Oman sales and services, trading as Muscat Duty Free has been awarded a 9.5 year concession by Oman Airport Management Company (OAMC) to operate the duty free.
Muscat Duty free is a 50/50 Joint Venture Company between Oman Aviation Services LLC (OAS) and Aer Rianta International (Middle East) WLL (ARI-ME).This forms a perfect partnership as the former is the leading aviation company in the Sultanate of Oman and ARI-ME is the lading international duty free operator in the region.
OAMC has a 25 year concession to operate and develop Seeb and Salalah International Airports. Planning a RO64 million re-development of Seeb International Airport, including:
Duty Free
Muscat Duty Free plans:
Stage 1 (successfully completed)
Stage 2
The official opening of the fully refurbished Muscat Duty Free shop at Seeb International Airport, Oman took place in the first week of June last year.
The shop measuring 1,200 m square is the major retail outlet to open at the airport. The duty free facility incorporates a range of new international products including perfumes and cosmetics, photo-electrical goods, confectionary and an Oman heritage department. There are also dedicated areas for travel accessories, fashion, toys and a walk-in ‘Cuban’ cigar humidor.
The event follows the nine and a half year concession agreement between Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) and Oman Sales and Services LLC, trading as Muscat Duty Free. Oman Sales & Services LLC is a joint venture between Aer Rianta International (Middle East) WWL (ARI-ME) and Oman Aviation Services.
Chairman of OAS and Chairman of OSS/Muscat Duty Free, Said bin Hamdoon bin Saif Al Harthy commented, “Not only have we refitted and doubled the space of the shop, but also installed new state-of-the-art ‘Touch Screen’ point of sale systems and networks. We further initiated retail development and training of our staff in customer service. The introduction of international brands supports the Oman mentality of buying quality items at excellent value for money. Our efforts are supported by an extensive promotions programme to create excitement which was highlighted by our first Summer Promotion ‘Win a Mini Cooper - Free’.
“We have also renovated our Arrivals Shop which is proving a major success and look forward to offering our customers a wider range of ‘quick pick’ promotion products,” he added.
John Sutcliffe, managing director of Aer Rianta International - Middle East said, “Our strategy is to provide an excellent range of choice, quality and value for money facilities at Muscat Duty Free which will compete on equal terms with other duty free facilities in the Gulf region. The awarding of this contract to Oman Sales & Services/Muscat Duty Free combines the extensive regional duty free experience of Aer Rianta International - ME with the vital local experience of Oman Aviation Services, which will make our duty free offer and prices extremely competitive.”
Steve O’Connor, GM of Oman Sales and Services and Muscat Duty Free added that with the arrival of Muscat Duty Free at Seeb International Airport ends an era of frustration for passengers. Now Muscat Duty Free provides an environment and shopping experience that not only compares, but competes, with other duty free shops in the region, while offering extremely competitive prices and promotions across a wide range of merchandise in line with the expectations of our customers.