What to do in Oman

Football lovers, get ready! The Socca Oman Tournament is set to kick off, bringing the biggest football event in Oman to the historic city of Nizwa. This exciting tournament is organized by the Sports Industry Company and will take place during the Eid al-Adha holiday, from the 2nd to the 5th day of Eid. It promises to be a thrilling experience for both players and fans. Tournament Details The Socca Tour in Nizwa is the first stop in this nationwide tournament, offering local teams a chance to showcase their skills and compete for prestigious titles and substantial cash prizes. Each...

Khareef in southern Oman is unlike autumn anywhere else. From July 15 to August 31, 2025, the Dhofar region turns lush and green, thanks to its seasonal monsoon. During this time, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is hosting the Khareef Festival, a large-scale cultural celebration across Salalah, Mirbat, Taqah, and Mekhlaf. With over 180 activities on the calendar, the festival blends local traditions with family-friendly entertainment. Visitors can expect live music, poetry performances, dance shows, food stalls, camel rides, art displays, and cultural workshops. Whether you’re watching a traditional Omani dance or sampling sambusas in the misty air, the...

Muscat, mark your calendars for one of the best music nights! House of Paradise lands at La Sirena Beach Lounge on October 3rd, and it’s bringing one of the most exciting names in the global electronic scene: &friends. Meet &friends: The Vision of Sean Thomas Behind &friends is Sean Thomas, a San Diego–raised, Dubai-based producer with a big vision. For Sean, &friends isn’t just about music, it’s about building a community that blends cultures, voices, and stories from around the world. After stepping away from music for a few years, Sean returned with a fresh purpose: to create soulful house...

The 2025 Dhofar Khareef season in Salalah has officially begun with the launch of Ateen Square, a new cultural and entertainment hub serving as the centrepiece of this year’s festivities. Running until August 31, the venue welcomes both local and international guests with heritage events, modern entertainment, and family-friendly experiences. Ateen Square features a central stage inspired by Dhofar’s mountain ranges. It’s fitted with laser projections, digital screens, and artificial waterfalls to support performances each evening. The square also welcomed the world’s largest inflatable amusement park, offering slides, obstacle courses, and bounce zones under staff supervision.     View this...

Oman has officially declared a three-day holiday to commemorate the occasion of Isra and Mi’raj at the end of January 2025. According to an announcement by the state-run Oman News Agency (ONA), Thursday, January 30, 2025, will be a public holiday for all employees in both the public and private sectors. With the country’s regular weekend falling on Friday and Saturday, this decision allows workers across Oman to enjoy a much-anticipated three-day break. Isra and Mi’raj, which marks a significant event in Islamic tradition, is observed on Monday, January 27, 2025. However, the holiday has been rescheduled to Thursday to...

Oman has announced an official holiday for both public and private sectors to commemorate the Sultan’s Accession Day on Sunday, January 12, 2025. The announcement, shared via the state-run news agency ONA on their X account, highlighted that the decision comes at the directive of His Majesty The Sultan. For many workers in Oman, who typically enjoy weekends on Friday and Saturday, this announcement effectively creates a three-day weekend. The Accession Day holiday marks an important occasion in the country’s calendar, offering citizens and residents an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the leadership of His Majesty The Sultan. Whether...

Kadim Al Sahir is coming to Oman. Save the date — October 3, 2025 — for a live performance by the Iraqi artist known as The Caesar of Arabic Music. The concert will take place at Al Irfan Theatre within the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC). As part of his Now and Then World Tour, the singer has already lined up performances in Turkey, Jordan, and two shows in Lebanon — and now Oman is on the map for a short stop this October.     View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Moments Events (@moments.events)...

Oman is preparing to host a major international cricket event this October, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia-Pacific Qualifier scheduled to take place over ten days. According to the ICC, nine teams will take part, competing for three qualification spots at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, set to be held in India and Sri Lanka. Teams that secured their places through sub-regional qualifiers in 2024 — Kuwait, Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, Japan, and Samoa — will join Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and hosts Oman. Four of them — Oman, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and...

Planning a trip to the Caucasus just got easier. Armenia has officially announced that, starting July 1, 2025, citizens of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Oman will no longer need a visa to enter the country. The new visa-free policy allows travelers from these three Gulf nations to stay in Armenia for up to 180 days within a 12-month period without applying for an entry visa. The move is part of Armenia’s broader effort to make travel more accessible and to strengthen ties with Gulf countries. It’s also a timely update for citizens and residents of these countries looking for a...

A big change is on the horizon for travellers in and around the Gulf. A new unified visa — officially called the GCC Grand Tours Visa — is expected to launch soon, making it easier to explore the entire Gulf region on a single application. While an exact launch date has not yet been confirmed, the new process is anticipated to be available sometime this year. Approved in 2023 and now in its final planning stages, the visa will grant access to: United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Once launched, the GCC Grand Tours Visa will simplify...