Muscat, May 9th 2015 - The Information Technology Authority (ITA), Oman International Trade and Exhibitions (OITE) and the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) have proudly announced that OCEC is to be the new home for COMEX, Oman's premier communications and IT exhibition. The leading edge venue will provide a platform from which to propel the popular event to even greater success and increase participation.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, ITA, CEO remarked; "COMEX , the region's leading ICT Trade Fair; is, without a doubt, a key event for the mission of the Information Technology Authority (ITA) to highlight the latest trends, opportunities and knowledge on ICT under the e.oman umbrella. COMEX is then along with Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre represent a great platform for all government entities, International IT expertise and local businesses to boost ICT and innovation which, in return, attracts more local and global investment opportunities to the Sultanate."

"OCEC is proud to host COMEX 2016 and to be the future home base for this most prestigious event," said Trevor McCartney, OCEC General Manager who went on to congratulate ITA and OITE on the resounding success of COMEX 2015. "COMEX has an incredible reputation - it is an extremely powerful brand - and the whole OCEC Team is greatly looking forward to building on the enormous achievements of COMEX 2015. Indeed we are already liaising with OITE and exploring how the Centre can best showcase and help grow the event while delivering a truly memorable and rewarding experience for both visitors and participants."

"COMEX 2016 will be the first of our portfolio of events to be held at the OCEC and given the incredible venue and its superb facilities, I have no doubt that the success of COMEX 2016 will eclipse that of its predecessors," observed Tarek Ali, General Manager of OITE, adding, "OCEC is powering the events industry in Oman into an exciting new era and COMEX 2016 is already looking to be bigger in size and better in quality as compared to the 2015 edition."

Set to be a major global player in the business events industry, the OCEC signed an agreement with OITE earlier in the year as part of its commitment to supporting local partners and business by forging strong and sustainable relationships to help maximise benefits countrywide and with the intention of building world-leading events in Oman.

Phase One of the iconic and highly-anticipated OCEC will open in February 2016, an occasion which will place the spotlight on Oman as an innovative and leading edge events hub and that will change the face of the industry in the region. It is anticipated that domestic exhibitions will attract in excess of 200,000 visitors to OCEC in its first year of operation and over 600,000 per annum on completion.

About the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
Opening in 2016, 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 will ensure a flow of the meetings space to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organisers. It also incorporated expansive concourse areas to enable ease of large delegations with floor to ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens and water features.

The Centre will feature two tiered auditorium to seat 3,200 and 450 while the five exhibition halls will feature 22,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space. Hall 1 will have a superior fit out, specialised acoustic treatment, advanced lighting and rigging requirements to act as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances, gala events on a larger scale. Halls 1 & 2 combined will seat up to 10,000 seated, theatre-style.

The Centre will also include an additional 13 meeting rooms for 80-300 delegates, two well-appointed ballrooms to seat up to 2,360, 10 hospitality suites, VIP Pavilion, a spacious food-court and a multi-storey car park with capacity for 4,000 vehicles.

The Precinct will provide the infrastructure necessary to host successful international, regional and local events and for the enjoyment of the community. These include a five star hotel linked to the convention centre, two four star, and a three star hotel and apartments with a combined total of 1,000 rooms.  A business park, retail shopping mall surrounded by a nature reserve which will be a haven for Oman's exotic birdlife, parklands and wadi (valley) park are also part of this picturesque precinct. www.omanconvention.com

About AEG Ogden
AEG Ogden is an Australian controlled joint venture between Australian venue management interests and AEG Facilities of the United States.

AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific region, including convention centres in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Hyderabad (currently in design), Oman (opening 2016), the ICC Sydney (opening December 2016) and the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; arenas including the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and the adjacent Sports Centre, Sydney's Allphones Arena, the Qantas Credit Union Arena (formerly the Sydney Entertainment Centre), the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Perth Arena; and live theatres including Perth's His Majesty's Theatre, Perth Concert Hall, the WA State Theatre Centre, Albany Entertainment Centre, and Subiaco Arts Centre. www.aegogden.com

In addition, AEG Facilities was recently announced as operator of both the Los Angeles Convention Centre and Hawaii Convention Centre.

Media contact:
Shaza Taher
Associate Media Relations Director
TRACCS
Email: shaza.taher@traccs.net
To download imagery to support this release visit www.omanconvention.com/Gallery/Centre_Images.aspx

© Press Release 2015