Car Accident in Oman

June 11, 2007: Cyclone Juno , which hit the Omani coast last week have caused damages estimated at billions of dollars. GCC countries ( Kuwait , UAE , Saudia Arabia ) pledged support to the Omani government. The storm tore buildings, roads, walk paths, power lines, water pipes, communication towers and flooded mostly the entire country. Currently Oman is facing a very bad water shortage.

June 10 , 2007: A tourism road show spotlighting summer tourism in the Sultanate in general and the Khareef season in particular, will kick off around major cities of the Gulf Co-operation Council states, by tomorrow. The road show, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, will visit major cities in GCC , in order to promote and attract tourists to Oman this summer period. However the extent od damage due to the cyclone , could affect this summer tourism industry.

June 5, 2007: The worst storm in history called "Jonu", hit Oman, having to rain more than 150 mm of water on lands all over Oman, with very strong winds up to 200Kmph and pushing the waves to hit the rocks and wave-breakers at around 10-12 meters in some areas.

Sept.4, 2006: Oman have the highest road accidents rate , just note the following:
- 263 people have died in road accidents from January to May 26. Around 2,410 have been injured in 3,152 accidents.
- A child dies every fourth day somewhere on Omani roads.
- In 2005, Oman's road traffic mortality rate had gone up to 8 per cent against the global average of 19 per 100,000.
- In 2005, a total of 9,247 road accidents took place in the Sultanate, injuring 6,658 people and causing 689 deaths.
- Since 2000, some 3,500 people have died on Oman's roads and nearly 50,000 were injured or disabled.

March 14, 2004: It was announced in Muscat yesterday the appointment of a woman minister in the Omani government, Dr. Raweyah Bin Masoud Bin Ahmad el-Bouseidi, who as from yesterday became a minister of higher education, according to a decree issued by Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, that coincided with the celebrations of the woman's world day. This is the first woman in high government office in the Arab GCC countries, hopefully there will be more liberal steps to have qualified women take their places in the government.
Jan.5, 2004: Oman became the first Arab country to introduce a machine-read smart card with stored thumb-print when the country's first ID card was issued in His Majesty Sultan Qaboos's name at a function held here on Saturday. The first card numbered 00000001 contained Sultan Qaboos's picture‚ date of birth, place of birth and his signature. The Civil Status department began issuing the new cards to citizens from their office in Seeb yesterday. "In the initial phase the new ID cards would be issued only in Muscat ," Colonel Dr. Suleiman bin Mohammed Al Harthy, Director General of Civil Status, said. Under the new Civil Status law, every citizen would be provided with a machine-read smart card, which will store thumbprint and serve as a personal identity for Omani nationals as well as expatriates in the country.
Jan. 3, 2004: A government decision to ban expatriates from working in 36 professions in 44 wilayats came into force in Oman . Juma'ah bin Ali bin Juma'ah, Oman's Minister of Manpower, confirmed in a media interview that the new step would be a part of comprehensive program-me for Omanising all trades within a definite timeframe. The trades to be Omanised include change of tyres and oil, sale of garments, photography shops, sales and repair of Mobile phones, sale and supply of electric and electronic items, sale of building materials, sale of meat and poultry, sale of abaya, working in cafes and shops selling readymade clothes and accessories, sale of vegetable and fruits, computer services, shoes repair, sale of Omani Kimma (headress), beauty parlours, sale of used cars, gold, fishing gears, bicycles, utensils, flowers, Omani halwa, textiles, shoes and perfumes, key duplicates, sale of bakery products, sale of honey, vehicles spare parts, works of arts and gifts and sale of animal fodder.
Nov.14,2003: Oman has been found to have a low prevalence of HIV/AIDS by international health agencies.Oman's Ministry of Health (MOH) set up the national program for the control of HIV/AIDS and STI two decades ago.With over 50 per cent of its population under the age of 20, Oman is dedicated to working with its youth to ensure that they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to protect themselves and others from this epidemic.
Oct.6,2003: For the first time all Omani citizens 21 years and older were given the right to vote for the 83-seat advisory council, which was first convened in 1992. There were 15 women among the 506 candidates as polling took place in 94 stations spread over 59 wilayats.There was no official announcement regarding the percentage of polling among the 260,000 registered voters, but independent observers put the it above 50.The polling process was computerized and according to Khalid Hilal Ali Al Mamari, Director of Election Affairs at the Interior Ministry, this was the first time in the Middle East that the entire process was computerized with candidates' photographs put on the ballot papers.
June 22,2003 : Lieutenant General Khamis bin Humaid bin Salim Al Kalbani, Chief of Staff of Sultan's Armed Forces in Oman, died in a car accident. God Bless his soul..

June 4, 2003: Days are gone when women would marry early, settle down as housewife and at the most supplement family income by, weaving or doing handicrafts.Now Omani women are educated and take their own time to marry. Instead, they take up employment or actively get involved in family businesses.The government here has given Omani women equal rights be it in education or employment.The women in the country are making the most of the governments efforts to provide employment to Omanis. Thus, women are omnipresent everywhere – counting cash behind a bank counter or a hypermarket counter in Oman.The equal opportunities to women are given at the basic level with equality in education and girls have been dominating ranks in higher education as well as degree courses at the Sultan Qaboos University.The progress made by women here is reflected not only in the number of employment but they are also taking up higher offices in government as well private sector. There are no official figures available but Oman has perhaps the highest number of workingwomen among the GCC states.
June 1, 2003:Omani will use smart card system , Under the new system, all information like births, deaths, marriage and divorce would be recorded. A machine-read smart card, which will store thumb-prints, would serve as a personal identity for Omani nationals as well as expatriates in the country. Once the new system is fully operational residents of Oman would be able to exit and enter the country without having to wait in queues for processing passports. The card will be used as a multi-purpose card and used as an identity card, a driving licence, for banking dealings and at border outlets, etc.
March 29, 2003: Expatriates or visitors to the U.A.E intending to travel to Oman by land may have to wait at least a week for an entry visa, an Omani Embassy source said. U.A.E nationals and other GCC nationals can still travel to Oman by land.The developments in the region have prompted the authorities to close all land borders to expatriates and visitors until further notice. Airports are still open to travelers. It is believed that the action has been taken due to security reasons.
Jan.20,2003: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman on Saturday embarked on his annual meet-the-people tour from Seeb Palace as citizens lined the road to greet their leader.The royal tour is a unique tradition set by Sultan Qaboos during which the ministers of his cabinet accompany him. The leader interacts with citizens and also listens to their grievances.
Oct.16,2002:Five people were awarded prison terms for violating the Expatriate Residency Law, according to an official of the Royal Oman Police's Public Relations Department.The court convicted three Omanis and one Iranian for assisting people in and out of Oman through illegal channels. The Omanis were awarded one-year's imprisonment each.
Oct.8,2002: Oman and India are exploring the possibility of joint ventures pertaining to defense production, according to the Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes.
Sept.10,2002: Oman has destroyed contaminated frozen chicken imported from Saudi Arabia. The U.A.E authorities first alerted their Omani counterparts over the possibility of the Saudi product being contaminated with Salmonella pathogen. Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes typhoid and many other infections of intestinal tract. Scientists have recorded more than 2,300 strains of salmonella pathogen. Saudi Arabia slapped a ban on chicken produced by certain Saudi company early last month following reports that its products were contaminated.
Aug.30,2002: Cambodian-flagged cargo vessel sank in choppy waters off the Sultanate's southern coast last week.All 22 crew members of MV Maggie were rescued by a passing tanker before the roughly 7,000DWT vessel foundered in international waters .A shipment of sugar, rice and steel bars, among other cargoes was lost when the fully laden vessel went under,
July 8, 2002: Al Hamraa Wilayat in the interior region of Oman has a special occasion to celebrate as preparations for a mass-wedding began last Thursday and is expected to culminate in 42 couples tying knot in a grand finale soon. the event had received a grant of 2,500 riyal from the Ministry of Social Development in a bid to encourage such an idea through the country.
April 10,2002: The electricity network in Oman has now been extended to 98 per cent of the country and the rest would be covered shortly, according to a senior official.
March 5,2002: The Sultanate of Oman has praised Germany for the key role it is playing in projecting and correcting the misconception of Islam in the West through encouraging scientific research projects within the context of boosting dialogue between civilizations.
Feb.23,2002: Reptile lovers have been flocking to the Eastern Natural Forest and Snake Park at the Qurum area, the only facility of its kind in the whole of Gulf region. The rush of visitors during the first three days of Eid Al Adha holidays was large.Other than snakes, the park is home to several mammals, birds and some exotic creatures, brought from all over the world.
Oct.23,2001: Motorists involved in reckless driving in Oman face imprisonment up to five years, according to an amended traffic law designed to control the growing deadly road accidents.
Oct.15,2001: Oman and UK are doing Military Exercises , which could turn into real action and used to attack Afghanistan. There are plans to deploy land troops from many nations in Afghanistan.
Aug.8, 2001: Oman has asked for US help in extinguishing an oil well fire. An aircraft has been chartered to fly in expert manpower From Houston Texas to Oman.
July 26, 2001: Oman is planning to control prices of Medicine.
July 11, 2001: Oman has banned Spanish Oil after discovering some health hazard elements in its content. The olive oil has content of carcinogenic substance.
June 16, 2001: Swiss scientists say they have discovered a Mars meteorite in the desert of Oman in the Arabian Peninsular, one of only 18 bits of rock found on Earth from the red planet.
June 1, 2001: Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman has issued a Royal Decree allowing the citizens of AGCC ( Arabian Gulf Co-oporation Countries) countries to be treated as Omani employees in accordance with the Sultanate's Civil Service Law and its executive regulations.This is in implementation of a decision taken by the AGCC Supreme Council in Bahrain last December 30-31. The last summit took several other important decisions as well - to forge closer links between the six member states, the armed forces in particular.A joint currency is also on the cards. The Sultanate, which hosts the next summit in December, has already allowed AGCC citizens special travel facilities and the right to buy real estate in Oman.
May 29, 2001: Three government officials have been sentenced to various jail terms and fined by the Criminal Court for committing forgery and embezzlement in the wake of an accountability process gaining ground in Oman.According to the Royal Oman Police which has also released the photographs of the convicts for publication in the Press, the trio embezzled public funds from the directorate general of electricity in the Ministry of Housing, Electricity and Water.
May 26, 2001: Oman beat Syria 2-0 in a World Cup Asia Zone group one qualifier yesterday to advance to the second phase for the first time before a capacity crowd of 40,000 at the Sultan Qaboos Stadium.
April 29, 2001:The Sultanate of Oman has offered all possible help in making the Gulf a single tourist destination. This comes as increasing number of tourist are attracted to come to Arabian Gulf States in winter for vacation , where the sun & warm waters of the Arabian Gulf.
April 10, 2001:Oman government is planning to have 110,000. job opportunities by the year 2005. 92% of the jobs will be provided by the Omani private sector. This is coming at a threatening stage of large un employment that is hitting all Arabian Gulf States.
March 29, 2001: Oman plans to sell its transmission and distribution companies soon as part of its privatization of the power sector
March 29, 2001: The Royal Oman Police has intensified their campaign to check the growing flow of infiltrators entering the Sultanate largely by boat. The infiltrators came from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq.
March22, 2001: The government of Oman has allayed fears about the food-and-mouth disease, which is fast spreading in Europe. A statement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said the disease, found also in the Arab Gulf region, including the Sultanate, does not affect human health in any way.
Feb27, 2001: Oman Health Authority is cracking down on Shisha (water pipe) in public areas. Shisha smoking has been banned in Oman, although many nationals and expatriates are considering the Shisha smoking an honored ritual.
Feb21.2.2001: Sohar Development Office and Al Batinah Gazzelle Company at the Heritage village will organize an entertainment festival. The festival is part of Eid al Adha celebrations. Egyptian, Indian and Russian circuses will perform at the festival besides Egyptian, Iraqi and Moroccan groups.
Feb.20, 2001: The Fifth Gulf Engineers forum has concluded today in Oman. Muscat Municipality from 18-20 February hosted the gathering, titled “Gulf Engineers - Future Aspirations”. The forum recommended the adoption of a single code for the engineering profession in the Gulf countries, a common definition of the professional engineer and the establishment of a database to assist in classifying engineering consultancy offices.
Feb. 11,2001: Omani Police arrested drug smugglers gang of five (Omani, Saudi & Pakistani nationalities) with 1000kg of Hashish.
Jan 24, 2001: Sultan Qaboos of Oman has praised the GCC achievements. What achievements???
Sep10,2000: Oman is facing a marine catastrophe as it found many dead fish washed ashore. Oman has established contacts with Kuwait who faced similar problems few months ago.
Oman is getting modernized.
Sultan Qaboos has made good progress to develop Oman , however he rules as a dictator. He recently allowed the formation of advisory council ( Showra).It can be a step forward to make his rule a democratic one.
Oman is facing deep financial crisis just like all GCC countries.

Road accident in Oman