Traveller falls ill on Oman Air flight, dies in Riyadh

Omani businessmen, Shura members and the minister agree on keeping the two-year visa ban for expats

MUSCAT: Oman’s Minister of Manpower has agreed with Shura Council members that the twoyear visa ban should stay.

Two Shura members called on the minister to retain the controversial visa rule during a council session with Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower.

Currently, expat workers who cannot obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from employers in the country must leave and cannot return for two years. There have been repeated calls to change the law and recently the government announced it is being studied.

Neighbouring countries have already modified their rules to allow expats to work more freely.

“We urge the ministry to keep the two-year visa ban rule to protect Omani business owners of SMEs” Mohammed Al Badi, a Shura member said, while Nasser Al Amri echoed his call.

The Minister of Manpower told council members yesterday: “We have the same opinion about this rule. However, it is directed by the police in cooperation with other authorities.”

Al Bakri was addressing the Shura Council yesterday for a second day of discussions and commented on a range of issues.

“In 10 years, expatriates will make 60 to 65 per cent of Oman population. No one will accept to be a minority in his country,” Shura member Hilal Al Yahyai, told the minister, during a discussion on Omanisation.

Al Bakri added: “Yes, the rate of expats is higher than what we planned for, 30 per cent of population, but that’s due to development requirements of the country and the need of employees in the construction sector which is unattractive to Omanis.”

The minister’s view on retaining the two-year visa ban reflects the mood of many Omani businessmen and at least one member of the Oman’s Chamber of Commerce.

Employing locals just to meet the minimum legal requirement of Omanisation should also be stopped, Shura members urged during the Monday session.

The minister called on business owners to stop “visual Omanisation” and to give real opportunities to nationals to compete in the job market.

Shura member Mohammed Al Junaibi also asked the minister to lift Omanisation rules for companies if the rule had a negative impact. MUSCAT: A passenger on an Oman Air flight died on arrival at the Riyadh airport on Monday. The morning flight from Jeddah to Muscat was diverted to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia after a passenger fell ill on board, the airline said.

“The captain decided to land the flight at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the nearest airport given the emergency condition. Medical help was duly coordinated prior to the landing at the airport. Oman Air crew did everything they could, but sadly, the guest succumbed on arrival,” the airline said in a statement.

There were 197 passengers on board the Airbus 330 aircraft. “Oman Air expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased,” the airline added.