Gulf | Oman
Organisers ban single men from entering Muscat Festival venue
Putting the emphasis on families, the organisers of the Muscat Festival, which starts January 21, have decided to bar single men from visiting the brand new venue for the annual event - Al Sahwa Gardens near the Muscat International Airport.
- By Sunil K. VaidyaBureau Chief
- Published: 22:07 December 30, 2007
Muscat: Putting the emphasis on families, the organisers of the Muscat Festival, which starts January 21, have decided to bar single men from visiting the brand new venue for the annual event - Al Sahwa Gardens near the Muscat International Airport.
"The newly-opened Al Sahwa Gardens will be the venue and entry will be restricted only to women, children and families," Khaleel Al Balushi, Deputy Director of Information Department at the Muscat Municipality, told Gulf News on Sunday.
He also revealed that the duration of the festival was reduced this year to 25 days from 40 days last time.
"For the last three years, the festival was coinciding with the Eid holidays thus we held it over a longer period," Al Balushi said, explaining the reason behind the shortened festival.
One of the main festival venues, Qurum Nature Park, was badly affected during tropical cyclone Gonu last June and today the park is still not open to the public.
"The work is on at a hectic pace to restore the park and put back every facility there and we are confident it will be ready to host the festival for the tenth year running," he said.
He pointed out that although the festival duration was short for 2008, the area was expanded considerably. Al Sahwa Gardens, set on an area of about 300,000 square metres, is designed to give visitors a chance to relax amid a garden setting in the vicinity of Muscat International Airport.
Exclusivity
"This is a very big venue and exclusively reserved for women and children's activities," he said.
Another new area will be Qurum Business District. "There will be various kinds of trade and entertainment activities at the Qurum area from Wednesday to Friday during the festival," he added. With the main venue Qurum Nature Park, also known as Rose Garden, within walking distance, the area is expected to become the hub of the festival that will conclude on February 15.
Khaleel pointed out that the other venues, Global Village with rides in Azaiba, sporting activities during weekends at the Seeb Beach would continue this year too. Last year, Muscat Festival coincided with the Dubai Shopping Festival and this year also both festivals will run concurrently.
The organisers had insisted last year also that both festivals complement each other rather than compete and this year also Muscat Municipality officials are confident that the event will be successful.
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