MARCH 2019 globaltravelerusa.com 57
LODGING
AL BUSTAN PALACE, A RITZ-
CARLTON HOTEL
Said to be one of the world’s
finest hotels, this splendid
urban resort is a favorite
project of Sultan Qaboos.Al Bustan Street, Quron
Beach
$$$$$GRAND MILLENNIUM
MUSCAT
Conveniently located in the
heart of the city’s business
and diplomatic district near
the two great malls, this
5-star hotel offers a Zanta
spa and meeting rooms with
panoramic city views.Dohat al Adab Street, Al
Khuwair
$$$KEMPINSKI HOTEL MUSCAT
Arab and contemporary
décor blend in this luxury
5-star beach resort with spa,
tennis court and watersports
on its three-mile stunning
coastline.
335 Street 6, Al Mouj
$$$$Qaboos bin Said, with assistance from the British, overthrew his father in a bloodless
coup. Consolidating and renaming the region the Sultanate of Oman, Sultan Qaboos
united tribal territories and launched programs to end the country’s isolation and to use
oil revenues for modernization and development. Slavery was abolished, and freedom of
religion was allowed.
To promote internal stability and to supplement expats and immigrants, in 1988 the
country initiated Omanization. The local population is enlisted and trained to integrate
into the workforce, expanding the economy and infrastructure. Companies are rewarded
for increasing their quota levels toward the target goal of 72 percent local personnel.
Five-year development plans initiated in 1976 resulted in the establishment of the petro-
leum industry; construction of the new shipping port, Mina Qaboos; and new ministries
for social services, health, education and the tourist industry. Oman emerged with a
higher standard of living than that of neighboring countries.
As it has throughout history, trade dominates the economy, with oil products joining
the traditional exports of dates, fish and mother-of-pearl. Muscat is home to multibillion-
dollar conglomerate CK Industries, and major trading companies Suhail Bahwan Group
and Saud Bahwan Group partnered with dozens of international corporations including
Toshiba, Toyota, Hewlett-Packard, Mitsubishi, General Motors and Chrysler. Petroleum
Development Oman — a joint operation of the government, Shell, Total and Partex —
reported a combined oil, gas and condensate production record for 2016 equal to 1.29
million barrels of oil equivalent per day, with a growing expansion into hydrocarbon,