement in

HSE. Contact: 97066980

Indian male 23yr BA TTM(Travel

and Tourism Management) with

Advanced Diploma in Supply

Chain Logisitics and Shipping

Management, exp in Logisit-

ics (CHA) seeking in suitable

placement, currently on visit

visa(Oman) contact;90291092

email:iyas.adhur@gmail.com

Sudanese / civil engineering Di-

ploma / 5 years experience / deal

with most popular computer pro-

grams / good in English / fluent in

Arabic. Contact: 96995670

Indian male 26 years, 4 years

experience as system and

network engineer. B. Tech

graduate. Looking for suitable

opening. Contact:93125669,

Email:amritrajgt18@gmail.com

MALE ACCOUNTANT, age 25

years, ACCA UK finalist with 4

years experience in accounting &

audit in Pakistan, now in Muscat

on visit visa seeking suitable

placement. Contact 90197029,

muzammalhafiz16@gmail.com

Indian male, 1 Year Experience in

Logisitics (CHA) field. Qualifica-

tion BA Travel and Tourism Man-

agement with Advanced Diploma

in Supply Chain Logisitics and

Shipping Management. Currently

On Visit Visa Oman, seeks suitable

placement. Contact :90291092

B.E. Electronics Engineer, Indian

male 22 years, seeking suitable

job, currently on visit visa.

Contact 99226928,

E mail : sanath301@gmail.com

Sales/marketing, Indian male 35,

years, having13 years experience,

in that 6 years experience of KSA

seeks for suitable placement, on

visit visa contact: 95954786,

Email:syedhameeduddin16@

gmail.com

Indian male having 11 yrs experi-

ence 4 yrs in Oman in purchase,

stores & logistics, having valid

Omani D/L and N.O.C in Hand, look-

ing for suitable position any where

in Oman. Contact : 92369700

Indian male, 22 yrs, BBA, Travel

& tourism brought up in Muscat,

seeks suitable placement in

Sales & Marketing.

Contact 93519369

Engineer- Mechanical 4 years

experience looking for vocational

instructor/lecturer/technical

mechanical engineer jobs.

Contact : 95598477/93211870,

Email: rajeesh4me@gmail.com

Indian male 33 yrs, BCA ,10 years

experience (India & Oman) IT

Support, System administrator/

Supervisor looking for suitable

Job.#95448561.

Sudanese /Diploma in civil

engineering/5 years experience/

good computer’ skills / English &

Arabic/Mobil 96995670

Senior Accountant ,NOC

avaliable,5yr.exp.in oman,

Accounting upto finalisation,

computer skills tally9, Sage

ERP accpac 500(6.0A), Vcams ,

Audit ,valid oman driving licence,

languages known english , ara-

bic, hindi. can join immediately.

Tel: (+968) 96339599, E-mail-

(ahmedmohdkhan@gmail.com)

Sudanese male , 31 year old , have 3

year Diploma in electrical engineer,

7 years experience in building con-

struction and electrical production

plant.Contact 94549609

Site supervisor (Aluminium Divi-

sion ) With Driving License, Fluent

in English , Arabic, Well knowledge

of Oman Areas Looking for suitable

placement. Cell# 97950869

31 year Indian male PG in HR

,with 5 yrs Professional experi-

ence in HR in Construction Oil &

Gas Oman seeking for a suitable

placement(NOC Available).

Contact me on 93488914, email-

Kaarthickshankar@gmail.com

Indian male, B.E. Mechanical,

16 yrs experience, for Quotation,

Tender, Accounts, Business de-

velopment, Sohar Area, Part Time.

Contact 94215208

Admin, having 10+ years experi-

ence in Admin/HR/Logistics/Time

Keeper, in reputed companies.

Presently working in Muscat. (NOC

Available) Contact- 94369965,

mail - satya1528@gmail.com

IT Lecturer , Indian male

30yrs,MSc Computer Science(on

visit) 7 years experience in

Teaching is looking for college

or school.Contact:99842554

Email:riazkalleli@gmail.com

Msc (IT), 2 yrs of Experience in

Software Development (Oracle

ADF, sql, pl/sql), Oracle OCA &

SQL Expert, Currently on visit

visa. Contact : +968 93755858 /

92141644, Email :

shiralkarmuzammil@yahoo.com

Male 25 years, B.E. Mechanical

with CSWIP 3.1 and ASNT level 2,

3 yrs. of experience in QC in oil and

gas industry. Currently working in

Oman, NOC available. M: 91262792.

vignesh1503@yahoo.com

Indian Female Accountant 5 Years

of Experience in Accounting Tally,

Sales coordination,and Admin,

Currently on Visit Visa seeking

suitable placement.

Contact :95684179

Sudanese / 30 years old / M.Sc.

Logistics Management /English &

Arabic/ logistics - procurement -

inventory planning / 91270881

Indian (Bangalore), internal audi-

tor / senior accountant having

(Gulf) 8 years, (India) 15 years

experience, presently on employ-

ment visa seeking suitable place-

ment in Salalah / Muscat.

Contact 968 94765948,

email:amituppin@gmail.com

Indian male, 19 years experience

in purchase, material coordinator

in building/pipe line construction

& factory production field. have

good computer skills & driving

license and NOC, looking for a

suitableplacement.

mr.victor2015@hotmail.com

Contact: 99008101

MISCELLANEOUS

Pakistani General Salesman with

6 years of experience looking for

suitable placement with valid

Omani driving license.

Contact: 92942088

Dynamic, Indian Chemical

Engineer (NIT) with 1 yr experi-

ence in business development

and holding Oman D/L ,

seeks suitable opportunity.

Contact: 96141612 Email:

anjana.nanda@outlook.com

Logistic Executive BBA with

logistic diploma experienced in

Tally, MS Excel, daty entry seeking

suitable position.

Contact: 90151739 Email:

shakeeb.mp280@gmail.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT/ACCOUNT-

ANT, with 8 years experience in

Accounts ( 5 Years in Oman) in a

Trading Company, capable of han-

dling all accounting , Banking, L/C,

import &Finalization with Driving

Licence. Noc Available seek Suit-

able Placement.GSM-98184170.

B.A Economics, Indian male, 12

years experience in teaching, both

academic & Quran, looking for an

opportunity. Contact 9845 6432,

9967 8470

Sudanese female, B.sc on ac-

count.16 years experience. Good

in working out financial report

break down of monthly and an-

nual budget’s. follow up tax files

and social Insurance costin-

gard feasibility study. Email:

amani.eltayeb@hotmail.com,

mobile:92037605

Indian Female 10 years as cook

in Muscat, Oman . South Indian,

Gujarati special food, Looking for

part time. Contact 96710189

Indian female,33 yrs MSc,BEd

with computer knowledge

having 3yrs experience in

teaching,looking for suitable job

on visit visa.Contact: 9704 2806

Mail:poornimaajith11@gmail.com

INDIAN MALE accountant,

12 years experience in accounting

with tally also, looking for a

suitable placement.

Contact . 98983122

MALE ACCOUNTANT, age 25

years, ACCA UK finalist with 4

years experience in accounting &

audit in Pakistan, now in Muscat

on visit visa seeking suitable

placement. Contact 90197029,

muzammalhafiz16@gmail.com

Indian male 23 years old graduate

with one year experience in Sales

& Marketing with valid Oman

driving license seeking suitable

opportunities. (NOC available).

Contact: +968 98240510 , Gmail:

affanahamed0@gmail.com

Maintenance Engineer, Indian,

male, DME, 36 years of age with

16 years of experience in ma-

chine maintenance and handling

machine breakdowns, currently on

visit visa seeking suitable posi-

tion. Contact: 92180933; email:

rramesssh@yahoo.com

Advertising/media executive

with 15 years gulf experience with

oman driving license. Seeks good

opening. 93031168.

8 years purchase experience in

construction company Indian

male 45 yrs, looking immediate

placement . Release NOC, valid

Oman driving license available.

Contact: 98456535

B.Tech, MBA (Marketing), PGDM

(IB) having 9 years of experience

in sales & marketing/ business

development seeking for suitable

position. Valid Driving License

Phn-97043494

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till

12.00 noon for next day’s publication.

* Subject to space availability

Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com

D8 T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE