Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Oman completes work on major theatre

Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) has announced the successful completion of the construction work package of Madinat Al Irfan Theatre as part of its Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) project.

The sultanate's executive arm for tourism development, Omran said Madinat Al Irfan Theatre was the country's largest lyric theatre and one of the biggest in the region which serves as a one-stop destination for businesses and events industry.

The design of Madinat Al Irfan Theatre was inspired by Sultan Qaboos Rose. It is a three-storey building which can accommodate up to 3,200 people, said a statement from Omran.

An iconic landscape in urban Muscat, the theatre will serve as the region's unique platform for the organisation of cultural events, art performance and conferences.

The theatre adopts the highest conferences management standards for organisation and includes 19 separate conference rooms in addition to an auditorium with a capacity of 456 people, it stated.

Equipped with adequate facilities and supporting tourism assets, OCEC will become the preferred choice for various events and activities in the sultanate, thus contributing to boosting the country's reputation as a world-class tourist destination, said the statement from Omran.

OCEC had recently hosted regional and international events within the framework of the soft-launch of the theatre and has received bookings for various events and activities from companies and institutions wishing to hold grand occasions as well as artistic, cultural and recreational performances.

OCEC senior vice-president and project engineer Said Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi said: "We are so proud that we have successfully completed the construction works of Madinat Al Irfan Theatre, the latest OCEC facility. We are now preparing for completing the final package of the project."

"The theatre stands out as one of OCEC major facilities designed in accordance with the highest international standards. It will contribute to enriching the arts and culture activities in the sultanate and will also act as a major destination for events and a unique tourist attraction for tourists," stated Al Qasimi.

"OCEC is distinguished with its strategic location in the capital city of Muscat and is considered the first major project carried out by Omran in Madinat Al Irfan — the future urban destination for visitors from and outside the sultanate," he added.

CEO Said Bin Salim Al Shanfari said: "We welcome all companies specialised in the organization of grand events to Madinat Al Irfan Theatre which serves as an ideal platform for enriching the experience of OCEC customers and visitors interested in attending and holding various events in accordance with the highest international standards."

"The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual (AV) and lighting technologies. The cabling infrastructure of the theatre is equipped with titanium cables for lighting that provides high-resolution colours using ArtNet technology," noted Al Shanfari.

"The theatre is also equipped with a world-class sophisticated sound system in line with an internal broadcast video system which screens high-resolution video programs saved on standard spaces," he added.

According to Omran, the OCEC also has two additional ballrooms. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 2,688 people and can be divided into fully equipped six separate halls.

The Junior Ballroom accommodates up to 1,026 people and can be divided into two halls of equal space depending on the requirement of the organiser.

Omran pointed out that the completion of the second and final phase of the project will boost the sultanate's capacity to provide integrated facilities for hosting local, regional and international conferences, exhibitions, meetings, and special events.

As a driving factor for businesses and tourism movement in the sultanate, the project is expected to contribute to the economic diversification agenda and to act as one of the sources of the national economy.

Moreover, it will strengthen the efforts undertaken by the sultanate to provide new job opportunities for Omani youth as well as business opportunities for local companies and small and medium enterprises.-TradeArabia News Service