Travel and Accommodation

• It is the delegate’s responsibility to obtain their own travel visa where applicable. SPE cannot issue visas, nor can we guarantee they will be obtained. An automated visa invitation letter link will be available in the confirmation email once the delegate completes the registration. 
• Various nationalities can obtain an e-visa to Oman. Please visit the following link to apply and confirm eligibility https://evisa.rop.gov.om/.
• To determine which visa type to apply for, visit: https://evisa.rop.gov.om/visa-eligibility. 

This is a non-residential conference. Hotel accommodation is not included in your registration fee. 

SPE has negotiated a discounted room rate with Crowne Plaza Muscat Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre Hotel for this conference that you can take advantage of.

• Rooms are available for booking at the below discounted rate from 20 to 24 April 2024. If you require additional nights, kindly contact the hotel (hotel contact is listed below).
• Special rate of OMR 49.14 for Superior Room on Single Occupancy basis, inclusive of breakfast.
• The above rate is inclusive of 22.850 % taxes & VAT.
• Second person sharing will be charged OMR 5 + 22.85% Taxes & VAT.
• For reservations:
  - Phone / WhatsApp: +96891345205 or
  - Email at mathew.deepak@ihg.com
• Discounted room rates are subject to hotel room availability and are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• Kindly book on or before 4 April 2024 to avail the discounted room rate.
• Hotel Address: Al Jamaa Al Akbar Street, Madinat Al Irfan, Adjacent to Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

• Local taxis are available and reliable to use from/to the airport.
• Airport transfers may also be booked with Crowne Plaza Muscat Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre Hotel
  Rate:        OMR 12 per car per way
  Contact:   Email rooms.cpmuscatocec@ihg.com to book

Traveling to the OCEC:

• Two-morning shuttles will be available for delegates staying at the Crowne Plaza OCEC.
  • The first bus departs for the OCEC at 8:30 AM.
  • The second bus departs for the OCEC at 8:45 AM.

Returning to the Hotel:

• Two evening shuttles will take delegates back to the Crowne Plaza OCEC.
  • The first bus departs from the OCEC at 6:00 PM.
  • The second bus departs from the OCEC at 6:15 PM.

Please note: Be sure to arrive at the designated pick-up location at the hotel a few minutes before the scheduled departure time.

​​​​​​SPE Event Standard Safety Guidelines
SPE adheres to the safety regulations issued by local authorities in Oman. Those measures are subject to change in alignment with Oman Authorities. 

Are face masks mandatory?
No, wearing a face mask is now optional. 

Ticketing and Registration Process
Admission is strictly by advance registration only. The registration service desk will only be open to print and provide name badges to registered delegates. 

Additional Information
For updated Oman entry procedures, please visit: https://www.experienceoman.om/

History of the Area:
Muscat, Oman’s port capital, sits on the Gulf of Oman surrounded by mountains and desert. Today more than 800,000 people live in the Greater Muscat Area, which includes various neighbouring cities, such as Ruwi and Matrah. Visit Experience Oman to find out more. 

Weather:
The Climate of Oman can be described as subtropical dry, hot desert climate with low annual rainfall, very high temperatures in summer and a big difference between maximum and minimum temperatures, especially in the inland areas. Summer (June to September) is very low rainfall. Daily maximum temperatures can reach easily 40°C or more. Winter is cooler with occasional rainfall.

Time Zone:
Oman is 4 hours ahead of GMT (+4 GMT), UTC +4 (Standard Time)

Currency:
The official currency of the Oman is the Omani Rial (OMR). Equivalent to USD 2.597 pegged. Each Rial is divided into into 1000 baisa (also written baiza).  Currency exchange houses are open until late in the evening. All international credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Currency Converter

Business Hours:
Oman’s official business week is Sunday-Thursday, with the weekend being Friday and Saturday. Banks, Embassies and Consulates are generally open from 8am-12 noon.

Electricity:
220/240 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. Standard British-type 13-amp square three-pin plugs are used throughout the country. European or US-made appliances may need a plug adapter.

Dress:
As in all Middle Eastern countries, respect for the local customs and sensibilities is recommended. Short, revealing or tight clothing can be worn, but it will attract attention. Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but something slightly warmer may be needed in the evening for the winter months.

Language:
While Arabic is the official language, English is very widely spoken, especially in business. Several other languages are also used in everyday life, headed by Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam and Tulu.