Oman Air will be the official carrier for the tenth ESRI Middle East North Africa Users Conference being hosted by Khatib & Alami and Partners of Muscat Sultanate of Oman. This event has grown into a premier event for ESRI users in the MENA region, to meet other like-minded users, listen to, and share the experiences and challenges users face, as well as receive information and practical demonstrations on the latest releases of the ESRI technologies. The conference will be held under the patronage of H.E. Ahmed Abdul Nabi Macki, Minister of National Economy, Deputy Chairman of Financial Affairs and Energy Council.

Corporate Communications & Media Department of Oman Air enlightened that the geographic information system (GIS) is an important tool-one that helps shape the world around us. It is a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information, noting that the deployment of such culture is a global demand for all States to abide by, and that the conference is a step in the right direction to bridge the digital divide. They said that the geographic information systems penetrated into all aspects of our lives also remains to play an important part in all areas and aspects of urban development. They added that in 1969 Jack Dangermond with his wife Laura co-founded the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), a privately held Geographic Information Systems Software Company, which is currently the world's leading geographic information system software developer in the world. The worldwide headquarters of ESRI are anchored in a multicampus environment in Redlands, California

ESRI's business involves the development and support of GIS software, with customers including small businesses, large corporations, non-government organizations (NGOs) and governments at all levels. ESRI has offices throughout the United States; a business partner program with more than 2,000 developers, consultants, resellers, and data providers; and a network of more than 80 international distributors with more than a million users in more than 200 countries.

In this regard, Hassan Bin Taleb Al Lawatia, Country Manager Oman stated that Oman Air sponsored the event for its significance, noting that this conference is the premier event for ESRI GIS users in MENA region, who gather to meet fellow users and share their experiences and challenges. The conformance is to provide a wealth of information from ESRI staff, exhibitors, users, and business partners. The 10th Annual ESRI Middle East & North Africa Users Conference will be held at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah in Muscat, Oman from October 29 to 31st. This year conference offer's tracks for the utility and oil & gas sectors, as well as municipality & government, transportation & LBS, cadastre, health & environment GIS. We live in an age of information and surge technological transformations, he stated.

Giving significances for Oman Air’s participation in the event Al Lawatia explained that GIS now is a utility, which cannot be ignored. All government and private sectors are trying to make use of it. However, the experiences available in the region still do not meet users requirements, as many new concepts are still absent. We believe that the annual ESRI conference for users of in the MENA acquires significance out of this fact. GIS users are in dire need of access the latest techniques of this art that is in term of programs theoretical ideas, not to mention the desire to witness the experiences of others, and engage in dialogue with them. ESRI (Redlands, California, USA) will have a delegation headed by the president, Mr. Jack Dangermond participating in the conference. During the opening ceremony, Jack will showcase where GIS has gone over the past twelve months citing many user examples, and present his vision for where the technology is going in the near future. The event is expected to attract 500 GIS professionals and users from around the Middle East and North Africa, and many exhibitors. He concluded stating that the event will have a comprehensive program, including workshops, seminars, user presentations, software demos, and technology exhibitions. There will also be interesting cultural and social events.