Oman Travel & Tourism: Oman’s Quality of Life is climbing fast, with the Sultanate scoring 203.89 in Numbeo’s 2026 mid-year index—ranking among the world’s top three for everyday living, driven by strong safety, solid purchasing power, affordable housing and lower living costs. Cricket & Sports Tourism: Oman head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni is using a five-match white-ball series against India’s Goa team (Aug 10–17) as a “checklist” to fine-tune squads ahead of the ACC Premier Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup League 2. Travel Access & Visas: Oman is opening doors wider with a free 14-day tourist visa for travellers from 100+ countries, aiming to boost arrivals and tourism momentum. Regional Travel Watch (Gulf): With the Strait of Hormuz still tense, airlines and airports across the region are urging passengers to check cancellations and terminal changes—Dubai is operating normally, while Kuwait International Airport keeps Terminal 1 closed due to earlier structural damage. Shipping & Energy (Hormuz): Iran and Oman are nearing a framework for Strait of Hormuz shipping, with the US saying it expects a deal soon—key for restoring oil traffic and easing price pressure.