Oman news, events and official updates

The "Tamkeen" forum commenced in Al Rustaq, South Al Batinah Governorate, under the slogan "Functional proficiency towards sustainable institutional impact." Organized by the Directorate of Endowments and Religious Affairs, the forum's activities aim to enhance professional skills and achieve lasting organizational results. The event began on Monday at the office of the Wali of Al Rustaq.

Al Dakhiliyah Governorate discussed mechanisms for enhancing the beneficiary experience and improving service quality. The discussions, held on Tuesday in Nizwa as part of the "Second Customer Service Forum," focused on utilizing digital transformation and data to optimize services and support decision-making processes.

The Omani School Sports Association, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Education for Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, implemented the second phase of the "Sports Ambassadors" program. This initiative took place at Al-Shaikha Nadira Al-Riyami School in Nizwa, under the representation of the School Sports Committee.

The University of Technology and Applied Sciences, College of Education in Rustaq, organized an introductory exhibition for student clubs and groups. This event was managed by the Student Affairs Center's Student Activities Department. The exhibition aims to introduce various activities offered by the student organizations.

The ban on kingfish fishing along the coasts of the Sultanate of Oman for the current year 2026 will conclude on October 15. This prohibition was implemented during the natural spawning and breeding seasons, having started on August 15.

The Environment Authority in North Al Batinah Governorate, represented by the Environmental Center in Suwaiq, Al Khabourah, organized a "Seas Without Waste" campaign. This initiative took place in Al Khabourah under the patronage of Sheikh Yusuf bin Hassan bin Saeed Balh and involved 100 participants. The campaign focused on environmental cleanliness in marine areas.

The Sultanate of Oman's trade balance recorded a surplus of approximately OMR 5.5 billion by the end of July 2026. This represents an increase compared to the OMR 3.6 billion surplus registered during the same period in 2025.

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology celebrated its strategic partners and media influencers in Muscat. The event was held under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Saeed bin Hamoud Al Maawali, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.

The Ministry of Labour, represented by the Directorate General of Private Training Institutions, is continuing its efforts to develop a national map for technical specialties and professions. This initiative aims to meet the needs of the labor market, with officials emphasizing the development of programs that respond to economic and technological transformations.

Mustair, the real estate development arm of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, has announced the start of preliminary bookings for the first phase of its "Mustanir Heights" project. This luxury residential complex is situated in Al Jabal Al Akhdar.

The Sultanate of Oman's trade balance recorded a surplus of OMR5.5 billion by the end of July 2026. This represents an increase when compared to the previous surplus of approximately OMR3.6 billion. This economic data highlights Oman's financial performance.

Oman's Central Bank successfully raised OMR19.7 million by allotting treasury bills on Monday. This financial operation, conducted by the central bank in Muscat, saw the value of the allotted treasury bills include OMR16 million as part of the total. The central bank regularly issues treasury bills to manage the nation's monetary policy and liquidity within the Sultanate.

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) recently held a graduation ceremony in Muscat for the 21st batch of its Emdad programme. The programme successfully saw 366 Omani job seekers complete their training and development. This initiative by PDO is designed to support national efforts in enhancing employment opportunities and developing local talent. The ceremony, held on Monday, marks a significant milestone for the graduates as they prepare to contribute to the workforce.

The Sultanate of Oman, represented by Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), hosted the 25th meeting of the Committee of E-Learning Officials from GCC universities. This meeting in Muscat aimed to strengthen ties in higher education across the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The historic Bahla Heritage Market has reopened following the completion of a major development and restoration project. This project, which cost over RO 477,000, aimed to restore the market's traditional character.

The Wilayat of Mirbat hosted the third edition of the Dhofar International Arabian Horse Championship. The event took place at Midan Al Najaeb on October 3 and 4. It held a B International ranking.

Oman Meteorology has announced that the Sultanate's northern governorates are likely to receive above-average rainfall for the month of October.

Sultan Qaboos University, through its Department of English Language and Translation at the College of Arts and Social Sciences, organized an event in Muscat. This event was held to mark and celebrate International Translation Day.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has signed an Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) agreement with the Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group). This agreement is for the development of the Sultan Qaboos Port Waterfront project in Muscat. The initiative aims to enhance tourism offerings and infrastructure within the capital.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday for a two-day state visit. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan received His Majesty upon arrival.

The Oman National Sailing team concluded its participation in the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The team delivered two highly impressive performances during their campaign at the Games. This marked a significant outing for the Omani team on the international stage, showcasing their competitive spirit.

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has arrested two individuals following thefts from several warehouses located at Khasab Port in the Musandam Governorate. These arrests were made in connection with the reported incidents.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's presence at the Special Economic Zone at Duqm on September 23, 2026, is characterized as more than a scheduled stop. This highlights a supreme royal vision guiding Duqm's development paths.

The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs inaugurated the eighth edition of the 'Tatweer' training program in Muscat. This program is organized in collaboration with the Higher Institute of Judiciary. Its objective is to train and qualify individuals holding legal positions within various government units. The opening ceremony took place on Sunday.

The Omani short film "Roofs," directed by Mohammed Al Kindi, was awarded the Special Prize of the Jury in the short film category. This recognition occurred during the second edition of the Art & Travel In (ATIFF) festival held in Georgia.

The fourth edition of the "Himam" mountain race concluded in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, Oman. The competition saw significant participation, with over 1000 male and female runners representing 34 nationalities. This event marks the end of the mountain running challenge for this year.