31 January 2010
MUSCAT -- The first project of the Master Plan for 'Beautiful Ruwi' a four-star hotel-cum shopping mall launched recently is all set to be ready by 2011. The RO 6 million West Gate Palace Hotel project, currently under way, is in line with His Majesty the Sultan's vision for a 'Beautiful Ruwi', announced in Royal Decree 05/2010, which envisages the removal of old buildings and re-planning of the City of Ruwi. This was announced here yesterday at a press conference addressed by Sulaiman al Salhi, Chairman, Gulf International Investment Co LLC (GIC).
His other partners, including K K Hussain, Director, and Mohammed Ashraf, General Manager, were also present on the occasion. Ashraf, Managing Director, GIC, said, "the architectural view of the West Gate Palace Hotel will change the present view and skyline of the 'Ruwi High Street, near KM Trading, replacing the earlier landmark, the erstwhile Papoo Market". Hussain said the hotel features 140 rooms, including 6 suites and 134 rooms, 3 theme restaurants, a 24-hour coffee shop (lounge), 3 conference halls with advanced facilities, swimming pool, and a health club.
The ground and mezzanine floors offer 80 shops (50 per cent of them are designed for 'gold shops', 30 per cent exclusively for ladies and kids items and the other 20 per cent for electronics and other general products. The property envisages parking facilities for over 140 cars. The shopping section is scheduled to be up and running by July 2011, while the hotel will be ready by December 2011. In response to a question by Oman Observer, Husaain said in addition to the three million rials from the promoters, GIC has taken a loan of three millions rials from Oman Development Bank for the project.
The construction of the project is being carried out Kehlan Trading and Contracting LLC, who had successfully completed several major projects including the KM Trading. JLP Associates of J L Lawrence Paul, who will become a partner of GIC by July this year, would manage the hotel. The company, which has plans for 40 per cent Omnaisation, said as per the Omani Labour Law those who will be sent abroad for training will have to work for the hotel for a minimum of four years. Hussain said the Gulf International Investment has also planned three hotel projects for Ghubra, Seeb and Salalah, in addition to three projects in India.
Hussain said Ruwi, the commercial and main business district of the Sultanate, is all set to witness the replacement of narrow streets with old buildings, some of them built in early 1970s, with a brand new look as the master place progresses. As the first project of the Ruwi Master Plan, the West Gate Hotel Place in the heart of Ruwi will help advance the vision for a new beautiful Ruwi with a modern business environment and infrastructure.
MUSCAT -- The first project of the Master Plan for 'Beautiful Ruwi' a four-star hotel-cum shopping mall launched recently is all set to be ready by 2011. The RO 6 million West Gate Palace Hotel project, currently under way, is in line with His Majesty the Sultan's vision for a 'Beautiful Ruwi', announced in Royal Decree 05/2010, which envisages the removal of old buildings and re-planning of the City of Ruwi. This was announced here yesterday at a press conference addressed by Sulaiman al Salhi, Chairman, Gulf International Investment Co LLC (GIC).
His other partners, including K K Hussain, Director, and Mohammed Ashraf, General Manager, were also present on the occasion. Ashraf, Managing Director, GIC, said, "the architectural view of the West Gate Palace Hotel will change the present view and skyline of the 'Ruwi High Street, near KM Trading, replacing the earlier landmark, the erstwhile Papoo Market". Hussain said the hotel features 140 rooms, including 6 suites and 134 rooms, 3 theme restaurants, a 24-hour coffee shop (lounge), 3 conference halls with advanced facilities, swimming pool, and a health club.
The ground and mezzanine floors offer 80 shops (50 per cent of them are designed for 'gold shops', 30 per cent exclusively for ladies and kids items and the other 20 per cent for electronics and other general products. The property envisages parking facilities for over 140 cars. The shopping section is scheduled to be up and running by July 2011, while the hotel will be ready by December 2011. In response to a question by Oman Observer, Husaain said in addition to the three million rials from the promoters, GIC has taken a loan of three millions rials from Oman Development Bank for the project.
The construction of the project is being carried out Kehlan Trading and Contracting LLC, who had successfully completed several major projects including the KM Trading. JLP Associates of J L Lawrence Paul, who will become a partner of GIC by July this year, would manage the hotel. The company, which has plans for 40 per cent Omnaisation, said as per the Omani Labour Law those who will be sent abroad for training will have to work for the hotel for a minimum of four years. Hussain said the Gulf International Investment has also planned three hotel projects for Ghubra, Seeb and Salalah, in addition to three projects in India.
Hussain said Ruwi, the commercial and main business district of the Sultanate, is all set to witness the replacement of narrow streets with old buildings, some of them built in early 1970s, with a brand new look as the master place progresses. As the first project of the Ruwi Master Plan, the West Gate Hotel Place in the heart of Ruwi will help advance the vision for a new beautiful Ruwi with a modern business environment and infrastructure.
By Hasan Kamoonpuri
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
