What to do in Muscat - Latest News

With Eid Al Adha and Hajj now behind us, the Islamic calendar is about to turn to 1448 AH. While the exact start of the new year will depend on moon sightings, Oman has already confirmed the public holiday. Public sector employees in the Sultanate will have the day off on Thursday, June 18. Because Friday and Saturday form Oman's weekend, the holiday creates a three-day break. Other summer news from Oman: outdoor work ban until August 31. This Summer in Muscat: Top Events Ready for a night out? Go loud with Metal Assault Vol. 3 and its heavy underground...

Three of Meta's biggest apps are getting upgrades. Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp now have Plus subscription plans with extra features and customisation options. Let's take a look at what each plan offers and how much it costs. Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus: Features and Price Instagram remains one of Meta's most popular apps, and the company is putting most of the new features there. So, what do you get if you decide to upgrade your account? Story rewatch statistics Stories that stay up longer than 24 hours Posting to profiles and highlights without appearing in followers' feeds Super Heart animated...

Food delivery riders squeezing between cars in traffic has become a common sight, and Oman is now bringing in new restrictions to make roads safer. Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has banned food delivery motorcycles from using main roads after authorities raised concerns about speeding and traffic violations, saying such a behavior creates safety risks. Under the new rules, food delivery motorcycles on Oman must now use secondary roads and routes approved by the relevant authorities. The ministry also urged delivery companies and restaurants to raise awareness among riders about the updated rules and safer driving practices....

Thinking about a beach holiday, train rides through tea hills, or a tropical escape? Here’s a summer gift from Sri Lanka: tourist ETA is now free for visitors from 40 countries, including GCC nations and India. The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) allows to stay in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days. Tourists can also enter the country twice within the same 30-day validity period starting from the first arrival date. Anyone planning to stay longer can apply for a visa extension after arrival. All ETA fees paid before May 25 are non-refundable. Countries included in the free Sri Lanka...

You probably know how easy it is to visit Thailand. Travellers from most countries, including GCC nations, can enter Thailand visa-free for tourism. However, the allowed stay period is now changing. The country remains visa-free, but your holiday can now last up to 30 days. Most visitors probably won’t even feel the difference, but the change is still worth knowing if you're planning a longer stay. Thailand introduced a 60-day visa-free stay in 2024, and the country is now replacing it with a stay period that’s twice shorter. All extensions will require approval from Thai immigration authorities. The new rule...

Oman has officially confirmed the start date for Eid Al Adha 2026 after the crescent moon was sighted on Sunday evening. Dhul Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic calendar, will start on Monday, May 18. Eid Al Adha takes place on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah each year. The confirmed dates are as follows: Day of Arafah will be Tuesday, May 26 First day of Eid Al Adha in Oman is on Wednesday, May 27 With the Eid Al Adha 2026 dates now confirmed in Oman, residents can start planning trips and family gatherings for the break. Employees...

If you’ve ever hesitated before asking an AI assistant something personal, WhatsApp is about to release a new feature that might make those chats feel a lot more comfortable. Incognito Chat is a new private mode for AI conversations on WhatsApp and Meta AI app. The feature focuses on privacy, especially for people using AI for sensitive topics like finances, health questions, work issues, or personal decisions. According to Meta, conversations inside Incognito Chat stay completely private. The company says nobody else can view the chats, including the company itself. Messages are not stored, and chats disappear automatically by default....

The FIFA World Cup always takes over everything else happening that year. Now the 2026 edition has a huge surprise for music fans too. Nobody knows yet which national teams will battle for the trophy in the final, but FIFA has just revealed who’s taking the stage for the halftime show and the lineup is massive. BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show on July 19 at New York-New Jersey Stadium. Shakira is also returning to the World Cup with brand-new music. The singer released a new FIFA anthem called Dai Dai on...

A huge new mountain destination is coming to Muscat. Oman has signed an agreement for “Rawasi,” an integrated tourism complex planned for the heights of Jabal Bousher. The development comes with investments estimated at around OMR558 million and will stretch across nearly 993,000 sqm. Rawasi will include hotels, homes, and leisure facilities overlooking Muscat. The project will be developed over four phases during the next 15 years. Oman is getting ready to welcome more tourists in the future. Alongside huge projects like Rawasi, visitors will soon have new luxury stays like Tivoli LA VIE Muscat, with golf course views and...

Shakira is officially back in her FIFA World Cup era, and football fans already know what that means for summer playlists. The Colombian superstar just teased fans on Instagram with a brand-new anthem called Dai Dai. The track dropped on May 14 ahead of the tournament and features Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The catchy chant already feels impossible to get out of your head before the tournament even begins. For a lot of people, Shakira’s music and the World Cup practically go hand in hand at this point. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) became one of football’s most recognizable...