ICEF Middle East Scholarship and Partnership SummitScholarship Providers Information Pack

Venue: Kempinski Hotel Muscat, 335 Street 6, Muscat 138, Sultanate of Oman
Event Date: 08:00 Sunday, February 16 – 18:30 Monday, February 17, 2025.

Please scroll down for detailed timings, including registration and evening receptions.

Your accommodation at the ICEF Middle East Scholarship Summit 2025 will be sponsored by ICEF for three nights in one of our partner hotels from Saturday, February 15th until Tuesday morning, February 19th, 2025. Please note that breakfast is included.

A formal hotel booking confirmation with an assigned hotel will be sent to you approximately four weeks prior to the event. ICEF will sponsor one room per scholarship organisation, unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that any additional costs incurred for services such as telephone use, minibar, early check-in/late check-out, extra nights outside the event period, parking, laundry, room service, etc., will be at your own expense.

Additional nights
Booking additional nights is optional and at your own expense. We will send you a booking form or link together with your hotel confirmation should you wish to extend your stay in Muscat. Please only reserve additional nights outside the above-stated period.

Kempinski Hotel Muscat
335 Street 6, Muscat 138, Sultanate of Oman
Phone: +968 24 985000
Check-in & Check-out: Earliest possible check-in time is 15:00 and the latest check-out time is 12:00 pm.

Further information on the Kempinski Hotel Muscat can be found here.

Mysk Hotel
Al Mouj 335, Street 6, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Phone: +968 24 274400
Check-in & Check-out: Earliest possible check-in time is 14:00 and the latest check-out time is 12:00 pm.

Further information on the Mysk Hotel can be found here.

The walking distance between the Mysk Hotel and the Kempinski Hotel Muscat is approx 8 – 10 mins. You can view a hotel map here. Bus shuttles will also be available.

Citizens of GCC countries (the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) do not require visas to enter Oman.

In addition, there are 103 countries exempt from requiring a visa to visit Oman for a stay of up to 14 days. Please ensure that you have evidence of a confirmed hotel booking, valid health insurance and a return ticket. Here is a link to check whether you are exempt from a visa.

 If you intend to stay longer than 14 days you can apply for an e-visa at https://oman-evisa.com/

If your country is not listed above, you can verify the different visa options here.

*Not applicable to accompanying persons/guests

You will receive access to our online meeting scheduling tool, Marcom eSchedule PRO, approximately 6 weeks prior to the event, allowing you to send personalised meeting requests to targeted contacts based on destination country or type of programme.

If you are using Marcom eSchedule PRO for the first time, we recommend that you visit the below links to make the most of the platform: 

• Getting Started 
• Scheduling Meetings – Useful Hints & Tips
• Video tutorials

Scheduling meetings during the event

To make the most of your participation, meetings can be scheduled once the event has started, up to one hour before the requested meeting time. 

We recommend that you leave Marcom eSchedule PRO open throughout the event and regularly refresh the page to keep an eye on the latest meeting requests that may come through.

You will be able to collect your badge and welcome pack on Sunday, February 16, 2025, from 08:00 to 19:00 at the ICEF hospitality desk located in the Muscat Ballroom Foyer of the Kempinski Hotel Muscat. Participants arriving after this can register on Monday February 17 from 8:00 onwards in the same location.

As this is an invitation-only event, anyone not wearing a badge may not be admitted into the event area. Please also understand that for the same reason, we cannot allow non-registered family, friends or staff to enter the meeting hall. 

If you change your representative at the event it is important you inform us regarding this in advance before arriving, otherwise you may experience delays at registration.

Opening the summit on day 1 will be a programme of seminars and panel discussions featuring regional leaders and experts, as well as leading voices from the UK, USA, and beyond.

In addition, a wide variety of round table discussions will offer the opportunity to debate regional topics with heads of scholarship organisations, government ministers, university representatives, Middle East experts, and sector peers.

You can find out more via the seminar tab on your schedule and on the event website.

Meeting tables will be accessible as of 08:00 am on Monday, February 17th.

Each meeting table (180cm x 60cm) will be covered with a tablecloth and will have access to an electricity outlet. Table signage with the name and logo of your organisation will be provided.

Sunday 16 February

•     Refreshment break – 11:30-12:00 in the Muscat Ballroom Foyer
•     Lunch – 13:30 – 15:00  in the Kitchen Restaurant
•     Refreshment break – 17:00-17:30 in the Muscat Ballroom Foyer

Monday 17 February

•     Refreshment Break – 11:00 – 11:30 in the Muscat Ballroom Foyer
•     Lunch – 13:00 – 14:00  in the Kitchen Restaurant
•     Refreshment Break – 16:00 – 16:30 in the Muscat Ballroom Foyer

All meals will be prepared to halal standards. Please contact us should you have any special dietary requirements.

•     16th February – 20:00 – 23:00 – Dinner Reception at the Zale Beach Club, Kempinski Hotel
•     17th February – 20:00 – 23:00 – Farewell Gala Dinner hosted by the Sultanate of Oman

A bus shuttle to and from the Al Bustan Palace, where the farewell dinner is taking place on February 17th will be provided. 

The dress code for both receptions is smart casual. Please note that participants not wearing their event badges will not be admitted. Please register your attendance by clicking the green “Yes, I will attend” button on your MySchedule page.

If you are attending as an accompanying person or a guest without a meeting schedule your attendance at both receptions will be automatically registered.

• Time Zone: GMT +4 hours
• Climate: In winter (February), Muscat enjoys mild, sunny weather with average temperatures ranging from 18 to 26°C (64–79°F)
• Currency: Omani Rial (OMR). Credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are available. For the latest exchange rates, visit x-rates.com
• Electricity: 240 V
• Plug Type: G. Travellers are advised to bring their own adapters, as they may not be available on-site

For further details on Muscat, please visit here.

If you have any questions prior to the event, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at scholarship@icef.com.

We look forward to welcoming you to Muscat!