CNN’s World of Wonder Spotlights Oman: What This Means for Business and Investment Opportunities in Oman

• By Observer Web Team
• August 31, 2025August 31, 2025
• Oman Richard Quest travel
• With 0 comments

In a milestone episode of CNN’s Quest’s World of Wonder, host Richard Quest celebrates visiting his 100th country with an extraordinary journey through Oman. The programme aired on CNN International on Saturday, August 30.

Quest begins his exploration in Oman’s capital, Muscat, highlighting the city’s unique geography. He notes, “In Oman, geography doesn’t frame the story; it is the story. Take Muscat, a capital that rebels against the ever-prevalent Gulf mantra of taller, bigger. Here is a city with jagged desert mountains on one side, and sails straight into the Indian Ocean on the other, and not a skyscraper in sight.”

In Mutrah Souk, Quest experiences the intricate maze of alleys designed to trap cool air and confuse invaders, immersing himself in the souk’s traditional ambiance.

Oman’s 3,000-kilometre coastline profoundly shapes its culture and cuisine. Quest embarks on a dhow ride with HH Sayyid Taimur Bin Shabib al Said, owner of Hud Hud Travels, venturing to the pristine Daymaniyat Islands, a protected archipelago.

At Nizwa, once Oman’s capital and a vital trading hub, Quest visits the lively Friday Goat Auction. He describes the scene: “I’ve covered global markets for decades. Bonds, stocks, forex, but this… I’ve never seen a trading floor quite like it,” capturing the vibrant chaos where farmers, butchers, herders, and investors converge.

Quest then travels to Jebel Akhdar to witness the ancient tradition of rose water distillation. Each spring, hundreds of thousands of Damask roses bloom across the mountains, harvested by hand at sunrise to maximize oil content. He learns that 1 kilogram of roses yields about 300-400 millilitres of rose water.

During his stay at the Alila Resort in Jebel Akhdar, Executive Chef Pankaj Walia introduces Quest to the beloved Omani dish, Shuwa. Prepared with goat or lamb, the meat is marinated in spices, wrapped in banana leaves, and slow-cooked underground for 24 hours to achieve its distinctive flavor.

To culminate his landmark visit, Quest bravely descends into Majlis al Jinn, one of the world’s largest cave chambers, making a vertical drop of over 120 meters in about 20 minutes.

Reflecting on his journey inside the vast cavern, Quest remarks, “My visit to Oman was particularly special because it’s the 100th country in the world that I have visited, and so the word that best describes all of this is overwhelming, by far. And you’ll want to come here and be overwhelmed for yourself.”

This episode showcases Oman’s rich culture, striking landscapes, and enduring traditions through the eyes of a seasoned traveler marking a significant personal achievement.

Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market

Richard Quest’s high-profile feature of Oman on CNN underscores the country’s unique cultural and natural appeal, positioning Oman as a premium destination for experiential tourism. For businesses and investors, this creates significant opportunities in luxury travel, heritage tourism, and niche cultural experiences, especially in sectors like eco-tourism, traditional crafts, and regional culinary arts. Smart entrepreneurs should now consider leveraging Oman’s pristine landscapes and rich traditions to develop differentiated offerings that attract discerning global travelers.