If only I could afford a home in the sun - buying property in Oman
Sunday's announcement of Royal Decree 12/2006 which grants, in principle, permission for non-Omanis to own property in the Sultanate, has been long-awaited.
But it doesn't confer rights to buy property just anywhere. The investment must be in an 'integrated tourism complex'. As indicated in an earlier post, we can't be totally sure yet of the quality and facilities of the property on offer in the developments. Properties are advertised as being of luxury status.
Muscat Golf and Country Club has been waiting patiently for such a move, offering 'luxury 2-bedroom apartments, penthouses and 3, 4 and 5 bedroom villas.' Prices range from RO93,500 ($242,858) for the apartments to RO253,000 ($657,143). Such is the height of gracious living, that power lines have been removed from the site. 'Specialist contractors Larsen and Toubro, which prepared new tower and pole sites for the relocation of overhead transmission cables, undertook this task.' Oman Observer 13th April 2005. Contractors were building an 18-hole golf course all last year.
I think you can take it that you will have to be what is known as a high net-worth individual to be able to afford it.
There's a lot of interest in owning a luxurious beach-front property. The Wave, which will extend along six kilometres of pristine sea-front northwest of Muscat, was oversubscribed 20 times when it held a draw for its first residential release earlier this month. The first properties are due to be ready by the end of 2007. The website assures the earliest residents of a very attractive offer.
You have to register your interest in The Wave before you can get detailed information. One hopes that you get detailed information. The website does not reveal any drawings or artists' impressions of what the properties are actually going to look like, but there will be another 18-hole golf course, to be designed by Greg Norman and a 300 berth marina.
'The Wave, Muscat, is a joint venture comprising Oman’s Waterfront Investments, which includes the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, the National Investment Funds Company, which represents the Omani Pension Funds and State General Reserve Funds, and the UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim Investments.' Oman Observer 5th February 2006. That suggests that the development is intended to be a nice little earner.
I'm fascinated that the images on The Wave website show young, upwardly mobile, Westerners, rather than upwardly mobile Omanis and other Gulf citizens. Have people been registering interest on the assurance that non-Omanis would eventually be permitted to own property? But I stand corrected. This page tells me that "a Royal decree of 2004 allowed GCC Nationals to purchase freehold property anywhere in Oman. A ministerial decision with royal assent was passed in November 2004 allowing expatriates to own freehold property in Oman in designated areas. [ ] The Wave, Muscat, is the first project that has been officially granted the right to offer full freehold property rights to all buyers."
So why a Royal Decree now stating that non-Omanis can buy within designated, integrated tourism complexes?
Well, for one thing, there was neither legislation nor guidelines concerning the rights of property owners to bequeathe property after their decease, nor for any rights for purchase under a company name. This also created confusion when deciding who might actually be eligible for a residence visa.
Note though, that the devil is in the detail. It has been given to the Ministry of Electricity, Housing and Water in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, to draw up the detailed regulations governing non-Omani ownership and interest in these properties. And then the regulations must be approved by the Council of Ministers. For that, we shall have to wait.
But it doesn't confer rights to buy property just anywhere. The investment must be in an 'integrated tourism complex'. As indicated in an earlier post, we can't be totally sure yet of the quality and facilities of the property on offer in the developments. Properties are advertised as being of luxury status.
Muscat Golf and Country Club has been waiting patiently for such a move, offering 'luxury 2-bedroom apartments, penthouses and 3, 4 and 5 bedroom villas.' Prices range from RO93,500 ($242,858) for the apartments to RO253,000 ($657,143). Such is the height of gracious living, that power lines have been removed from the site. 'Specialist contractors Larsen and Toubro, which prepared new tower and pole sites for the relocation of overhead transmission cables, undertook this task.' Oman Observer 13th April 2005. Contractors were building an 18-hole golf course all last year.
I think you can take it that you will have to be what is known as a high net-worth individual to be able to afford it.
There's a lot of interest in owning a luxurious beach-front property. The Wave, which will extend along six kilometres of pristine sea-front northwest of Muscat, was oversubscribed 20 times when it held a draw for its first residential release earlier this month. The first properties are due to be ready by the end of 2007. The website assures the earliest residents of a very attractive offer.
You have to register your interest in The Wave before you can get detailed information. One hopes that you get detailed information. The website does not reveal any drawings or artists' impressions of what the properties are actually going to look like, but there will be another 18-hole golf course, to be designed by Greg Norman and a 300 berth marina.
'The Wave, Muscat, is a joint venture comprising Oman’s Waterfront Investments, which includes the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, the National Investment Funds Company, which represents the Omani Pension Funds and State General Reserve Funds, and the UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim Investments.' Oman Observer 5th February 2006. That suggests that the development is intended to be a nice little earner.
I'm fascinated that the images on The Wave website show young, upwardly mobile, Westerners, rather than upwardly mobile Omanis and other Gulf citizens. Have people been registering interest on the assurance that non-Omanis would eventually be permitted to own property? But I stand corrected. This page tells me that "a Royal decree of 2004 allowed GCC Nationals to purchase freehold property anywhere in Oman. A ministerial decision with royal assent was passed in November 2004 allowing expatriates to own freehold property in Oman in designated areas. [ ] The Wave, Muscat, is the first project that has been officially granted the right to offer full freehold property rights to all buyers."
So why a Royal Decree now stating that non-Omanis can buy within designated, integrated tourism complexes?
Well, for one thing, there was neither legislation nor guidelines concerning the rights of property owners to bequeathe property after their decease, nor for any rights for purchase under a company name. This also created confusion when deciding who might actually be eligible for a residence visa.
Note though, that the devil is in the detail. It has been given to the Ministry of Electricity, Housing and Water in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, to draw up the detailed regulations governing non-Omani ownership and interest in these properties. And then the regulations must be approved by the Council of Ministers. For that, we shall have to wait.
A rare interview with His Majesty
Last week, the Omani press carried a report of an interview with HM Sultan Qaboos by Ahmed al Jarallah, the Editor-in-Chief of Al Siyassa daily of Kuwait, published on 11th February. Times of Oman and Oman Observer 12th February. Mr al-Jarallah also writes for the English language Arab Times of Kuwait.
The reports were not specific about when and where the interview was undertaken, although the text suggests a personal meeting, since His Majesty is supposed to have smiled on several occasions. Therefore, although His Majesty must have been briefed beforehand on the questions that would be asked, elements of his replies would be spontaneous.
References to the last 35 years of Oman’s history also could imply that the interview relates to the National Day celebrations of November 2005, covering the period that His Majesty has been in office.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos emphasised how his meetings with his people during his annual tours of the country, foster mutual loyalty and support. He said that his policy ‘is to preserve the dignity of every person and give each his/her right in terms of esteem.’ “During these tours, I meet people, listen to their requirements and they listen to my views.” He said that there was need for ‘discipline’, but that no leader could be a tyrant, or else he would find himself surrounded by hypocrites and deserted by reformers and advisors.
When he came to power in 1970, he was very concerned about preserving Oman’s heritage alongside the process of modernisation. He believed that Oman has been successful in that endeavour. It was very interesting that he gave focus to education, especially for women: “We began by educating women, constructing schools and we gently entered into the community,” although he was careful to add that ‘those who want to educate their daughters are welcome and those who want to stick to traditions are free to do so as well.’ Not much chance for the daughters of those who want to stick to tradition then?
The reports were not specific about when and where the interview was undertaken, although the text suggests a personal meeting, since His Majesty is supposed to have smiled on several occasions. Therefore, although His Majesty must have been briefed beforehand on the questions that would be asked, elements of his replies would be spontaneous.
References to the last 35 years of Oman’s history also could imply that the interview relates to the National Day celebrations of November 2005, covering the period that His Majesty has been in office.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos emphasised how his meetings with his people during his annual tours of the country, foster mutual loyalty and support. He said that his policy ‘is to preserve the dignity of every person and give each his/her right in terms of esteem.’ “During these tours, I meet people, listen to their requirements and they listen to my views.” He said that there was need for ‘discipline’, but that no leader could be a tyrant, or else he would find himself surrounded by hypocrites and deserted by reformers and advisors.
When he came to power in 1970, he was very concerned about preserving Oman’s heritage alongside the process of modernisation. He believed that Oman has been successful in that endeavour. It was very interesting that he gave focus to education, especially for women: “We began by educating women, constructing schools and we gently entered into the community,” although he was careful to add that ‘those who want to educate their daughters are welcome and those who want to stick to traditions are free to do so as well.’ Not much chance for the daughters of those who want to stick to tradition then?
Diplomacy with Iran
There was intensive interchange between Oman and Iran at high diplomatic levels in the latter half of January. At the end of December, I commented on the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the joint political committee in Muscat .
The Iranians returned to Muscat on 24th January. The Omani-Iranian Parliamentary Friendship Committee held official-level talks at the Majlis Al Shura, with Oman's team led by Mohammed bin Said Al Kalbani, and the Iranian team headed by Hishmat Allah Falahet Bisha. Times of Oman
The Iranian team presented an invitation from the president of the Iranian Shura Council to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatabi, president of Oman's Majlis Al Shura. The Persian Journal indicated that the invitation, from the speaker of the mullah-run majlis, Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel, was to take part in the third international conference in support of the Palestinian Intifada in Tehran between March and April this year.
"The Omani Shura experience and the Council of Oman's contribution to the government to support national development is commendable," said Hishmat Allah. Gulf News
While in Oman, the Iranian team also met Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Oman's minister responsible for foreign affairs, and Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Oman's minister of commerce and industry. In comments published after the meeting, Yusuf bin Alawi was reported to have 'expressed his satisfaction with the trend of increasing bilateral cooperation between the two states, and called for expansion of mutual ties in the oil and gas sector. He further expressed confidence that the Iran nuclear issue would soon be settled through the "wise policies" of the Iranian government.'
The Iranians returned to Muscat on 24th January. The Omani-Iranian Parliamentary Friendship Committee held official-level talks at the Majlis Al Shura, with Oman's team led by Mohammed bin Said Al Kalbani, and the Iranian team headed by Hishmat Allah Falahet Bisha. Times of Oman
The Iranian team presented an invitation from the president of the Iranian Shura Council to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatabi, president of Oman's Majlis Al Shura. The Persian Journal indicated that the invitation, from the speaker of the mullah-run majlis, Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel, was to take part in the third international conference in support of the Palestinian Intifada in Tehran between March and April this year.
"The Omani Shura experience and the Council of Oman's contribution to the government to support national development is commendable," said Hishmat Allah. Gulf News
While in Oman, the Iranian team also met Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Oman's minister responsible for foreign affairs, and Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Oman's minister of commerce and industry. In comments published after the meeting, Yusuf bin Alawi was reported to have 'expressed his satisfaction with the trend of increasing bilateral cooperation between the two states, and called for expansion of mutual ties in the oil and gas sector. He further expressed confidence that the Iran nuclear issue would soon be settled through the "wise policies" of the Iranian government.'