Oman Daily Observer, 24 January 2024: Oman’s Heritage and Tourism Ministry has announced no new hotel permits are going to be issued in Muscat city and surrounding areas.

The move follows the introduction of new regulations on establishing new hotel establishments which come into force on 1 February. They have been issued to address an imbalance in the distribution of hotels across the country.

The Ministry will not accept any requests for new hotel activities in the Muscat Governorate, except for Quriyat and Al Amerat wilayats.

In Dhofar, the Ministry will stop accepting requests for regular hotel apartments in Salalah. All establishments should follow the classification and quality standards specified in Oman Sultani Decree No. 69/2023 (the Tourism Law) which is aimed at regulating hotel and tourist establishments. Approvals for the establishment of new hotel facilities will be issued according to the project location in the permitted areas.

In Al Wusta no new requests for one and two-star hotels and rest houses in the wilayats of Mahut, Haima and Duqm will be accepted.

In Al Dhakiliyah no new requests for regular hotel apartments, rest houses, one- and two-star hotels, and rest houses in all wilayats of the governorate will be accepted.

In Al Dhahirah no new requests for one and two-star hotels rest houses in the city centre in the wilayat of Ibri and guest houses in the city centre in the wilayat of Ibri will be accepted.

In Al Buraimi no new requests for guest houses, except for the wialayat of Sunaynah will be accepted.

In Musandam no new requests for one-star hotels, rest houses and guest houses in the state of Khasab will be accepted.

In North al Batinah no new requests for one and two-star hotels, rest houses, regular hotel apartments, and hospitality hostels in all wilayats of the governorate will be accepted.

In South al Batinah no stopping hospitality hostels in the states of Barka and al Musannah will be allowed.

No camps will be allowed in any wilayats except Nakhal wilayat.

In North al Sharqiyah construction of one and two-star hotels, rest houses and regular hotel apartments in the wilayat of Ibra will be stopped.

In South al Sharqiyah construction of guest houses and regular hotel apartments will be stopped.

In the wilayat of Sur, construction of two-star hotels will be stopped and construction of one-star hotels and rest houses in all wilayats of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali will be stopped.

All categories and classifications of new hotel projects in Muscat Governorate will be limited to Quriyat and Al Amerat only.

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