Job Discussion Forums

[lovesand]

Hey everyone,

Doe anyone know what the difference is between University of Buraimi and Buraimi University College? Also how far is it to drive to Muscat from Buraimi? Are there flights to Muscat?

Cheers

[veiledsentiments]

You weren't planning to commute were you? Google gives you the answer to the distance 182 miles/292 km. I know that there are buses, but I'd be surprised if there are flights.

VS

[camelman]

UoB is the University of Burami and BUC is Burami University College. Muscat is about a three and a half hour drive.

[camelman]

There is no airport in Burami even though it is on the map!!

[veiledsentiments]

Perhaps Sheikh Zayed had a landing strip in Al-Ain? But, if it still exists, you would probably need a private jet.

VS

[Geronimo]

Hello lovesand,

This is the link to the webpage with the profile of the University of Buraimi...
http://www.uob.edu.om/tabid/102/Default.aspx

and this is the link to the webpage with the history of the
Al Buraimi University College...
http://www.buc.edu.om/AboutUs/AboutALBuraimiCollege.aspx

But if you become confused by these two, don't Buraimi!
I'm just trying to help after all.

The region's airport -yes, the one that doesn't exist-
is due to become operational in 2014.

Sohar Airport, about 10km northwest of Sohar will help avoid the two hour long drive from either Muscat or Dubai.
It will also serve as a new gateway for passenger, cargo and courier traffic in northern Oman
and a domestic and emergency alternative to Muscat International Airport. The airport expansion will also alleviate pressure
at Muscat�s Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat as it takes in more cargo traffic.

Contracts for the initial site preparation, or Phase 1, were let in 2009 to Strabag Oman.
The company also secured Phase 2 work, which includes the construction of the
new 4km-long runway and installation of aircraft landing instruments.
Phase 3 � the construction of the new passenger terminal building has not yet been awarded. The airport is expected to be operational by 2014
and has been designed to cater for the double-deck Airbus A380.

Source: "ConstructionWeekOnline" - March 11th, 2012 :-
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-15938-think-big-omans-10-biggest-construction-projects/1/print/

Geronimo
P.S. Until quite recently, VS, Oman Air used to offer direct flights
from Al Ain Airport to Muscat...
http://www.skyscanner.net/news/flights-al-ain-be-launched-oman-air

[lovesand]

Thank you very much for all the info.

[veiledsentiments]

So Geronimo... now I've even more confused. Is there an airport or not until 2014? Or there was an airport and then there wasn't, but there is supposed to be a new one in 2014? Or is the new one in Sohar?

That article said that flights start in 2010... wonder if they did or if they still are?

I can't imagine taking a flight that short... you would barely get high enough to get over the mountains before it would be time to start heading back down again.

VS

[lizziebennet]

Hey guys,

As far as I know there has never been a domestic terminal in Sohar for the greater populace. This is a new construction.

It takes us exactly 3 hours to drive from Buraimi to Muscat (taking the new highway from Barka)

V.S I am sure some people will take a plane. While the drive certainly isn't as bad as the mountain road between Ibra and Muscat there is a lot of construction and traffic and people running across the highway. We like to have our own car in Muscat as taxis really rip people off so we'd probably still take our car...

Buraimi University College(BUC) is the older more established of the two. It is also situated in a fantastic new building while the University of Buraimi(UoB) is still based in an old building (although they have added 4 new buildings onto the property and will be building a new building near to where BUC is situated).

BUC offers diplomas and degrees in Business, Accounting and Computers while UoB offers health science and engineering degrees as well as business degrees. As far as the two go UoB seems to offer more programs.

Hope this helps.

Lizzie

[Geronimo]

In answer to your queries, VS:
firstly, Al Ain International Airport has been operational since 1994...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Ain_International_Airport

Last year it was voted by its passengers to be
the 4th best in the world...
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/al-ain-airport-named-worlds-fourth-best

As indicated by the mention of Oman in the above article
in TheNational ,
there were direct flights from Al Ain to Muscat last year.
However, Oman Air discontinued this service earlier this year.
As far as I'm aware, there are no plans to renew this particular service,
(likewise for Oman Air's service from Muscat to Ras Al Khaimah, I suspect).

However, as of this very day, Rotana Jet is flying
twice daily from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi...

http://www.rotanajet.com/

Secondly, regarding Sohar Airport, as stated above, it is due to become operational
in 2014. Therefore, it is not operational today.
There is a photo of its runway and a data sheet
available at...
http://www.strabag.de/databases/internet/_public/content.nsf/27f1abc7e30c3309c12571e0003f78c7/5dad24a4f50674dcc1257a0d00407b00?OpenDocument

And, lovesand, if you're still Buraimi-bound,
you may be interested in the plans
for Oman's first ever railway!
One day it will be possible to ride on
a train from Al Ain all the way to Salalah,
via Buraimi and Sohar and Muscat,(if you're a train driver).
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-18475-oman-rail-project-retendered-as-three-packages/1/print/

Geronimo

[madrileno]

[Geronimo]

As camelman observed above, there is a "Buraimi Airport"
'on the map'! And, its coordinates are available...
http://www.world-airport-codes.com/oman/buraimi-1116.html

BTW, its only flights are to Atlantis, though.

However, I remain confident that Sohar Airport
will one day offer a wider range of destinations.
If it fails to do so, the management of the
Sohar Crowne Plaza Hotel will be most disappointed!

Geronimo

[veiledsentiments]

[robinbanks]

Took a flight from Al Ain to Abu dhabi in the 90's (Gulf Air).after 15 minutes i thought the stewardess was bringing my tea.Sge said 'we're landing".shortest flight i've ever been on-and you only fly 100 metres from the ground.i think there is a shorter flight than that....8 minutes...from one island to another in Scotland.

[veiledsentiments]

Seems a bit of a waste to go through the trip to the airport... and get there early to get through check-in procedures... take a half hour boarding... for a 15 minute flight... and if you check a bag will require another half hour wait to be it back.

It seems that one could drive it in the same or even less time.

VS