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UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim opens $39.5m City Centre mall in Oman

The community mall in Sur features more than 50 retail outlets

Oman to take back work permits if firms don’t hire Omanis

The government wants the private sector to provide more jobs for citizens

Oman eyes further restrictions on foreign hiring after imposing six-month ban

The government is aiming to provide 25,000 jobs for citizens

Muscat airport’s new terminal on final approach

The new terminal provides transit and origin-destination passengers with enhanced services

National Bank of Oman CEO resigns

Ahmed Jafar Al Musalami has served as CEO since 2014

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

Oman announces new visa rules

The sultanate is hoping to welcome more than four million tourists annually by 2020

IMF says Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar will need more than a year to introduce VAT

The six Gulf states had originally agreed to implement the tax by the end of 2018

Oman to double tobacco tax

The increase forms part of a national strategy to prevent and control non-communicable diseases

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

Oman ‘preparing dollar Islamic bond sale’

Sources say the sukuk issue could occur in March

Oman allows women to drive taxis, trucks

The new rights coincide with the introduction of stricter traffic laws

Oman bans hiring of foreigners in 10 sectors

The ban is intended to increase employment of Omanis

Oman’s SWF gets approval for $1bn infrastructure fund

The new fund will be targeting investors in the Gulf as well as funds from outside the region

Oman introduces new taxes, fees in Muscat

The new taxes apply to hotels and restaurants and electricity bills

Oman’s Sultan Qaboos rewards national team with land, cash

Oman beat the UAE in the Arabian Gulf Cup Final football tournament last weekend

Oman’s expat population expected to fall 10% by 2040

The sultanate’s population is expected to increase by 3.5 million in 22 years, with expats only accounting for 575,000

Oman lifts spending in 2018 budget

The country is proceeding with a privatisation programme that will see some state companies sold this year

Oman postpones VAT introduction until 2019

All GCC countries had previously committed to establishing the tax by the end of 2018

Oman introduces fuel subsidy for low earners

The government said the decision was aimed to protect citizens from fuel price adjustments

Oman government taxi service begins operations

The company will begin airport taxi services from January

Muscat airport’s new terminal to receive first test flight

Officials have said the airport is due to open by the end of 2017

Gulf rulers boycotting Qatar skip annual summit

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain sent ministers or deputy prime ministers to the annual event

Oman’s Genesis International announces $3m sale

The funds will go towards the manufacture of laboratory, industrial, educational and commercial instruments, as well as expansion across the GCC.

Muscat airport maintenance sees morning flights rescheduled until March

Emirates has cancelled its early morning service for the duration of the work

Muscat residential rents down 25% since 2014

Property demand in the Omani capital has been hit hard by the reduction in oil prices

Royal Oman Police arrest nearly 400 labour law violators

Embassies in the country are urging their nationals to ensure they are working legally

Oman eases visa rules for tourists from 25 countries

Citizens from the selected countries will no longer need a sponsor if they meet certain conditions

Oman to award third mobile licence to local consortium, cancels tenders

The new operator will compete with Omantel and Ooredoo Oman

Oman Air CEO Paul Gregorowitsch resigns

Gregorowitsch was appointed as the airline’s CEO in August 2014

World Bank lowers GCC growth forecast

Saudi Arabia and Oman will see barely any growth this year and Kuwait’s economy will contract, according to the forecast

Shell seeks buyers for Oman field stake

The Mukhaizna heavy oil field had an average oil production rate of 127,000 bpd in 2016