A stalwart in Oman’s luxury travel scene, The Chedi Muscat has been welcoming guests for nearly two decades — and it will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023.
Renovated in 2019, when new suites and rooms with terraces were added, the hotel promises a stunning seaside stay and has a superb reputation in the sultanate. The National paid a visit to see if the GHM hotel is still worth the hype.
The welcome
In the heart of Muscat, just off 18th November Street, the drive into The Chedi Muscat sets the tone for a distinct change of pace. Leafy palm trees line the driveway and the white-walled resort sits on top of the road like a peaceful sanctuary waiting to whisk us away from the city.
Valet staff quickly take the car, our luggage is carried away and we’re ushered inside the low-rise building where the most divine smelling frankincense wafts towards us from a traditional incense burner. The lobby appears as if it is a tented majlis, with huge white drapes, low Arabian-style seating and Omani dates and coffee on demand.
Within a few minutes, we’re escorted to our room, where our cases have already been delivered, and receive a detailed overview of the hotel’s facilities, restaurants and activities to help us get our bearings in this 21-acre resort.
The neighbourhood
This sprawling property has expansive gardens and a private beachfront, as well as a luxury spa and several dining outlets. If you do want to venture further afield the city is right on your doorstep. The Mall of Oman, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Royal Opera House are all around a 10-minute drive away.
The safety measures
Oman has recently dropped all Covid-19 safety measures. On our visit, masks were still mandatory in indoor public places, but guests were not required to wear them in restaurants or when outdoors.
The room
We’re in a Chedi Club Suite that is both understated and impressive. Reached via a set of stone stairs, we enter into a majlis-style living room, complete with traditional Omani wooden features including window shades that help keep out the mid-day heat.
There's a door leading to a private balcony where a sun lounger and al fresco dining area offer views over the water features. Nothing is flashy, instead it's rustic and entirely welcoming.
The bedroom has a Japanese essence to it thanks to low hanging lanterns and a bed that appears to float in the middle of the room. Through another door is a huge darkened bathroom, with his and hers sinks on opposite sides of the room, a rainforest shower, toilet and inviting sunken Jacuzzi-style bathtub.
The scene
This hotel is geared towards high end travel. It's home to Oman's longest swimming pool — an impressive 103 metres — a shaded family pool and a beachfront pool with huge cabana daybeds. Two of the pools are reserved for adults only, so it's great for couples seeking a romantic stay.
The resort is the brainchild of French starchitect Jean-Michel Gathy. And, after almost 20 years, the hotel remains a gorgeous fusion of chic coastal living, Omani architecture and Asian influences.
A 370-metre stretch of private coastline provides direct access to the ocean and while it’s not the most pristine beach we’ve ever strolled on, it captures Oman’s rugged spirits, with crashing waves spilling onto the shore as seagulls call overhead.
The hotel’s spa offers a varied menu of massages, body treatments, restorative baths, facials and beauty services.
We try the Moroccan Rhassoul Envelopment which is based on traditional Middle Eastern treatments.
During the two-hour treatment, we're exfoliated, polished, bathed and massaged with eucalyptus-scented black soap, rose water, Moroccan rhassoul mud and argan oil in what can only be described as the ultimate pamper session while sipping peppermint tea overlooking the ocean below.
Elsewhere, there's a large fitness suite where guests can join complimentary yoga classes, a gift shop with a well-curated selection of souvenirs, handicrafts and essentials and a Club Lounge and courtyard, exclusively for guests staying in club rooms.
The food
All guests can enjoy complimentary daily breakfast at The Restaurant where the buffet is impressive.
There are several places to eat lunch and dinner and we opt for The Beach House; it is located right on the shoreline and offers dining with a side of the sound of waves and a salty sea breeze.
The menu is seafood-focused and makes the most of the treasures from the Gulf of Oman.
We begin with an artistic amuse bouche from the chef consisting of tuna, avocado puree, caviar pearls and more all served on a bed of ice. For starters, we opt for the crusted tuna carpaccio served with mango ($36), an unlikely but harmonious pairing, and the scallops with green pea and leek fondue ($40) which are cooked well and have an enjoyable smoky flavour.
We share the seafood platter ($62) as a main course and, with a couple of sides, it's more than enough for two. With tasty tiger prawns, delicate kingfish, perfectly cooked snapper and wild Omani lobster — it is perfection, enhanced beautifully by the seaside setting.
Dessert is a trio of three: creme brulee, knafeh and chocolate cake delivered to our table and it's a delicious end to a very enjoyable meal.
The service
Friendly, accommodating and efficient when it matters most, although it's quite laid-back Omani-style at other times. Staff keep sun seekers topped up with ice-cold glasses of water and the spa therapists have magic hands.
The waiter at The Beach House clearly knows the menu inside out, and in the Club Lounge, Akon goes out of his way to ensure everyone is well looked after.
Highs and Lows
The cloud-like bed is one of the most comfortable we've slept in and the turn down service leaves the room cool and dark for your return so you can sink straight into it. There's also something decidedly tranquil about a stay here, and the resort envelops you in its serenity without you even really noticing.
There are two main lows.
Due to its beachfront location, the hotel attracts seagulls and with it, remnants of their lunch. We spot bits of dead fish, rice and other foreign objects floating in the long pool and while it might be natural, it really needs to be removed from the water more often.
Secondly, the sheer number of plastic bottles being used in the rooms is a low — in 2022, five-star hotels need to do better when it comes to options for drinking water.
The insider tip
Book a club suite. It will cost you a bit more but is worth it as you will have return airport transfers, daily afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canape hour, plus a complimentary minibar that's restocked each day.
Request a sea-facing suite to really make the most of the hotel’s beachfront location — the hotel's myriad water features are nice but can't compare with the ocean.
The verdict
A long-time favourite that’s still worth a visit especially after its revamp. While it might command higher rates than some of its neighbours, The Chedi Muscat delivers something that little bit special.
The bottom line
Rooms at The Chedi Muscat start from Omani Riyals 110 ($290), including taxes and breakfast. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out is at noon.
The Chedi Muscat - a GHM hotel; 113 18th November Street Muscat, Oman; ghmhotels.com
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
WORLD CUP SQUAD
Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep
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The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
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Virtual banks explained
What is a virtual bank?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.
What’s the draw in Asia?
Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.
Is Hong Kong short of banks?
No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Pots for the Asian Qualifiers
Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
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Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
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The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
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Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
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