A less-explored oasis of calm
Here’s a checklist why tourists, entrepreneurs and politicians should pay more attention to Oman.
PRINCE Mohammad Bin Salman’s political crackdown in Saudi Arabia and the continued Saudi bombing of Yemen risk further destabilising the Middle East, which has already been hit by falling oil prices.
The Crown Prince’s apparent pivot towards a radical transformation of the kingdom, including sweeping arrests of hundreds of dissidents, comes hot on the heels of a joint blockade of Qatar, which shows no signs of ending.
But with the Arabian peninsula in crisis, one country here stands out for its neutrality and moderate stance. This oasis of calm is the Sultanate of Oman, bordered by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Oman – home to Sunnis, Syiahs and adherents of the Ibadi branch of Islam, the sultanate’s majority sect – increasingly stands out as a bastion of coexistence in the Middle East.
Respect for other religious sects is not an accident; it is enshrined in Omani law, and this is a source of national pride for the country of 4.5 million (some 46% of whom are foreigners) as sectarian conflict rocks other parts of the region.
Indeed, Oman is ranked as one of the top five safest places for visitors in the world, according to the World Economic Forum.
This is no mean feat considering the sultanate has a land border with Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and a sea border with Syiah-ruled Iran. These two regional arch-rivals have little influence over communities in Oman.
But how has Oman maintained its moderate stance and avoided being dragged into regional disputes? The answer lies with the Arab world’s longest-serving ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said.
Qaboos, in power since 1970, sets the tone on many aspects of life and has worked to steer Oman clear of regional divisions, political or sectarian.
“The Sultan has a policy of noninterference in other countries’ affairs, which is strictly followed by the cabinet and the Majlis al-Shura (consultative council),” explained Malaysian ambassador to Oman Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany, adding that the sultan also allowed other religions to be practised, building Christian churches and Hindu temples.
And this has allowed the sultanate to prosper despite the region being hit by lower oil prices and economic uncertainty.
Having just returned from Oman, I can attest to the fact that the country is pressing ahead with its ambitious development plans that could see it take on other Middle East financial hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“Oman is moving away from a reliance on oil and gas. There is a construction boom in the capital, Muscat, and you can see new highways being built, port services and even a new airport,” Shahril told me.
The soon-to-be-open airport is set to be a huge tourism boost for Oman. The present international airport doesn’t even have aero bridges, but the new airport, the single biggest project ever undertaken in Oman, will have 40 aero bridges and eventually have a capacity of 48 million passengers annually.
“The other big project is the Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (SEZAD). This is a 10-year project that has already seen substantial foreign direct investments from China, Korea and even Singapore. This integrated develop- ment will have a sea port, logistics hub, education centre, tourism and a central business district,” Shahril said, adding that SEZAD had a lot of potential for Malaysian companies looking to invest in Oman.
He said that Malakoff Bhd was currently the largest Malaysian investor, being part of a desalination project with Japan’s Sumitomo, but the sultanate welcomed Malaysian businesses.
“It’s a pity that UMW Bhd has scaled back its oil and gas business here but the falling oil prices did not help,” he said, adding that there were about 500 Malaysians currently working or based in Muscat.
Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Oman currently averages about US$550mil (RM2.2bil), a sizeable amount, and 30,000 to 40,000 Omanis visit Malaysia annually, the second biggest tourist arrivals from the Middle East after Saudi Arabia.
For Malaysians, though, Oman has untapped tourism potential.
Muscat is an interesting mix of the old and new, from the 15th-century Portuguese fortifications and the 200-year-old Muttrah Souk (marketplace) to the imposing Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Royal Opera House.
Outside the capital city, there is dolphin and whale watching, scuba diving, desert safaris, archaeological sites, and of course shopping.
“But the exchange rate of one rial to about RM11 could be a factor why Malaysians generally overlook Muscat for other Middle East destinations,” Shahril said.
Oman’s potential can be seen in the number of heads of state who have visited Sultan Qaboos in recent times. These include the leaders of China, India, Iran and the United States.
Malaysia, though, despite considerable interests in other Middle East countries, has not sent a high-level delegation to the sultanate yet.
Perhaps we should, because other countries recognise that Oman stands out in the Arabian peninsula as a politically stable, trouble-free country that is open for business.
Oman will soon be home to the world’s largest botanical garden. Located 35km from Muscat, in the foothills of the Hajar Mountains, the Oman Botanic Garden will cover 404ha and showcase the country’s biodiversity.