Wednesday 01 / July / 2026
Muscat: The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) has dispatched its first support force from its Muscat headquarters to the Dhofar Governorate. This deployment marks the beginning of early operational preparations for the Khareef Dhofar season 2026, aimed at enhancing field readiness and securing the safety of the growing number of domestic and international tourists visiting the region.
Ahead of the departure, Major General Khalifa bin Ali Al Siyabi, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Administrative and Financial Affairs, met with the personnel to commend their readiness and emphasize their critical humanitarian role.
The specialised support force comprises expert personnel in firefighting, land rescue, water rescue, and ambulance services, equipped with specialized emergency vehicles and machinery. To ensure rapid response times along the primary transit routes leading to Dhofar, the CDAA is activating advanced safety points. This year's expansion plan includes new emergency services in the Al Ashkharah area of South Sharqiyah, ambulance services in the Wilayat of Al Jazir in Al Wusta and the Shahb As'aib area, as well as dedicated civil defence services in Harit, Dhofar.
To foster a safe environment, the authority is combining field monitoring with an intensive multi-channel media awareness campaign. Property owners and tourism companies are required to comply with preventative fire safety codes, which will be strictly monitored through seasonal inspections. Additionally, field awareness teams will be stationed at popular tourist sites to educate the public.
The CDAA has strongly urged motorists to perform routine vehicle maintenance, check fire extinguishers, and carry first-aid kits before traveling. Visitors are also strictly cautioned against swimming in unauthorized locations—such as natural springs, pools, waterfalls, and beaches—due to the dangerously high waves and strong marine currents typical of the Khareef season. Furthermore, parents are advised to maintain constant supervision of children near bodies of water and slippery, elevated terrains.
