Latest news with #KhareefDhofar
Times of Oman
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
Khareef Dhofar season offers various entertainment, educational activities for children
Salalah: The Khareef Dhofar (monsoon) season 2025 offers children a unique blend of entertainment and education, combining fun and exploration in diverse and captivating environments. The activities have been deliberately designed to cater to children of all ages, featuring an exciting lineup of programs that transport them to enchanting worlds filled with colors and stories. These activities provide moments of refined entertainment that blend enjoyment with learning. Amid the joyful and festive atmosphere for families and children at Khareef Dhofar—which continues to attract increasing numbers of visitors from within Oman and abroad—Yahya Khalfan Al Touqi from Adam in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate noted that the diversity of programs stands out, particularly the interactive theatrical performances that present educational scenes in a simplified and engaging manner for children. On his turn, Mu'aid Awad Al Yafa'i from Salalah highlighted the daily activities continuously offered to children across various locations, emphasizing that the educational plays convey important moral lessons in an entertaining way. He also pointed to the variety of aerial and electronic games catering to different preferences and interests. Meanwhile, Ali Sulaiman from Al Mudhaibi in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, one of the parents visiting Ateen Square with his family, remarked that such dedicated children's events serve as an important recreational outlet for families and an ideal space for children to enjoy themselves in a safe and fun environment. He affirmed that the diverse activities—including fireworks displays, drone shows, and performances by troupes such as the Latin Band and "Cru Show"—help stimulate children's imagination and enrich their visual experiences, with preparations tailored to suit all tastes and interests. For his part, Abdulnasser Yaqoub Al Na'ar from the Kingdom of Bahrain expressed admiration for the high level of organization and the thoughtful selection of child-focused activities. He noted that dedicated children's pavilions across multiple locations in Dhofar allowed his family to move around comfortably and easily. He added that the heritage performances, which connect children to their cultural roots in a simple and playful manner, reflect a deep understanding of children's developmental and creative needs. He emphasised that Dhofar has become a comprehensive tourist destination combining natural beauty with meaningful family activities. Meanwhile, Said Musallam Habbis, owner of the "Ateen Slide" project, stated that this initiative—the first of its kind in Oman—is being implemented for the first time in Dhofar, taking advantage of Ateen Plain's natural landscape to offer a fun and safe entertainment experience for visitors during the Khareef season. He noted that the support from Dhofar Municipality for youth projects helped turn the idea into reality, adding that the project enhances the diversity and sustainability of tourism and entertainment activities in the governorate.
Times of Oman
12 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Over 300 productive families receive support at Frankincense Market on Al Haffa Beach
Salalah: The Frankincense Market for productive families on Al Haffa Beach in Salalah is witnessing a remarkable turnout from visitors as part of Dhofar Municipality's activities accompanying Khareef Dhofar (monsoon) season 2025. The vibrant atmosphere is filled with the aroma of frankincense and adorned with authentic Omani heritage and arts. Through this initiative, Dhofar Municipality supports over 300 productive families and small-to-medium enterprises from various wilayats in the governorate. The market showcases a variety of handicrafts, traditional Omani foods, and heritage products that reflect Dhofar's cultural and social identity. This year, the market has seen organisational improvements, including the expansion of exhibition spaces, the upgrade of public facilities and parking areas, and the redesign of stalls and surrounding structures inspired by local architectural styles. These enhancements enrich the visitor experience while highlighting the governorate's cultural heritage. Salim Abdullah Fadhil, supervisor of the Frankincense Market, pointed out that this year's edition features notably diverse participation, thanks to direct support from Dhofar Municipality. He emphasised that the market is not merely a sales outlet but an integrated platform to display and promote local heritage elements. He added that visitors can explore a wide range of handmade crafts, including palm-frond products, incense burners, and Omani frankincense goods, alongside traditional foods prepared by productive families. The accompanying events include daily performances on the market stage from 4 PM until midnight, where traditional Omani art troupes present heritage-inspired performances, along with children's shows, folk theater, and musical evenings featuring Omani artists. The market will remain open to visitors until the end of the Khareef season, serving as both a cultural tourism destination and a vital support system for local enterprises and productive families while contributing to the growth of Dhofar's community-based economy.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Oman: Khareef Dhofar draws record crowds as experts call for sustainable eco-tourism
SALALAH: As Dhofar's landscape comes alive under the Khareef rains, drawing thousands of visitors to its mist-covered mountains and flowing springs, concerns are growing over the ecological toll of this seasonal influx. The 2025 Khareef Dhofar Season is shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent memory, with popular sites like Wadi Darbat, Ain Razat and Al Mughsail witnessing heavy footfall. While the monsoon transforms the region into a lush haven, local guides and environmentalists warn that unchecked tourism is placing unprecedented pressure on fragile natural ecosystems. 'Khareef Dhofar is not just a season — it's a living system', said an ecotourism guide near Ain Hout, one of the lesser-known springs in Qayrun Hiyarti. 'And it's asking for our respect'. More than 360 natural springs in Dhofar rely on consistent monsoon rainfall. In years of weak Khareef, water levels drop significantly and experts fear that increasing climate variability could worsen the situation. There are also growing calls to adopt a zoning model that classifies sites into conservation, eco-tourism and public use areas, ensuring a balance between access and protection. Even remote locations such as Shaat Viewpoint and Fazayah Beach are showing signs of wear—rutted trails, discarded plastic and rising insect populations, all suggesting environmental strain. 'Even the insects are messengers', noted one inspector. 'They tell us when nature is out of sync'. Cultural events are reinforcing the idea that environmental care is part of local heritage. 'Our ancestors lived in harmony with the land', said a craftswoman near Ain Sahalnoot.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Souqs, tourism sites abuzz with business activity during Khareef Dhofar 2025
Salalah: Dhofar Governorate is experiencing a boom in commercial activity in traditional markets (souqs), shopping centres and tourism sites during the 2025 Khareef Dhofar (monsoon) season. The business activity is driven by a large influx of visitors to the governorate who wish to enjoy the exceptional monsoon weather. It constitutes direct support to the national economy. Commercial activities range from shopping in traditional souqs and modern malls--with an observable rise in sales of handicrafts and local delicacies--to rising demand for restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, and tourist sites and entertainment facilities. The owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) told Oman News Agency (ONA) that Khareef Dhofar season provides a great opportunity for the growth of sales and the expansion of commercial activity. They underlined the importance of upgrading the quality of national products to meet the expectations visitors.
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
Ayn platform showcases media, public awareness services during Khareef Dhofar 2025
Salalah: Ayn platform, an active arm of the Ministry of Information, boasts strong presence at the 2025 Khareef Dhofar (monsoon) season's festival now underway in the Governorate of Dhofar. Ayn platform is introducing visitors to media services that shed light on Dhofar Governorate's tourism landmarks and cultural and humanitarian assets. Through its digital presence, Ayn platform is enhancing the community's interaction in different ways, including a 'Child Interface', an Interactive Digital Competition and on-the-spot radio and TV transmission. The Child Interface presents a visual programme featuring environmental adventures and field explorations in Dhofar Governorate. It develops learning skills, fosters cultural belonging and highlights entertainment content that responds to families' educational and innovative aspirations. The Child Interface also showcases electronic services that target children, including audiobooks and animated cartoons. It programmes, which run until 3 August, focus on entertainment and educational content that expands young people's awareness and intellectual potential. Ayn Platform's Interactive Digital Competition includes a set of cultural and tourism questions aimed at consolidating the Omani identity. It engages participants to local heritage in a simplified and attractive manner. The platform also offers online broadcasts of all radio and television programmes related to the Khareef season, with a dedicated category titled "Khareef Dhofar". This reflects the platform's vital role in highlighting the Sultanate of Oman's presence on the regional and global arenas. To support the season's digital coverage, short video segments were produced. They highlight the beauty of nature through aerial photography techniques (using drones). In this context, interviews are made with visitors from people from different nationalities, in different languages, thus ensuring access for local and international audiences. Ayn platform serves as one of the Ministry of Information's initiatives that embody Oman Vision 2040. It keeps pace with the Sultanate of Oman's digital transition. It dedicates digital space to Khareef Dhofar festival in eight languages, along with translated captions of images and articles highlighting the governorate's events and tourist attractions.
