South Yorkshire (UK)-based Merlin Software has won its first major international contract when it signed up to support the new $25 million National Museum of Oman to provide solutions including ticketing and admissions,

The contract for the admissions, ticketing and event specialist is worth 150,000 pounds.

“We decided last year to start targeting international contracts and we secured the first one we tendered for,” said Owen Gleadall, managing director of Merlin Software.

“The National Museum of Oman is a stunning development and promises a sensational visitor experience. We are installing ticketing and admissions systems, online ticketing solutions and membership systems.

“I visited the site … and members of our team will be deployed … to carry out the installation. This contract is a very prestigious win for Merlin Software and I am confident that we can build on this success and increase our overseas work.”

The museum, funded by the Sultan of Oman, will bring to life Oman’s history with more than 7,000 objects on display in a 4,000 sq m area.

It is due to open this month and Merlin’s expert team is working closely with Acciona Producciones y Diseño, the Spanish company which is designing the attraction.

Merlin Software, which was founded in 1984, plans to exhibit at the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure Show in April. The exhibition is the Middle East’s annual focal point for all stakeholders in the amusement and related industries.

“There is excellent potential for Merlin Software to achieve growth through contracts in the Middle East and this is an area we are actively targeting,” said Gleadall, whose business was the first company to offer a fully integrated solution to visitor attractions for the collection of gift aid on entry.

“These are very exciting times for the business.”

Merlin Software’s UK clients include Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’ in London’s Piccadilly Square, Stockeld Park in North Yorkshire, the Black Country Living Museum and the Emirates Airlines Aviation Experience in London.

“The EPOS software we supply is constantly updated and enhanced to facilitate these new developments and it is this extensive experience of developing retail systems over such a long period of time that sets our company apart from many of our competitors,” a company statement said.