BIG ASPIRATIONS
As the largest owner of hotels and resorts in Oman, OMRAN is planning to launch an IPO to give local and international investors the opportunity to invest in one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the Middle East.
BIOGRAPHY
Peter Walichnowski joined OMRAN as CEO in 2017. He has over 35 years of experience in international real estate development, investment, and corporate management across Australia, the UK, North Asia, and the Middle East. Just in the Middle East, Walichnowski has 14 years of experience in holding CEO positions with large property companies including Majid Al Futtaim Properties. Before moving to the Middle East, he was CEO of Lend Lease Europe and Executive Director at Land Securities PLC, the UK's largest listed property group. He graduated with a degree in architecture and has completed post graduate programs at IMD and Harvard Business School.
Can you give us an overview of how operations have evolved in the past 12 months and the implication of recent developments?
We still have our ongoing joint ventures and partnerships with regional and international investors doing six large, long-term integrated tourism projects (ITCs). In 2018, we opened the Crowne Plaza OCEC; in 2019, we opened the W Hotel Muscat, targeting both the international and domestic market; and in 2020, there is the opening of the JW Marriot OCEC, as well as the start of a third hotel in Madinat Al Irfan. This means we will complete our plan of having a three-, four- and five-star hotel service the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre (OCEC). The joint venture with Majid Al Futtaim at Madinat Al Irfan kicked off in 2019 and in 2020 we will see the start of Phase I, which will cover 250,000sqm of mixed-use developments. Another achievement in 2019 was the completion of the Omantel Head Office in our Madinat Al Irfan Business Park. We also opened two “Atana Stay" hotels in Al Ashkhara and Salalah.
Madinat Al Irfan is often dubbed the smart city of Oman. What is your definition of a smart city?
A smart city is when various software and hardware elements are built into the infrastructure of the city and are integrated to provide a sustainable business and social lifestyle for the community, and create an environment for entrepreneurship and innovation. A smart city enables people and systems to work together to allow people to design how they want to live, work, and socialize, and use resources more efficiently and sustainably. Smart cities are not isolated as they will be able to connect with other smart infrastructure across the country and the world.
Looking at the broader segment, what is your assessment of Oman as a tourist destination?
We will see more investment from the private sector in hospitality as well as growth in the number of SMEs servicing the tourism sector. OMRAN has been a major driver of new hotels in Oman and has opened up some strategic locations such as Jebel Akhdar, Musandam, and Salalah, which were identified in the 2040 Strategic Tourism Plan as focus areas for tourism growth. Private companies are now beginning to develop these areas, which means the government can use its resources in new areas. The government has given a lot of confidence to investors by investing in key infrastructure, including tourism anchors like the OCEC complex and ITCs. Oman is now looking at implementing a more convenient “one-stop shop" approach to provide investors with the kind of market information that will help them arrive at an appropriate investment decision.
What are the major trends in Oman, and how are you incorporating them in your asset management strategy?
Asset management looks at how our assets engage the tourism sector more. For this reason, our asset management strategy is both financial and experiential, since our hotels need to create an authentic Omani experience that connects tourists with the local culture, history, and people. We seek to create more in-country value in terms of supplying goods, services, and experiences, and Omani SMEs will play a major part in that push.
Where do we stand in terms of asset privatization in the real estate market?
OMRAN has focused its efforts on the hospitality sector and is now the largest owner of hotels and resorts in Oman. OMRAN has been developing new hotels and renovating old properties to create value and make them attractive for the private sector. Our preferred option is to create a new investment company that will own the largest and best hotel assets and then sell 49% of the shares to both local and regional investors. In three to five years, our plan is to launch is an IPO and be listed on Muscat Securities Market. A listed hospitality company would give local and international investors the opportunity to invest in one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the Middle East.
BIG ASPIRATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Future foreign policy
Friends to all, enemy to none
In championing the late Sultan Qaboos' non-interference foreign policy, the new ruler of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, is determined to work for friendship and peace, justice and harmony, and coexistence and positive constructive dialogue.
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David Kalife, CEO, Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO)
Despite Oman's fuel market slowing down, OOMCO increased its sales volume of lubricants by 36% in 2019 and is constructing a greenfield bunker terminal at the Port of Duqm. The company has transformed while growing its expertise in Marketing and Digital.
read articleInterview
Azzan Al Busaidi, CEO, Ithraa
Azzan Al Busaidi is an expert in competitiveness and economic growth. He was appointed CEO of Ithraa in 2019 after 17 years spent covering managerial roles in the organization. Al Busaidi was previously Ithraa's director general of planning and studies and is a strong advocate of the potential of digitization. He holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde and a BSc in Economics from Sultan Qaboos University.
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Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion & Former Chairman, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Private Omani companies will be able to benefit greatly from the Fourth Industrial Revolution by enhancing their local value-added strategies and upskilling the workforce.
read articleInterview
Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
The Central Bank of Oman's job is to ensure there is adequate liquidity in the system and that banks remain robust and resilient to meet the credit requirements of all segments without undermining financial stability.
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Capital markets
CMA and MSM are supporting Vision 2040 by providing financing to government companies that intend to go public, financing expansion of existing and new IPOs, and widening the investors base in Oman by enhancing and developing the investment funds and insurance industries.
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Khalid Al Balushi, CEO, Khazaen Economic City
International investors and business owners can benefit from Khazaen Economic City's strategic location and its close proximity to the main gateways of the country to import, process, manufacture, distribute locally, and export their goods and services.
read articleFocus: Port 4.0
Destined for greatness
Investments in world-class infrastructure have generated huge rewards for Oman. The goal now is to leverage technology as a disruptive enabler, build human capacity across the public and private logistics sectors, and drive operational efficiencies to build an integrated logistics business environment that is benchmarked against the world's best.
read articleFocus: Gap in tourism services
All bases covered
An amalgamation of local companies and unique experiences in Oman has created an original flavor that is further differentiating Oman's tourism offering from other countries and in the process attracting scores of tourists from all across the world.
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Engineering design
Renardet Engineering Consultants and Design Unit Engineering are recognized experts in their fields. While the former is an international company strongly committed to excellent engineering consultancy services and environmental practices, the latter is an Oman-based team of architects and engineers that incorporates local culture and traditions.
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Construction materials
Oman's construction sector is facing a host of challenges, but Hempel Paints and Al Maha Ceramics are confident that a mix of forward-thinking business models, unique products, and strong government initiatives will help them through turbulent times and generate positive returns in the long run.
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Salim Razvi, CEO, Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA)
Focusing on higher education institutional accreditation, program accreditation, and the updating and maintaining of the Oman Qualifications Framework, OAAA is helping further advance higher education in the Sultanate.
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