๐ด๐ฒ Times of Oman
Oman · EN · https://timesofoman.com
About Times of Oman
Times of Oman is owned by Muscat Media Group, a publishing house founded in 1975 by Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali. The current CEO is Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali, and it operates as a family business. Muscat Media Group also publishes the Arabic-language newspaper Al Shabiba and other publications.
Oman's media environment is severely constrained, with Reporters Without Borders ranking the country 137th out of 180 in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, and Freedom House categorizing it as 'Not Free'. The law prohibits criticism of the Sultan, leading to widespread self-censorship among journalists and media outlets, including private ones. The government possesses broad authority to close outlets, block websites, revoke licenses, and prosecute journalists for content violations. The Times of Oman itself states its mission is to promote Oman and align with 'Oman Vision 2040', reflecting a state-aligned editorial stance. The provided headline sample, while covering international and regional news, does not contain any content critical of the Omani government, consistent with the documented environment of self-censorship.
Reading context
Outlets in Oman often work under tighter political or legal limits than in countries ranked as fully free for press. We keep each headline's original tone on purpose, so you can see how stories are usually framed for domestic readers.
Joyalukkas Celebrates Historic Entry into Australia with Bollywood Star Kajol Devgan in Sydney
- Joyalukkas, a global jewelry retailer, has opened its first showroom in Sydney, Australia, marking its entry into the 12th country. - The grand opening on April 11, 2026, was attended by Bollywood sโฆ
Oman and Botswana break ground on 500MW solar power plant
- Oman and Botswana have launched a partnership with the groundbreaking of a 500 MW solar power plant in Maun, Botswana. - The project, integrated with battery energy storage systems, is a direct implโฆ
Aerial spraying campaign launched against palm dubas bug in South Al Batinah
- An aerial spraying campaign has been launched in Oman's South Al Batinah Governorate to combat the destructive palm dubas bug. - The three-day campaign utilizes helicopters to target infestations acโฆ
Al Salwa Hospital for Addiction Treatment Opens in Sohar
- Al Salwa Hospital, a new facility for addiction treatment and healthcare, has opened in Sohar, Oman. - The hospital offers advanced therapeutic and rehabilitation programs, with plans for a specialiโฆ
Emir of Qatar Arrives in Oman on Private Fraternal Visit
- The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has arrived in Oman for a private visit. - He was welcomed in Muscat by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. - The visit is described as fraternaโฆ
Iran-Pakistan Talks Continue in Tehran Amid US Mediation Efforts
- Iran and Pakistan are continuing high-level talks in Tehran, with the Pakistani army chief of staff meeting Iran's foreign minister. - Pakistan aims to mediate renewed negotiations between the Uniteโฆ
Sayyid Shihab receives UK Deputy Prime Minister and State Secretary for Justice
- Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said met with UK's Deputy Prime Minister and State Secretary for Justice, David Lammy, in Muscat. - The discussions focused on strengthening the historically strong nationโฆ
US Senate Rejects Measures Limiting Trump's War Powers in Iran for Fourth Time
- The US Senate rejected a proposal to limit President Trump's war powers regarding Iran for the fourth time, failing to advance with a 47-52 vote. - The Senate also voted down measures to block arms โฆ
Diplomatic Hiking organized to celebrate International Wellness Day
- The Embassy of Nepal in Muscat organized a "Diplomatic Hiking" event to celebrate International Wellness Day. - The event, held on April 15, 2026, aimed to raise awareness about wellness and promoteโฆ
Oman Sends Condolences to Turkiye Over School Attack
- Oman extended condolences to Turkiye following a tragic armed attack on a school in Kahramanmaraล Governorate. - The attack resulted in the deaths of several innocent people, including students. - Oโฆ
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar lauds his bowlers after victory over LSG, says bowling was fantastic
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar praised his bowlers after their victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). - Patidar highlighted the effectivโฆ
US Mulls Fresh Talks with Iran in Pakistan
- The US is considering a second round of peace talks with Iran, potentially in Pakistan. - White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed optimism about the prospects of a deal. - China's Forโฆ
Qatar Emir Urges De-escalation in Call with Trump Amid West Asia Tensions
- Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani spoke with US President Donald Trump about escalating regional tensions and urged de-escalation. - The leaders discussed the impact of Middle East tensioโฆ
Pakistan PM Pushes for US-Iran Peace Talks During Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince
- Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to discuss promoting US-Iran peace talks. - Sharif reiterated Pakistan's commitment to encouraging โฆ
Workshop Discusses Executive Regulations for Oman's Special Economic and Free Zones
- Oman's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) held a workshop discussing executive regulations for special economic and free zones. - The event aimed to enhance partnership between regulatory bodieโฆ
MoC inked on meteorites, geological heritage, geopark projects
- Oman's Ministry of Heritage and Tourism signed an MoU with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS). - The agreement aims to support research and collaboration on meteorites, geologiโฆ
Oman University Empowers Teachers with AI Skills in Education Workshop
- The University of Technology and Applied Sciences โ Al Mussanah (UTAS-A) hosted a two-day workshop for primary school English teachers on AI skills. - The program, themed "Empowering Educators with โฆ
Economy Passengers to Get Beds in the Sky
- Air New Zealand will introduce the world's first 'Economy Skynest,' offering lie-flat beds for economy class passengers on long-haul flights. - The Skynest features six sleeping pods available as a โฆ
Mango production project launched in Barka to boost food security
- Oman's Ministry of Agriculture is launching a project to increase mango production in South Al Batinah Governorate to enhance food security. - The initiative involves expanding fruit cultivation, suโฆ
Europe Mulls "European NATO" Contingency Amid US Alliance Concerns
- European officials are developing a contingency plan, informally dubbed "European NATO," in case the US withdraws from the alliance under potential future leadership. - The plan aims to bolster Euroโฆ
Oman's Sultan Sends Written Message to Philippine President
- Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has sent a written message to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. - The message concerns bilateral relations between Oman and the Philippines. - The ambassador โฆ
Andaman Sea tragedy: 250 feared dead as overcrowded trawler carrying refugees capsizes
- A search and rescue operation is underway in the Andaman Sea after a trawler carrying approximately 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized. - The UN and IOM stated that violence inโฆ
UEFA Champions League: Atletico Madrid reach semis despite losing 1-2 to Barcelona
- Atletico Madrid reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time in nine years, advancing 3-2 on aggregate against Barcelona. - Despite losing the second leg 1-2, Atletico secured thโฆ
Vance: US will make Iran 'thrive' if they commit to no nukes
- US Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about US-Iran nuclear talks, stating a deal could lead to Iran's economic prosperity. - Vance acknowledged existing mistrust but indicated Iranian negotโฆ
Chairman of Shura Council leads Omanโs delegation at IPU meeting
- Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Shura Council, is leading Oman's delegation at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul. - The Omani delegation will participateโฆ
Oman to showcase its culture at the 2026 Venice Biennale
- Oman is set to participate in the 61st International Art Exhibition โ La Biennale di Venezia in 2026, marking its third appearance. - The Sultanate's national pavilion, commissioned by the Ministry โฆ
Oman Ministry of Economy Symposium Focuses on Proactive Regulatory Monitoring
Oman's Ministry of Economy organized a symposium in Muscat on a proactive monitoring system for regulatory bodies, aiming to enhance good governance and efficiency in line with Oman Vision 2040.
