4th Musandam Winter Season: What It Means for Tourism Sector Growth and Investment Opportunities in Oman
Musandam Announces Fourth "Winter" Tourism Season for 2025–2026
Muscat – The Office of the Governor of Musandam has officially launched the fourth edition of the "Musandam Winter" tourism season for 2025–2026. The announcement took place at a promotional event held under the patronage of Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, and was attended by several walis, heads of supporting companies and institutions, along with members of the season’s main committee.
Scheduled to run for six consecutive months, from November 2025 through April 2026, the season will showcase a diverse range of adventure, cultural, entertainment, and marine activities. Over 60 distinct events are planned, aiming to solidify Musandam Governorate’s reputation as a comprehensive tourism destination at both regional and international levels. This initiative is also expected to invigorate the local economy by enhancing tourism-related sectors, services, and trade.
Key highlights of the programme include major festivals such as the Musandam Carnival, Ghaf Tree Film Festival, Madha Valley Carnival, and Communities Festival. Unique events like the “Cold Sabee Adventure” and “Bukha Lights Festival” will add to the excitement. Additionally, the Musandam International Diving Festival will feature underwater photography competitions, coral reef clean-up campaigns, kayaking races, free diving, and a broad array of marine sports contests.
The previous season recorded approximately 789,000 visitors, generating an estimated economic impact of RO 251 million. This surge was reflected in increased tourism activities, higher hotel occupancy rates, improved performance of tourism institutions, and the creation of both direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local community.
Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidy, Governor of Musandam, emphasized the strong spirit of collaboration among various institutions that has led to the successful promotion of this season’s extensive programme. He highlighted that the diverse events will span the tourism, entertainment, sports, and cultural sectors, with special activities designed for expatriate communities. These events will take place across multiple wilayats and major residential areas within the governorate.
The new season is expected to elevate Musandam’s global profile through extensive media coverage and marketing efforts benefiting SMEs, entrepreneurs, and artisans, thereby widening economic advantages. The event also featured the signing of several partnership agreements to support and promote the season’s programmes, in addition to honoring sponsors and partners who contributed to the success of previous editions.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The launch of the fourth Musandam Winter tourism season signals a strategic boost to Oman’s tourism and related sectors, creating significant opportunities for businesses in hospitality, events, and local crafts through a diverse, six-month calendar targeting both regional and international visitors. Smart investors should focus on scalable ventures in tourism services, media marketing, and sustainable marine activities that capitalize on Musandam’s rising profile and its expanding economic impact, while entrepreneurs can leverage partnerships and community engagement to maximize long-term growth and job creation.
