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50th National Day Special: Remembering Oman’s Top 50 Milestones

Business Live Middle East takes a peek into moments in history that have been instrumental in the transformation process of the Sultanate.

Below are key events and pivotal decisions that have altered the nation’s fundamental structure economically, politically, and socially.

These moments rewrote history and created an accelerated growth map fulfilling Oman’s vision for fabricating a more sustained, diversified, and global economy.

1970

HM Sultan Qaboos (May His Soul Rest In Peace); Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Information

– His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the longest-serving ruler in the Arab world, took power in the Gulf state of Oman in 1970 on July 23^rd.

1971

– Alwatan, Oman’s first daily newspaper (in Arabic) in Oman, was first published on January 28, 1971.

1973

– The city of Muscat was officially launched as the capital of the Sultanate of Oman on 23rd December 1973.

1974

– The Central Bank of Oman, through the Banking Law of 1974, was formed.

Source: ROP/Twitter

– His Majesty conferred the title ‘Royal Oman Police (ROP)’ on the newly formed force.

– The Government of Oman acquired a 60 per cent shareholding in the Petroleum Development (Oman), now known as Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).

– Oman TV (New Logo)Oman broadcasts its first national television channel – Oman TV.

1976

– The first five-year plan was introduced to focus on developing new sources of national revenue, equitable distribution of wealth, creating basic infrastructure, and other elements that would transform the nation.

1978

– The age of natural gas started in Oman on 29 October 1978 when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos inaugurated the Government Gas Plant at Yibal.

1980

Omantel’s newly-opened headquarters

– Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), the first telecommunications company in Oman, was founded.

1981

Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

– Oman became the founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

1982

– Mina Al Fahal refinery was commissioned to cater to Oman’s demand for refined products.

1985

– The Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex (SQSC) opened in October 1985, at Baushar.

1986

Source: SQU

– Sultan Qaboos University, the largest public university in Oman started operations in Al Khoudh in the Muscat Governorate.

1987

– The Royal Hospital was commissioned in 1987 to provide specialist and super-specialist healthcare of the highest standard.

– Bahla Fort was added to UNESCO-listed forts in 1987.

1991

Photo Courtesy: Shura.om

– Majlis A’Shura was established on November 12, 1991.

1993

– The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, now known as ‘Madayn’, was established in 1993.

Photo Courtesy: Oman Air

– Oman Air, the national airline of Oman, was founded in 1993.

1994

– Oman LNG, the LNG plant in Qalhat near Sur, was established by the royal decree in 1994.

– The Sultanate of Oman became the first Gulf state to grant women the right to vote and stand for public office.

1995

– Vision 2020 was launched to guide the Sultanate towards a sustainable and diversified economy.

1998

– Port of Salalah, Oman’s first public-private partnership project, became operational in November 1998.

1999

– The Capital Market Authority (CMA) was established to regulate and supervise the capital market and insurance sectors.

2001

– Muscat City Centre, developed and managed by Majid Al Futtaim Properties, opened in October 2001.

– The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, was inaugurated on May 4, 2001 in Muscat.

2002

– His Majesty Sultan Qaboos extended voting rights to all citizens over the age of 21.

2003

– Oman’s first and most successful tech park, Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM), was established in 2003.

2004

– Sohar Port, the deep-sea port capable of handling the world’s largest ships, started operations.

– Ooredoo Oman (formerly ‘Nawras’), the Sultanate’s first privately owned telecommunications company, was established in 2004.

2005

– Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, the three-hotel resort in Muscat, opened in late 2005.

2006

Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

– Five aflaj irrigation systems in Oman were added to UNESCO’s list of ‘World Heritage Sites’.

– Al Mouj Muscat (formerly The Wave Muscat) became the first Integrated Tourism Complex to open in Oman.

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock

– Muttrah Souq, first built in the 1820s, was refurbished.

2007

– The work begins on the Oman-Saudi Arabia road link to cut down the distance between the two countries by around 800km.

– In June 2007, the Sultanate of Oman awoke to Cyclone Gonu, one of the worst natural disasters in its recent history.

2009

– Oman won the Gulf Cup for football for the first time defeating regional heavyweights.

– The United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into force on 1 January.

2010

Courtesy: Olympic Council of Asia

– The 2nd Asian Beach Games were held in Muscat from 8-16 December.

– The United Nations Development Programme ranked Oman as the most improved nation in the world for development in the last 40 years.

2011

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock

– The Royal Opera House, located in Shatti Al Qurum, opened its gates in 2011.

2012

– The Port of Duqm started operations in 2012.

– The Islamic Banking Regulatory Framework was issued on 18th December allowing Islamic banking activities in Oman.

2016

– ASYAD was established to bring together major logistics companies and joint ventures under one entity.

– The world-class Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) opens.

– The National Museum, Sultanate’s flagship cultural institution, opened on July 30.

2018

– On 9^th May, Al-Batinah expressway was opened linking Muscat Expressway at Halban with the United Arab Emirates border at Khatmat Malaha.

– The Vision 2040 is Oman’s ambitious strategy formulated in 2018 that seeks to catapult the Sultanate into the ranks of the world’s most developed nations.