Wednesday 02 / September / 2026
Salalah: In the coming days, Dhofar Governorate will lower the curtain on the activities of the Khareef Dhofar (monsoon) Season 2026, following a season rich with diverse programmes distributed across various tourist destinations and wilayats of the governorate, encompassing a broad package of activities and events that provided ample space to display youth projects and promote Omani products.
Ammar Aoubad Ghawas, Director of the Department of Events and Awareness at Dhofar Municipality, stated in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the municipality was keen to offer a renewed and diverse season that combines Omani identity with a global vision, creating an impact extending beyond entertainment to culture, society, economy, tourism, and investment, thereby enhancing Dhofar Governorate's standing as a leading tourist destination.
He added that the season featured more than 300 events and programs ranging across arts, culture, entertainment, and sports, in addition to heritage events, international shows, and global festivals, pointing out that this diversity reflects the municipality's direction toward offering multifaceted experiences catering to the varying interests of visitors and age groups, while conferring unique identities and experiences upon event sites.
Regarding the economic impact of the season, Ghawas explained that the municipality was keen to provide marketing opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and highlight Omani products across various event sites, noting that the number of benefiting projects reached 1,742, while the number of job-seeking beneficiaries reached 4,215.
He said that these figures reflect an aspect of the economic and social impact of the season, which goes beyond organizing events to providing opportunities to participate in and benefit from the accompanying economic activity, supporting promising national small and medium enterprises and projects, and creating competitive marketing spaces for them to establish their presence in the tourism, entertainment, and service sectors.
He affirmed that the municipality worked to expand the participation scope of youth initiatives and projects across event sites, including Al Ghareef, Osara, Nova, La Mer Al Mughsail, city center sites, Ittin Square, and Oudat Al Madhi (Return of the Past), alongside other sites in the wilayats of Taqah, Sadah, and Mirbat, while providing support to them throughout the season. This enhances youth presence in the events sector and opens doors for their initiatives and projects to be showcased to a broad audience with diverse interests from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman.
Just as cultural and heritage events focused on highlighting Omani heritage by reviewing lifestyles across various environments of Dhofar Governorate, these events simultaneously provided space to support productive families and national projects, promote local products, and involve Omani Women's Associations, alongside engaging small and medium enterprises, as well as local Omani performing arts and theatrical groups in delivering a number of events and programs.
Ammar Aoubad Ghawas, Director of the Department of Events and Awareness at Dhofar Municipality, stressed that through hosting international sports events during the Khareef season—such as the Tour of Salalah International and the Dhofar International Drag Race Championship—the municipality seeks to enhance the governorate's status as an attractive destination for regional and international sports championships and competitions, as these sports attract a wide segment of stakeholders and media from various countries around the world.
The diversity of the Khareef Dhofar Season 2026 came along an innovative track that enhances integration between events, tourist and cultural assets, and economic aspects in the governorate, supports national institutions and initiatives, and makes the local community an active partner in plans for the season's success.
