OCEC was in a prime position to facilitate a successful rollout of the Oman Ministry of Health ’ s National

Vaccination Campaign for COVID-19

Yes , OCEC was in a prime position to facilitate a successful rollout of the Oman Ministry of Health ’ s National Vaccination Campaign for COVID19- – in large part due to our capacity to host large numbers of visitors , and our flexibility and experience in providing infrastructure for events of all kinds .

Eng . Said Al Shanfari CEO of Oman Convention & Exhibition Centrre

Could you highlight some points on the Sultanate of Oman as a tourism , and MICE tourism destination ?

The Sultanate of Oman is a multiple award-winning tourism destination that is safe , stable , and easily accessible via the Middle East travel hub of Muscat International Airport . Citizens from 103 countries are allowed to enter without securing a prior tourist visa .

Throughout the country , travelers can avail of awardwinning luxury -5Star establishments , and enjoy a modern communications infrastructure , modern medical infrastructure , excellent road networks , modern malls , and a diverse array of dining options .

The Oman Ministry of Tourism ’ s mantra is “ Beauty has an Address ” – and this beauty can be experienced in Oman ’ s magnificent mountains , deserts , wadis , and along our pristine 3,000 km-plus coastlines . It can also be found in Oman ’ s richly colorful culture . At the heart of this beauty is the warm welcome that the people of Oman bestow on all foreigners traveling to Oman ’ s shores .

As Oman › s premier meetings and conferences venue , OCEC provides a full portfolio of event facilities and amenities …

OCEC is located in its own fully integrated precinct only four kilometers from Muscat International Airport . It features two-tiered auditoriums to seat 3,200 and 456 , while five exhibition halls feature a total of 22,396 m2 of columnfree exhibition space . The Centre also includes 20 meeting rooms , Grand Ballroom , Junior Ballroom , 10 hospitality suites , and a VIP Pavilion . There is also a multi-story car park with a capacity for 4,000 vehicles .

In addition to this , OCEC ’ s Precinct includes a business park , with the -5Star JW Marriott Hotel linked to the OCEC itself , and the -4Star Crowne Plaza Hotel .

For the rollout , OCEC allocated over 100,000 m2 to cater to an expected 10,000 vaccination visitors on a daily basis . As a mark of OCEC ’ s effectiveness , a quick vaccination turn-around time was achieved : From the time of arrival to the time of departure after receiving the vaccination , the journey did not take more than 20 minutes .

Despite the challenges placed on the global MICE industry in recent months due to the COVID19- pandemic , OCEC has successfully re-activated its operations ?

Due to the outbreak of the COVID19- pandemic in early 2020 , OCEC had to place nearly all local , regional and international events on hold for over 16 months . However , by mid2021- , we were once again able to welcome the world through our doors .

It is worth noting that during the pandemic , OCEC was successful in finding “ new solutions for a new normal ”. One such new solution was our adoption of hybrid events – limited-capacity events combined with larger virtual audiences attending the same meeting online . OCEC was also successful in rolling out a range of new services and facilities for event organizers , including a new website with powerful interactive features for event organizers .

In November 2022 , Oman will host the important UFI Global Congress . In addition , OCEC has confirmed a number of international events in the coming months …

Yes , OCEC is confirmed as the host venue for the UFI Global Congress 2022 , which will take place from 17 - 13 November next year . In addition to this , OCEC will host the World Race Walking Team Championships from 6 – 1 March 2022 . This event is being held for the very first time in the Middle East and will attract around 1,700 athletes , plus associated support and logistics teams .

Other highlights coming up include the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships in January 2023 ; the International Atherosclerosis Society Satellite Meeting in February / March 2022 ; and the General Assembly of the International Federation of Journalists in May 2022 .