Visitors love Oman for its authenticity. Nowhere else in the Gulf evokes so viscerally the dramatic and beautiful landscape romanticised by Sir Wilfred Thesiger, the legendary British explorer and author.
Locals love their land, perhaps for a different reason: the fast pace of reform and rising standards of living.
Things have changed quickly. Forty years ago, the gates of Muscat were locked every night. Locals carried torches to light their way and knives to ensure their security. There were three schools in the entire country.
Oman has plunged itself into the modern global economy, as have many other developing countries. But it has done so without abandoning its heritage or destroying its environment.
The man who orchestrated this balanced surge, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, came to the throne in 1970. Omanis have set aside next year to celebrate his accomplishments.
At the outset of Sultan Qaboos's 40th anniversary of his ascension to the title, Oman looks in good shape. Its economy withstood the global financial crisis. Oil producers have arrested a decade of falling output and actually achieved bigger yields in recent years.
And in a region where economic diversity is the holy grail, Oman has emerged as an early favourite to succeed. Its plan to develop a tourism sector is as good a strategy as any in the Gulf, and there are favourable early returns. There are challenges, but for this year the focus is on the positive.
Last year Oman's economy grew by about 3.5 per cent, the second-fastest growth in the GCC, the IMF says. Expansion this year was projected at varying rates but almost all forecasters expected a better year, and some at a rate exceeding 5 per cent.
Although it is the tourism industry that holds great potential for the future, Oman's fortunes are still largely determined by oil.
The sultanate has not been blessed with the enormous deposits found elsewhere in the Gulf, and its geology makes extraction more difficult and costly.
However, production is increasing and much of it has come from the Mukhaizna field, where Occidental Petroleum is injecting steam into heavy-oil reservoirs to ease its flow upwards.
To date, Occidental and its partners have invested more than US$1 billion (Dh3.67bn) in enhanced oil recovery techniques, making Oman a leading centre for innovation in what is sure to be a growing market.
Oman's success in enhanced oil recovery cuts right to the heart of the energy debate worldwide. Peak-oil theorists do not believe that production declines can be reversed, whereas their opponents have long touted the power of technology to pull out more of the hydrocarbon underneath the earth's surface.
The question is whether the techniques successful here can be replicated elsewhere, or whether its geology makes this a unique situation.
Outside the energy sector, Oman faces challenges. The country's banks suffered little direct exposure to the toxic securities originating in the US that brought on the financial crisis in late 2008, but the collapse in oil prices and increased uncertainty is keeping them cautious.
Access to credit has tightened. But concerns about asset quality were minimal, as the ratio of non-performing loans in the system was pegged at about 3 per cent.
The crisis has also pushed local employment down the priority list, as the "Omanisation" campaign to get Omanis working is reportedly being pursued with less fervour for now.
In the tourism sector the outlook is less clear. Estimates pegged tourist arrivals at 1.1 million in the first half of last year, up 200,000 from the same period in 2008. Foreigners are discovering Oman's charms, and in increasingly larger numbers.
The sultanate has almost 2,000km of pristine coastline, mountains and canyons and, in its south-west corner, the coolest region in the Gulf during the summer season.
But while the arguments for Oman's tourism potential remain valid, some of its plans may need to be rewritten, largely due to external factors.
Several major property projects, now threatened with postponement or cancellation, were envisioned as drivers of future growth. They were aimed at many of the same high-end travellers and local spenders as other property projects across the region.
The Blue City mixed development on the eastern coast has bogged down amid slow sales and cash crunches. Yet other developments continue apace and hotel occupancy rates remain high - signs that there are still plenty of unrealised gains to be made in the sector.
Clearly the financial crisis has exposed some concerns about Oman's long-term plans. For now, the government's solution is an expansionary budget and a firm adherence to the plan to modernise, without leaving the past behind.
It has already shown dividends. Muscat's is a decidedly low-rise skyline, nestled comfortably around the foothills slicing through the capital. Forty years after Sultan Qaboos took over, the boulevards are green and flowery, and the buildings are painted in light colours that underscore the natural beauty rather than overpower it.
Muscat looks like the result of a detailed and tasteful vision put to life. And that result is why Omanis are so excited to mark the 40th anniversary of Sultan Qaboos' rule.
Oliver Cornock is the regional editor of the Oxford Business Group.
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
Key findings
- Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
- Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase.
- People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”.
- Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better.
- But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
