Omran Announces Completion of Construction at Madinat Al Irfan Theatre

PRESS RELEASE

OCEC, Muscat 15 October 2019

THE THEATRE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE BEST AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNOLOGIES

Muscat – 15TH Oct 2019: Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) — the Sultanate's executive arm for tourism development — announced its successful completion of the construction work package of Madinat Al Irfan Theatre as part of Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) project.
OCEC has recently hosted regional and international events within the framework of the soft-launch of the OCEC theatre and has received bookings for various events and activities from companies and institutions wishing to hold grand occasions as well as artistic, cultural and recreational performances.

Madinat Al Irfan Theatre is the largest lyric theatre in the Sultanate and one of the largest theatres in the region which serves as a one-stop destination for businesses and events industry. Equipped with adequate facilities and supporting tourism assets, OCEC will become the preferred choice for various events and activities in the Sultanate, thus contributing to boosting the Sultanate's reputation as a world-class tourist destination.

Commenting on the successful completion of the construction work package of Madinat Al Irfan Theatre, Senior VP of OCEC project Eng. Said Bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi said, "We are so proud that we have successfully completed the construction works of Madinat Al Irfan Theatre, the latest OCEC facility. We are now preparing for completing the final package of the project. The theatre stands out as one of OCEC major facilities designed in accordance with the highest international standards. As a major OCEC facility, the theatre will contribute to enriching the arts and culture activities in the Sultanate and will also act as a major destination for events and a unique tourist attraction for tourists."

"OCEC is distinguished with its strategic location in the capital city of Muscat and is considered the first major project carried out by Omran in Madinat Al Irfan — the future urban destination for visitors from and outside the Sultanate," added Al-Qasimi.

"We welcome all companies specialized in the organization of grand events to Madinat Al Irfan Theatre which serves as an ideal platform for enriching the experience of OCEC customers and visitors interested in attending and holding various events in accordance with the highest international standards," said Said Bin Salim Al Shanfari OCEC's CEO.

"The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art Audio Visual (AV) and lighting technologies. The cabling infrastructure of the theatre is equipped with titanium cables for lighting that provides high-resolution colours using ArtNet technology. The theatre is also equipped with a world-class sophisticated sound system in line with an internal broadcast video system which screens high-resolution video programs saved on standard spaces," added the CEO.

It is worth mentioning that the design of Madinat Al Irfan Theatre was inspired by Sultan Qaboos Rose. It is a three-story building which can accommodate up to 3200 people. An iconic landscape in urban Muscat, the theatre will serve as the region's unique platform for organization of cultural events, art performance and conferences. The theatre adopts the highest conferences management standards for organization and includes 19 separate conference rooms in addition to an auditorium with a capacity of 456 people.

The OCEC also has two additional ballrooms. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 2688 people and can be divided into fully equipped six separate halls. The Junior Ballroom accommodates up to 1026 people and can be divided into two halls of equal space depending on the requirement of the organiser.

The completion of the second and final phase of the project will boost the Sultanate's capacity to provide integrated facilities for hosting local, regional and international conferences, exhibitions, meetings, and special events. As a driving factor for businesses and tourism movement in the Sultanate, the project is expected to contribute to the economic diversification agenda and to act as one of the sources of the national economy. Moreover, it will strengthen the efforts undertaken by the Sultanate to provide new job opportunities for Omani youth as well as business opportunities for local companies and small and medium enterprises.
              
For press inquiries and image requests, please contact:
Manal Al Kiyumi
Marketing & Communications Manager
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
Telephone: +968 9258 5501
Email: malkiyumi@ocec.om
 
NOTE TO EDITORS

About OCEC
The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is located in its own fully integrated precinct only four kilometres from Muscat International Airport.  The design of the Centre ensures a flow of the meeting spaces to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organisers. It also incorporates expansive concourse areas to enable ease of large delegations with floor to ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens and water features.

The Centre features two-tiered auditoriums to seat 3,200 and 450, while the five exhibition halls feature 22,396 square metres of column-free exhibition space. Hall 1 acts as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances and gala dinners on a larger scale. Halls 1 & 2 combined can seat over 10,000 seated in theatre-style.
The Centre also includes an additional 20 meeting rooms for 25-360 delegates, the Grand Ballroom seats up to 1,100 guests for a sumptuous banquet and 2688 in theatre style, Junior Ballroom seats up to 540 guests for a banquet and 1026 in theatre style, 10 hospitality suites, and a VIP Pavilion. In total the Centre offers over 55 meeting spaces plus a multi-storey car park with a capacity for 4,000 vehicles.

The Precinct provides the infrastructure necessary to host successful international, regional and local events and is there for the enjoyment of delegates, visitors and the local community. The precinct includes a JW Marriott Hotel (five star) linked to the Convention Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel (four star). A business park, surrounded by a nature reserve, which is a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife, together with parklands and a wadi (valley), are also part of this picturesque precinct.
 
About OMRAN
Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (Omran) drives the investment, growth and development of the rapidly growing tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The company is the master developer of major tourism, heritage, urban and mixed-use projects, delivering some of nation’s most visionary and iconic destinations. As the leading executive government arm for tourism development, Omran has a proven track record of delivering tourism and related projects to a world-class standard, due to our core philosophy of sustainability, transparency and partnering with renowned regional and international investors.