THE new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre and its surrounding precinct is expected to serve as a catalyst for the Sultanate of Oman to become a serious contender in attracting lucrative international, regional and national business events. Set to become an iconic landmark for the city of Muscat and the Sultanate, the site preparation and enabling works have already commenced, with the Centre to be fully completed by 2015.
The Centre is located in the Hayy Al Irfan district, four kms from Muscat International Airport, and overlooks a nature reserve and wadi (valley) park that is a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife. The spectacular natural environment site chosen for this world-class convention and exhibition centre is the first of its kind in the Gulf region, and perhaps the world. Architecturally advanced in design and capability, this world-class venue will be among the first to be built to meet the rigorous Leed Certification by the US Green Building Council.
It will feature an elaborate tiered auditorium to seat 3,200 while the exhibition halls will include 22,000 sq m of column-free exhibition space, divisible into five separate halls. Halls one and two will have a superior fit out that includes specialised acoustics plus advanced lighting and rigging to serve as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances, and gala events for up to 10,000.
The Centre will also include 14 additional meeting rooms for 70-360 delegates, two well-appointed ballrooms that seat up to 2,360, a VIP Pavilion, a spacious food-court, and a multi-storey car park with capacity for 4,000 vehicles.
The functional and flexible design ensures an array of meeting space to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organisers. It also incorporates expansive concourse areas to facilitate the flow of large delegations, plus floor to ceiling windows that overlook landscaped gardens and outdoor exhibition area.
The precinct will include a five star hotel linked to the convention centre, plus a two four-star, and a three-star hotel with a combined total of 1,000 rooms.
A business park, retail shopping mall, and serviced apartments, are also part of this picturesque precinct.
Ideally accessible within seven hours from continental Europe, delegates visiting Oman will have a rare opportunity to discover the many wonders of this majestic country, known as the “Jewel of Arabia”.