Gulf | Oman
Muscat Festival sees record number of visitors
The curtain will come down on Muscat Festival 2007 today with Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle performing at a 6,000-capacity amphitheatre as visitors continue to flock to festival sites to make the most of the event's final days.
- By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:00 February 2, 2007
- Models display dresses by Arab designers at a global fashion show organised as part of the Muscat Festival 2007.
- Image Credit:
Muscat: The curtain will come down on Muscat Festival 2007 today with Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle performing at a 6,000-capacity amphitheatre as visitors continue to flock to festival sites to make the most of the event's final days.
One of the show's highlight was an international fashion show on Wednesday organised by Gazelle International at the newly-built amphitheatre at the Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa.
True to the spirit of the festival, tradition and culture were blended with modern designs as the fashion show kicked off with the rhythmic beating of Dhofari drums and folk music from southern Oman.
Well-known designers from the region showcased their designs as Dr Rajiha Bint Abdul Amir Bin Ali, Oman's Tourism Minister enjoyed the show along with Abdullah Bin Abbas Bin Ahmad, Muscat Municipality chief.
"It was a great opportunity for us to give a platform to talented Omani designers at this high profile show," a spokesman for Gazelle International said.
"Our festival is all about the rich Arab culture and heritage therefore the fashion show with Arab models and designers was a perfect event," Khaleel Al Balushi, spokesperson for Muscat Municipality, told Gulf News yesterday.
He said that with the festivities being held for 33 days, this year the Festival witnessed a record number of visitors.
Unusual rush
"The holidays during the Festival also brought in more visitors and we expect the numbers to touch or cross 2.5 million visitors."
Besides residents from Oman, the largest number of visitors were from GCC member states, especially from the neighbouring UAE.
"During the holidays we had an unusual rush of visitors from the UAE," said Al Balushi.
The famous Emirati singer Abdullah Belkhair also came to Muscat to entertain the weekend crowd at Azaiba beach. Algerian singer Khalid, Pakistani singer Atif Eslam, Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam and Lebanese singer Elissa were the entertainers to perform during the Festival in Muscat.
And now legendary Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle will perform today near the Heritage Village in Qurum Nature Park to signal the end of the 33-day-long Muscat Festival.
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