29-04-2025
Khareef Dhofar from June 21, Global Village to be new attraction
Muscat: The activities of Khareef Dhofar 2025 will begin on June 21 and continue until September 20, coinciding with the astronomical start of the khareef season, according to Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality.
He revealed that Heritage Village will be transformed into a global village on similar lines such as Khan Al Khalili (Egypt), Souq al Hamidiya (Syria), and Souq Waqif (Doha)
The Ittin Square will be a hub for global events, featuring an integrated shopping area, an open theater, a modern gaming area, and revamped lighting and laser shows.
The Awqad Park will be dedicated to family entertainment, while Salalah Public Park will be dedicated to various sporting activities throughout the Khareef season.
Al Murooj Theater will host cultural events with local and international participation.
Events will feature a new look that embodies aspects of traditional Omani life from various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman
The Chairman of Dhofar Municipality indicated that the municipality will work to expand the scope of events to include some of the governorate's coastal wilayats affected by the Khareef season, with a variety of cultural, sports, and commercial activities.
His Excellency Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, revealed the growth of the tourism sector in the Sultanate of #Oman, in addition to its ability to attract investments, noting that efforts are continuing to raise the sector's contribution to the tourism sector's GDP from 2.5% to 5% by 2030. This was during the press conference being held now to reveal the events of the #Dhofar_Khareef_Season for the year 2025, on the sidelines of Oman's participation in the Arabian Travel Market 2025.
Azzan al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism said the tourism sector's GDP is expected to increase from 2.5% to 5% by 2030.
He said a few new hotel facilities will open this year and the Dhofar Governorate currently has 83 hotel facilities with 6,537 licensed rooms of various categories.
Earlier updates
The Ministry of Labor in the Dhofar Governorate has said that employers or businesses will be granted temporary work permits to bring in expatriate workers during the khareef season.
These facilities aim to regulate the labor market and support employers in dealing with the increased demand for services during the Khareef season.
They also aim to avoid violations and penalties for employing illegal expatriate workers, and to support the temporary activities offered by Dhofar Municipality during the Dhofar khareef season.
It may be noted that Khareef season in Dhofar attracted around 1,048,000 visitors between June 21 and September 21, 2024, reflecting a 9 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023, when the number of visitors reached 962,000.
