Oman Convention Centre all set to open its doors

Muscat: One of Muscat’s most-awaited projects, the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (OCEC’s) phase one will open its doors in mid-September and preparations are underway for the same, according to Trevor McCartney, general manager, OCEC.
“OCEC is set in its own purpose built precinct in Madinat Al Irfan, the new vibrant heart of Muscat, owned and developed by Omran, and is surrounded by a lush green nature reserve. Designed for the convenience and the comfort of delegates with a strong Omani character, the precinct will include four luxury hotels.” “Already in progress are the five-star JW Marriot, and the four-star Crowne Plaza, both of which are set to open in 2017. There will also be a 127,000 square metre shopping mall, which is being developed by Al Futtaim. A business park is also planned, as well as a variety of leisure offerings.”
McCartney said, the idea is to make sure that the venue is unforgettable, reflecting the full warmth of Omani hospitality and the unique personality of the Sultanate. “It is our goal that every visitor and every delegate to the OCEC enjoys a peerless, memorable, one-of-a-kind experience.”
In its first year, OCEC will focus on supporting Oman’s exhibition industry. Leveraging its 22,000 square metres of flexible exhibition space and its state-of-the-art facilities, OCEC will help local shows grow and achieve their full potential in the international arena. “Amongst the Omani events we will be proudly hosting are the construction expo Infra Oman, the education fair EduTrac Oman and the leading International Plastics, Rubber, Petrochemicals, Printing and Packaging Industry Exhibition OmanPlast. We will also be hosting niche events, such as December’s IGN Convention, a major youth-focused gaming event,” he said.
In its inaugural year, OCEC expects to attract over 450,000 visitors, “Over the next seven years, we will welcome on average 600,000 visitors each year and host over 400 different events, always with a focus on the sectors targeted in Vision 2040, including health, tourism, IT, transport and logistics, food, energy, manufacturing, fisheries and environment.”
The OCEC Business Development Team has been promoting the OCEC overseas since 2010. With a focus on markets that will deliver events aligned with Vision 2040 concentrating their efforts for the most part on India, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Benelux and Germany, and regional businesses. Although the team at OCEC is multi-national and chosen for their expertise and experience, over 60 per cent of them are Omani.
“We are very excited about the contribution they will make to the success of the OCEC and their future prospects as events industry leaders. More important than the direct job opportunities at OCEC are the 24,000 employment opportunities it is expected to create in supporting industries and SMEs by 2025.” Phase two of the centre is due to open in December 2017 and has been crafted to attract world-class entertainers and performers while also catering for international congress events.
With an elegant 450-seat auditorium and 19 meeting rooms, the Centre will also include a Grand Ballroom to seat up to 2,688 people theatre style or 1,200 for a banquet, a Junior Ballroom to seat up to 1,026 theatre style or 540 for a banquet.