News Rewind: Expats with salary OMR300 can bring families to Oman

Energy Friday 06/October/2017 10:57 AM
By: Times News Service
News Rewind: Expats with salary OMR300 can bring families to Oman

Lots happened in the Sultanate in the first week of October, 2017. Here are our top five stories from the past week, with our weekly News Rewind:
A decision to lower the minimum salary required for expat family visas was issued, with the salary cap now at OMR300 from the previous OMR600. In a tweet, Shura Council Member Sultan bin Majid Al Abri, said, "The visa condition for family members joining an expatriate employee has been amended from a minimum salary of OMR600 to OMR300."
The move has led experts to believe that expats in Oman will now spend more money locally, thereby having a good overall effect on the economy of the Sultanate. Fabio Scacciavilani, chief economist at the Oman Investment Fund, said: "In a way it is a good ruling as remittances will stay in the country and they will get to be with their families, but the officials must ensure that people who bring their families can actually afford it."
Fuel prices for the month of October were also announced this week, taking prices to record levels. According to the latest prices released by the Ministry, M95 petrol will now cost 205 baisas per litre, compared with 196 baisas a litre last month. M91 petrol will remain at 186 baisas a litre as prices have been capped by the government.
Four Malaysian universities were blacklisted by the Omani government, after the Ministry of Higher Education received a number of complaints against them by Omani students. The universities are Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), SEGI University, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology and Binary University of Management & Entrepreneurship.
Oman's decision to ease restrictions on Indian, Russian and Chinese tourists was hailed by the tourism sector in the Sultanate. A statement issued by Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) read, "All passengers from India, China and Russia, who reside in or hold an entry visa to one of the following countries (United States of America, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Schengen states) are allowed to obtain non-sponsored tourist visa to enter Oman as per the applied terms and conditions of the authorities."