Saudi health firm eyes $259m Oman expansion

Saudi medical group Shifa Al Jazeera said on Sunday it will invest OR100m ($259m) to set up 13 medical centres in Oman.

The company said it has initial plans to set up two new hospitals in Ruwi and Al Qwair and one medical centre in Barka.

These hospitals will have 150 beds and will be ready for operations by the first quarter of 2014, it said in a statement.

KT Mohammed Rabeeh Rabeeullh, chairman and managing director, said that the entry into Oman was part of a larger plan to introduce comprehensive healthcare across the sultanate in phases.

The Oman expansion follows the group's expansion of its operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE.

Rabeeullh said the first phase construction contract has been awarded to Alisco.

He added that the group is also planning to build hospitals in Al Khoud, Sohar and Salalah and medical centers in Duqum, Suwaiq, Khaboura, Buraimi, Ibri and Falaj Al Kabail as part of its second phase of expansion.

Rabeeullh said: "We are committed to being recognised in Oman and internationally as a leader in holistic healthcare by offering high-quality ethical, evidence-based medicine focused on customer service and hospitality.

"This expansion plan reflects how we are realising this goal by using forward-looking research and best-in-class systems of operation.

"We have been providing quality healthcare services to the people at the lowest costs compared to any private hospital in any of our operating markets. We will follow the same formula in Oman."