Oman's Civil Aviation Authority said on Friday that tropical storm Shaheen was expected to intensify into a Category 1 tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours and directly affect coastal areas, including the capital Muscat, from Sunday.
"The centre of the storm is about 650 kilometres away from Muscat Governorate and the closest convective clouds band associated with the storm is about 500km away," the authority said on Twitter.
The storm moved from eastern Pakistan and is heading towards the eastern Omani town of Ras Al Hadd. The public was advised to take precautions, keep away from low lying areas and avoid crossing wadis.
Residents in Ras Al Hadd and the next town of Sur told The National they are taking the warnings of the storm seriously.
“There are hardly any cars on the roads now. The marketplace is empty and very few shops in the streets are open. The sky is overcast and is getting darker every minute. We hope it will not be as bad as predicted by the met office report,” said Mohammed Al Mukhaini, 38, in Ras Al Hadd.
Farmers also say that are readying for the worst and moving their farming equipment to safety.
“I have already put all my farming machineries and tools in the shed but I am worried about my crops, like fruits and vegetables, which are growing very nicely now. Let’s hope when the storm comes, it will not be as bad as predicted,” said Khamis Al Musallam, 44, a farmer in Sur, in the eastern region.
Fishermen are also worried because their boats are more vulnerable, anchored on the beach, but are hoping for the best.
“We cannot take our boats home. We pulled them to the beach and we hope the weight of anchors on the sands will secure them from the strong winds. We can only carry home nets and the outboard machines, which we are now loading in our trucks,” said Ali Al Junaibi, a fishermen from Sur.
The last storm to hit Oman struck in July during Eid Al Adha, causing floods, ruining crops and disrupting electricity and water connections.
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
