Oman's Dhofar region gears up for khareef
Muscat – Dhofar governorate is preparing for the 2025 khareef season with a series of new tourism projects aimed at improving visitor experience and increasing regional appeal.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) is set to open the Dhofar Private Museum and a new three-star hotel in Mirbat offering 84 rooms.
Additionally, 216 luxury hotel apartments will be inaugurated in Salalah. These additions will raise the number of licensed tourism establishments in the governorate to 100, with a combined capacity exceeding 8,000 rooms.
A tourism information centre is also scheduled to open at the Al Haffa Beach Market in Salalah to support visitors.
Khalid bin Abdullah al Abri, Director General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar, said the khareef season remains one of the most important periods for domestic and regional tourism, drawing large numbers from across Oman and the wider Gulf region due to the governorate's unique monsoon climate.
The ministry's strategy for 2025 includes extending the season to 100 days, dividing it into three operational phases, and increasing GCC tourist numbers through targeted promotions and improved connectivity.
From June 21 to July 14, occupancy rates are expected to range between 35 and 40%, with the peak period from July 15 to August 30 drawing the highest footfall.
The final phase, from September 1 to 21, is projected to see occupancy between 30 and 35%, bolstered by regional and international conferences continuing through October.
To improve access, Salalah will be connected by direct flights from Saudi Arabia via flynas and flyadeal. The ministry has also stepped up regional promotions, including participation in Arabian Travel Market 2025 in Dubai, where Dhofar Municipality held a press conference to announce seasonal events.
Promotional campaigns were also launched in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with flynas, flyadeal, Oman Airports and tourism firms.
In Kuwait, the ministry unveiled a series of khareef travel packages during Eid al Adha in coordination with Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways, which will operate direct seasonal flights to Salalah.
Abri said the ministry continues to work with the private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises, to position Khareef Dhofar 2025 as a distinctive and sustainable destination. He noted that marketing plans are guided by performance metrics aimed at increasing arrivals and spreading visitor activity across the entire season.
The 2024 khareef season attracted over 1,048,000 visitors, marking a 9% rise compared to the 2023 total of approximately 962,000.
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