From Beaches to Reserves: Al Wusta Showcases Oman’s Natural Wealth

Al Wusta Governorate Combines Nature, Adventure and Sustainable Tourism

Haima: Al Wusta Governorate has emerged as one of the Sultanate of Oman’s distinctive tourism destinations during the winter season, owing to its soft sandy beaches rich in birdlife, vast plains covered with acacia trees, and protected natural reserves that are home to rare and endangered wildlife.

Bakhit bin Amer bin Suhail Al-Amri, Director of the Heritage and Tourism Department in Al Wusta Governorate, stated that the governorate has successfully strengthened its position on the national tourism map due to its geographical diversity and its rich natural and cultural assets, which have contributed to attracting various forms of tourism, particularly during the winter season.

He explained that this distinction has been reflected in the increasing interest of visitors, who choose Al Wusta as an integrated destination offering a calm and sustainable tourism experience. Visitors are able to engage in a wide range of activities, including diving, boat trips, mountain walking, nature photography, and other recreational pursuits, especially during the winter months.

Al-Amri noted that the number of hotel establishments registered with the Heritage and Tourism Department in Al Wusta Governorate has reached 23 establishments, comprising hotels, hotel apartments, and guest houses, providing a total of 700 hotel rooms across the governorate’s wilayats. These establishments are distributed as follows: six in Mahout, eight in Haima, and eight in Duqm, in addition to hotel facilities supervised by the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.

He pointed out that Al Wusta Governorate offers promising investment opportunities along its 550-kilometre coastline, supported by its natural resources and moderate climate, which qualify it as an attractive destination for local and international investment across multiple sectors, including tourism, logistics, fisheries, and oil-related industries.

He stressed that the governorate enjoys significant interest from visitors due to its archaeological, natural, and tourism assets, making it a favored destination for enthusiasts of marine and land sports, adventure tourism, mountain climbing, cave and valley exploration, as well as beach and marine activities suitable for rowing and diving.

Al-Amri further explained that the Wilayat of Haima is particularly distinguished by its nature reserves, which are unique in the Sultanate of Oman for hosting rare wildlife species, most notably gazelles and Arabian oryx, in addition to a number of caves and freshwater springs. Meanwhile, Duqm stands out as a major economic, commercial, and tourism hub located between Muscat and Dhofar, offering advanced accommodation and tourism infrastructure. He highlighted the Rock Garden as one of the most important geological tourism sites in the Sultanate.

He added that the Wilayat of Al Jazir is characterized by its diversity of coastal, mountainous, and desert environments, with extensive coastlines, beaches, and inlets, while Mahout features numerous picturesque beaches and bays, in addition to islands, valleys, and natural inlets, enhancing the governorate’s appeal as a comprehensive winter tourism destination.