Located within driving distance of the UAE, Muscat is a great option for a quick getaway. And with the first Avani hotel in the sultanate having opened earlier this year, quick escapes to Oman can also be pocket-friendly.
Promising stylish rooms and apartments that fuse modern vibes with coastal colours and plenty of traditional Omani touches, the four-star hotel has spacious rooms, with options that can sleep up to six people, making it ideal if you're a larger family or big group.
The National checked in to find out what Avani's Omani foray has to offer.
The welcome
Less than a 15-minute drive from Muscat International Airport, the debut hotel for the Avani brand in Oman awaits.
After driving down from Dubai, we self-park in the ample car park but valet is available and reception staff offer smiles and a warm welcome as we enter the brightly lit lobby where coastal turquoise colours and an intrinsic lantern chandelier set the scene.
Our room's wooden key card is a nod to the brand's regard for sustainability.
The neighbourhood
Located in Seeb, to the west of the capital, Avani Muscat has a good location for those visiting on a short break who don’t want to waste too much time going from airport to hotel.
While it’s not the most exciting of settings, it’s a handy spot for scuba divers and boating enthusiasts as it’s only a 10-minute drive to Seeb Marina. Retail therapy is also right on the hotel doorstep via Al Araimi Boulevard where there are also fountains, restaurants, cafes, a children's play centre and a cinema.
The room
We’re staying in a superior one-bedroom suite that’s an impressive 66 square metres in size and has a huge king-sized bed, plenty of wardrobe space and a bathroom with double sinks and a rain shower.
The open-plan suite has a spacious lounge with striking silver pendant lighting, marble floors and cosy Arabesque-style rugs. There’s also a dining area and a generous-sized kitchen that comes equipped with a fridge, hob, coffee maker, washing machine and everything else you might need if you want to self-cater or book an extended visit.
There’s no balcony but large windows have views over the palm-lined family swimming pool below.
The scene
Aimed at business and leisure travellers, this hotel is popular with locals and Arab families. Children can attend the Avani Kids club where they have daily activities and entertainment and the courtyard swimming pool is the hub of the hotel, with cabanas, loungers and umbrellas dotted along its outskirts.
The AvaniFit studio is small, but has everything needed for a good workout and all of the equipment is state-of-the-art. The AvaniSpa was not open during our visit, however it is now welcoming guests.
The hotel also looks like it will be popular for weddings. It is home to a 1,000-square-metre ballroom, and we see several wedding preparations under way during our stay.
The food
The Pantry is open for light bites and snacks in the evenings while the Patio Bar serves a varied menu poolside. A 24-hour in-room dining is also available and it is worth noting that Avani Muscat is an unlicensed hotel.
All-day eatery Trisis serves Omani and Middle Eastern fare as well as international dishes, several with a Creole slant. The electronic menu can be a little bit tricky to navigate, with dishes appearing in sections that you might not expect.
We have lunch here after a long drive from Dubai and go for the Trisis beef burger (Omani rial 7.8), which has tender Wagyu beef topped with crispy turkey bacon and served with French fries. It’s a good portion size and the flavours are nice, but it takes a very long time to be served. So long in fact that our other dish — a green creole mango salad (Omani rial 4) is long finished by the time the burger comes. The salad is tangy and fresh, loaded with mangos, tomatoes, onions and with a spicy lemon dressing.
The service
Genuinely warm and inviting, staff at Avani Muscat are eager to please but don’t expect things to be speedy — this hotel definitely operates on Omani time. Service at Trisis is friendly enough, but incredibly slow. Don’t go too hungry as you’ll be waiting a long time for your food.
The Digital Host app is a great addition to the service, allowing guests to easily request services or order room service from their phones.
Highs and lows
Recently opened, the hotel is fresh and bright and the rooms are spacious. The pool is a good size for swimming and there’s plenty of sunloungers and cabanas for everyone.
The low point is the slow service. On our last day, our key stops working and we have to go down to reception to have it reactivated. With only one person behind the reception desk, we wait nearly 15 minutes, which isn’t ideal when you’re standing in wet swimwear.
The insider tip
Our room overlooks the courtyard pool which is a nicer option than the surrounding car parks, but one you might want to give up if you’re a light sleeper. The sound of people swimming, chatting and yelling until the small hours can be distracting.
The verdict
A budget-friendly stay that’s a short drive from the airport and close to a sizeable mall, this is a good pick for business travellers or families who are more comfortable in an alcohol-free hotel.
The bottom line
Room rates start from Dh229 per night. Check-in is at 3pm, and check-out is by noon; www.avanihotels.com
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel during the global coronavirus pandemic. It reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future
INFO
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 65 69 65 69 - 12-under-par
2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 - 4-under
T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 - 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 - 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE) 68 72 69 67 - 4-under
Specs
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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SPECS
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
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Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Keita 5', Firmino 26'
Porto 0
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Sri Lanka squad
Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Roshen Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Charith Asalanka, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
THE CARD
2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m
3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m
3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m
4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m
4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m
Naga
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The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
SPECS
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km
