08 April 2009
MUSCAT -- Starting tomorrow, the residents of Sohar will have a new destination to call - Sohar Plaza.
To be inaugurated tomorrow and opening for the public on April 10, the multiplex mall, first of its kind in Sohar with a built-up area of 5,000 square metres and a total area of 7,200 square metres, is all set to change the landscape of the land.
The inauguration will be held under the patronage of Hamad bin Khamis Al A'amri, undersecretary for technical education and vocational training at the Ministry of Manpower; and Jawad Abdul Redha Sultan, chairman of Jawad Sultan Group.
"This is the first state-of-the art full-fledged multiplex mall to come up in Sohar. In fact this concept is new to Oman itself," Aqeel Jawad Sultan, group managing director, Jawad Sultan Group, told Times of Oman.
Sohar Plaza will have 10 branded outlets, six kiosks at the food court, restaurants, children's play area and then, of course, four cinemas under the banner 'City Cinema' with four large screens.
"Among the branded outlets are Capital Store (which will be inaugurated the same day), Omart, Dunkin Donut, Muscat Apollo Trading, Hishmat Opticals, Health For All Pharmacy, Barista, Sweet Factory among others. As for the food court, we are offering a mixed fare Arabian, Indian, Continental, Turkish and Iranian," informed Aqeel Sultan.
"Besides, Silk Route and Khana Khazana will have their branches there," he added.
While seven out of 10 outlets have been taken, three are free.
"We are in talks with a high-end abaya maker, a well-known footwear brand and a different concept chocolate shop for the remaining three," Aqeel Sultan said.
Why did the group think of Sohar as a destination to build the new mall?
"Sohar is a happening town with so many industries and universities. Besides, it is a hub for young people. As we all know they register the maximum footfalls at every mall. Then you have an airport and a railway line coming up there. Sohar is an important destination for Oman," explained Aqeel.
First in Oman
Jawad Sultan Group is most excited about City Cinema being part of Sohar Plaza.
With four "largest" screens, City Cinema in Sohar will be the first in the country, which will soon use a digital projection technology.
"City Cinema is also different in terms of a huge lobby, a big concession area and four screens. It has a seating capacity of 840 seats. This is a major milestone for Jawad Sultan Group as well as Oman's cinema market," says Aqeel Sultan.
What Sohar will see Muscat has not yet seen.
"But the cinema in Shatti Plaza was built in 2000 and now it is 2009. In the meantime technology has changed so we made sure we put all that is new for City Cinema there," said Aqeel Sultan.
Aqeel Sultan feels the film-lovers in Sohar will be the most relieved with the coming up of the multiplex.
"People from the region would go to Al Ain to watch movies. Why should our people go to a neighbouring country to watch a film? This multiplex will surely make people happy," he says.
Aqeel is not worried about opening Sohar Plaza at a time when the world is reeling under the financial crisis.
"As far as cinema is concerned whether people are depressed or happy they want to watch a movie. As for the plaza it is not like we have space for 50 outlets. We have made space only for 10 shops so we don't have to worry. Almost all the shops are rented," he says.
The group is on an expansion mode too.
As a part of its future projects plan, Jawad Sultan Group will be launching City Cinema branches in Buraimi with three screens (this year, Salalah with three screens (2010) and in Muscat with six screens.
More plans
"In Buraimi, we have tied up with Lulu Hypermarket as they are opening a big hypermarket there. We have plans for six screens in Muscat. It is under the planning stage. We can't reveal the exact location now," he smiles.
The group is also planning to put two additional screens in Al Nasr.
The group will also have a devoted phone number for film information.
"Whether it is Sur, Sohar, Ruwi, Shatti, they can call this number for information on films running in these cinemas," he explains.
The group also plans to start online booking of its cinemas starting sometime this month.
"You can book your tickets through the Net. We will start with City Cinema's Shatti and Sohar branches after that we will apply the concept to Sur and Ruwi," Aqeel informs.
Is Oman ready for online booking?
"Yes, of course. I believe it was, a long time ago. But to do online booking you need payment gateway and that started only recently," he says. By Mrudu Naik © Times of Oman 2009
MUSCAT -- Starting tomorrow, the residents of Sohar will have a new destination to call - Sohar Plaza.
To be inaugurated tomorrow and opening for the public on April 10, the multiplex mall, first of its kind in Sohar with a built-up area of 5,000 square metres and a total area of 7,200 square metres, is all set to change the landscape of the land.
The inauguration will be held under the patronage of Hamad bin Khamis Al A'amri, undersecretary for technical education and vocational training at the Ministry of Manpower; and Jawad Abdul Redha Sultan, chairman of Jawad Sultan Group.
"This is the first state-of-the art full-fledged multiplex mall to come up in Sohar. In fact this concept is new to Oman itself," Aqeel Jawad Sultan, group managing director, Jawad Sultan Group, told Times of Oman.
Sohar Plaza will have 10 branded outlets, six kiosks at the food court, restaurants, children's play area and then, of course, four cinemas under the banner 'City Cinema' with four large screens.
"Among the branded outlets are Capital Store (which will be inaugurated the same day), Omart, Dunkin Donut, Muscat Apollo Trading, Hishmat Opticals, Health For All Pharmacy, Barista, Sweet Factory among others. As for the food court, we are offering a mixed fare Arabian, Indian, Continental, Turkish and Iranian," informed Aqeel Sultan.
"Besides, Silk Route and Khana Khazana will have their branches there," he added.
While seven out of 10 outlets have been taken, three are free.
"We are in talks with a high-end abaya maker, a well-known footwear brand and a different concept chocolate shop for the remaining three," Aqeel Sultan said.
Why did the group think of Sohar as a destination to build the new mall?
"Sohar is a happening town with so many industries and universities. Besides, it is a hub for young people. As we all know they register the maximum footfalls at every mall. Then you have an airport and a railway line coming up there. Sohar is an important destination for Oman," explained Aqeel.
First in Oman
Jawad Sultan Group is most excited about City Cinema being part of Sohar Plaza.
With four "largest" screens, City Cinema in Sohar will be the first in the country, which will soon use a digital projection technology.
"City Cinema is also different in terms of a huge lobby, a big concession area and four screens. It has a seating capacity of 840 seats. This is a major milestone for Jawad Sultan Group as well as Oman's cinema market," says Aqeel Sultan.
What Sohar will see Muscat has not yet seen.
"But the cinema in Shatti Plaza was built in 2000 and now it is 2009. In the meantime technology has changed so we made sure we put all that is new for City Cinema there," said Aqeel Sultan.
Aqeel Sultan feels the film-lovers in Sohar will be the most relieved with the coming up of the multiplex.
"People from the region would go to Al Ain to watch movies. Why should our people go to a neighbouring country to watch a film? This multiplex will surely make people happy," he says.
Aqeel is not worried about opening Sohar Plaza at a time when the world is reeling under the financial crisis.
"As far as cinema is concerned whether people are depressed or happy they want to watch a movie. As for the plaza it is not like we have space for 50 outlets. We have made space only for 10 shops so we don't have to worry. Almost all the shops are rented," he says.
The group is on an expansion mode too.
As a part of its future projects plan, Jawad Sultan Group will be launching City Cinema branches in Buraimi with three screens (this year, Salalah with three screens (2010) and in Muscat with six screens.
More plans
"In Buraimi, we have tied up with Lulu Hypermarket as they are opening a big hypermarket there. We have plans for six screens in Muscat. It is under the planning stage. We can't reveal the exact location now," he smiles.
The group is also planning to put two additional screens in Al Nasr.
The group will also have a devoted phone number for film information.
"Whether it is Sur, Sohar, Ruwi, Shatti, they can call this number for information on films running in these cinemas," he explains.
The group also plans to start online booking of its cinemas starting sometime this month.
"You can book your tickets through the Net. We will start with City Cinema's Shatti and Sohar branches after that we will apply the concept to Sur and Ruwi," Aqeel informs.
Is Oman ready for online booking?
"Yes, of course. I believe it was, a long time ago. But to do online booking you need payment gateway and that started only recently," he says. By Mrudu Naik © Times of Oman 2009
