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The Sultanate is home to more than two million expats. For many Asian, European and American residents in Oman, the festive season is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. The festive period also attracts an influx of holidaymakers eager to reap the benefits of a warmer climate. In December 2017 alone, Oman witnessed an 82.3 per cent increase in the number of cruise tourists to the Sultanate compared to the previous month. Tourism in Oman grew by almost 5 per cent in 2017, according to recent figures published by the Ministry of Tourism, and the Sultanate intends to boost annual international arrival numbers to 5 million by 2040. Furthermore, Muscat International Airport has the capacity to welcome 20 million visitors per year, with expansion plans to accommodate up to 48 million.

This is great news for Oman’s burgeoning retail sector, which is expected to perform well during the festive holiday season. In anticipation of increased demand, City Centre Muscat and         City Centre Qurum have teamed up with retailers and partners to offer an unrivalled shopping and leisure experience as well as unbeatable holiday promotions. 

Upon entering the mall, visitors are invited to step inside stunning festive wonderlands featuring breath taking winter decorations.

“The festive season is a time for families to come together and enjoy entertainment, shopping and dining, so it is an ideal opportunity for retailers to be innovative and create unique and memorable experiences,” said Husam Al Mandhari – Senior Mall Manager, Oman for Majid Al Futtaim- Properties.

“During the festive period, visitors want to be taken on an immersive journey filled with surprises and special moments that evoke emotion and amazement. At City Centre Muscat, we aim to deliver an exceptional experience from the moment they arrive in the parking lot all the way to the time our visitors are back in their car. We added priority parking bays exclusively for parents with babies, toddlers or young children and expectant mothers as well as designated parking for electric vehicles. Also, visitors do not have to worry about where they parked their cars,” he added. “The parking assist facility installed at City Centre Muscat will find it for them.”

Some retailers have designed in-store attractions to turn the last-minute rush into a race for rewards.

Spokesperson from Alshaya said: “We are delighted to offer customers at City Centre Muscat a great shopping experience for the holiday season. Shoppers can discover fabulous fashion and footwear and a great range of home fragrances, body and skin care, and beauty products across our stores which are perfect for the gifting season.” 

Najib Haddad, Country Manager of Carrefour Oman at Majid Al Futtaim- Retail commented: “At Carrefour Oman, we always look to offer our shoppers products for every season.  We source our items keeping in mind that our customers come from around the world, and our objective is to be a one stop shop for all our shoppers needs, regardless of their requirements.” 

“Be it gifting, or giving an upgrade to one’s lifestyle, festive season has always proved to be a great time. We are very excited to launch exclusive offers in telecom, IT & home appliances categories,” said Suresh Babu, Business Manager at Sharaf DG. 

Watfa Al Harthy, Senior Mall Manager at City Centre Qurum, said: “The retail landscape has transformed, and consumer behaviour and expectations have evolved. All consumers across generations are looking for convenience and a seamless shopping experience. At City Centre Qurum, we create enticing experiences to inspire and connect with our shoppers. We continuously host events that bring families together in meaningful and engaging ways to create great moment for everyone every day.” 

City Centre Muscat and City Centre Qurum are creating an unforgettable festive ambience throughout the holidays and are ready to share the joy of the season with visitors with incredible entertainment, themed activities and exciting prizes to win. Both malls are hosting engaging entertainment for kids and families throughout the month of December.

For more details, visit citycentremuscat.com, citycentrequrum.com and the malls’ social media pages, facebook.com/citycentremuscat and facebook.com/citycentrequrum. For general enquiries, call City Centre Muscat on +968 24 558888 and City Centre Qurum on +968 24 470700.