Sunday 02 / August / 2026
Muscat: The Al Jabal Al Akhdar Festival 2026 has attracted more than 100,000 visitors since its launch through the end of July, continuing its role in stimulating tourism and economic activity in Wilayat Al Jabal Al Akhdar. The festival features a diverse 45-day programme combining entertainment, cultural, sports, and tourism experiences, while also providing direct marketing platforms for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), home-based businesses, and local farmers.
The festival, organised by the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate in cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Riyada), with OQ Gas Networks as the strategic partner, brings together 95 participants representing SMEs, home-based producers, farmers, restaurants, cafés, and local retailers. This provides direct outlets for marketing Omani products and creates new opportunities for business owners to benefit from the increased tourist activity during the summer season.
The festival also contributes to the local economy by boosting demand for products and services, increasing commercial activity, and creating an interactive environment where visitors and entrepreneurs can connect in one location. This reflects Al Dakhiliyah Governorate's commitment to leveraging its natural and tourism assets to strengthen local content and economic development.
The event offers a wide range of attractions for visitors of all ages, including daily performances on the main stage, a traveling carnival, a family zone, a youth zone, a children's world, a cinema dome, interactive inflatable games, a neon zone, and the "Floating Pantry" experience using three-dimensional hologram technology, presented for the first time in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. These attractions enhance the visitor experience and encourage longer stays at the festival.
Throughout August, the festival will continue to host a variety of special events, including performances by the Drive More One sports car team, a tourism hike through the villages of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, a sports caravan, a traditional games league, a running race, the Gulf Equestrian Forum, and the Fig and Olive Forum, which showcases the wilayat's agricultural and cultural heritage. These activities broaden the festival's appeal to diverse audiences and interests.
Ahmed bin Salem Al Toobi, Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, said that the Al Jabal Al Akhdar Festival has become one of the governorate's key seasonal drivers of economic activity by attracting visitors and providing direct opportunities for SMEs, home-based businesses, and farmers to market their products. He added that the festival also highlights the wilayat's unique natural, agricultural, and cultural heritage.
He noted that the governorate works each year to further develop the festival into an integrated platform that combines tourism, economic development, culture, and sports, thereby enhancing the value of the tourism season and increasing benefits for the local community and business sector. He emphasized that the diversity of activities and partnerships has expanded participation and enriched the visitor experience.
Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Riyami, a participating entrepreneur, said that the festival provides an excellent opportunity to promote pottery as one of Oman's traditional crafts closely tied to the country's cultural identity. He noted that the strong visitor turnout has enabled him to reach a broad audience, introduce them to the pottery-making process and its cultural significance, and market his handcrafted products in a setting that blends tourism with heritage.
He added that the festival serves as an important platform for artisans to showcase their products and engage directly with consumers, helping preserve traditional crafts while opening new opportunities to develop their businesses. Meanwhile, Hatem bin Rashid bin Marhoon Al Fahdi, the owner of a plant nursery, explained that his participation aims to introduce visitors to the distinctive plants and agricultural products of Al Jabal Al Akhdar.
He said the festival has significantly increased public awareness of these products and strengthened their connection with visitors and nature enthusiasts. He added that the steady flow of visitors has helped expand his customer base and promote locally produced agricultural goods associated with the mountain's unique environment, emphasizing that such events provide valuable support for agricultural enterprises and enhance their market presence.
Al Jabal Al Akhdar Festival 2026 will continue until August 29, offering a diverse 45-day program. Visitor numbers are expected to continue rising as the festival progresses, further strengthening Al Jabal Al Akhdar's position as a premier summer tourism destination and enhancing the contribution of tourism and commercial activities to the local economy of Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.
