
Preparations for Khareef Dhofar 2025 media coverage reviewed
Muscat: A coordination meeting was held today at Dhofar Municipality in the Wilayat of Salalah to review the mechanisms for implementing the media plan and preparations for covering the events of Khareef Dhofar 2025.
The meeting is part of ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Information and relevant government entities to showcase the season and highlight the governorate's tourism potential both locally and internationally.
The meeting was attended by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Harassi, Minister of Information, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohsen Al-Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, along with several other officials. Discussions focused on the key aspects of the approved media plan for the season, which includes coverage through Oman TV and Radio, the Oman News Agency, the "Ain" platform, as well as digital media and private media outlets.
The meeting also addressed the forms of support that Dhofar Municipality will provide to various media efforts. In addition, a visual presentation was delivered highlighting the event locations listed in the general program for Khareef Dhofar 2025.
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Times of Oman
2 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman welcomes Khareef Dhofar 2025 with a rich array of events
Salalah: Astronomically, the Khareef (monsoon) season in Dhofar began on Saturday, June 21, 2025 the most anticipated annual event that affects Dhofar's coastal regions from Dhalkut in the west to Mirbat in the east. Triggered by seasonal monsoon winds and clouds arriving from the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, the season will continue until September 20. The Dhofar Municipality has officially announced the launch of Khareef Dhofar 2025 from June 21 to September 20, with renewed programmes designed to offer innovative experiences that meet visitor expectations and enhance Dhofar's status as a global tourism destination. The season includes cultural, recreational, and tourism activities for all age groups, with a strong emphasis on Omani identity and heritage to create an authentic atmosphere. His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, affirmed that the Governorate welcomes the monsoon every year on June 21 with divine beauty and unique weather conditions, stating: "We all unite to prepare the conditions, events, and facilities necessary to make Khareef Dhofar 2025 exceptional and successful across 90 days of joy and natural splendor." He warmly welcomed all visitors and wished them a pleasant stay amid the region's natural charm and unique appeal. 'Esh Jabak?' As part of a new promotional approach, the Office of the Governor of Dhofar has launched the campaign 'Esh Jabak?' an Arabic phrase meaning 'What brought you here?' This campaign emerges from a deeper understanding of visitor behaviour, market trends, and the global move toward meaningful, personal experiences. 'Esh Jabak?' celebrates the diverse reasons that make Dhofar a multi-faceted destination — each visit sparked by a different story. The campaign highlights Dhofar's timeless natural beauty, adventure opportunities in caves and mountains, the warmth and generosity of its people, a vibrant calendar of events, and the luxury offered by local resorts and hotels. Rather than simply promoting the physical attractions, the campaign focuses on the emotional journey uncovering the motivations behind each traveler's decision to visit. It invites visitors to share their stories and passions, transforming Dhofar from a seasonal escape to a destination of connection, discovery, and meaningful personal impact. Khareef Dhofar 2025 events This year's season offers a refreshed vision that boosts Dhofar's touristic and cultural standing. Events are distributed across five main thematic zones that reflect the governorate's diverse environments: • Ateen Square: Home to dazzling fireworks, drone shows, carnival parades, and fantasy-themed performances. • Al-Saada (Return to the Past): Showcases traditional folk events and cultural heritage. • Awqad Park (Kids Time): A favorite destination for children, with exciting carnival shows and exploration zones. • Ateen Plain Promenade: A modern mixed-use venue for adults and children offering entertainment and sports. • Salalah Park (Health Garden): Offers unique fitness experiences in lush green surroundings. Each site has been developed with a distinct identity and professional standards in collaboration with supporting institutions to ensure a rich and unique visitor experience. Accompanying Sites and Cultural & Sports Activities The 2025 season also includes additional venues hosting various public and cultural events, including: • Frankincense Market • Al-Gharf Experience at a local Salalah farm • 'OSARA' and 'Afsinia' beach events in Raysut • Art mural displays at Burj Al-Nahda using advanced visual technologies Events will also extend to towns like Taqah, Mirbat, and Sadah, as well as the historical site of Sumhuram and Al-Haffa Beach Market. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy major national and international events such as: • Salalah International Cycling Tour • Dhofar International Drag Race Championship • Salalah Marathon • Khareef Dhofar Traditional Weapons Competition On the cultural front, Al-Murooj Theatre in Salalah will host theatrical performances and symposiums with top thinkers and creatives from Oman and beyond to support both local and global cultural content. A comprehensive experience for people and place Dhofar Municipality aims to deliver an integrated tourism experience aligned with the beauty of nature through distinctive events and advanced services that meet visitor needs. Shopping centers and local businesses are ready to accommodate increased commercial activity during the season, with a focus on traditional industries and local products such as frankincense, incense, silverware, pottery, Omani sweets, and traditional foods. Public and private institutions continue preparing to receive visitors by providing facilities and services, while several regional airlines have announced direct flights to Salalah International Airport. Fullscale preparations and unified efforts Dhofar Municipality has intensified efforts in cleaning and maintaining parks and roads, increasing cleaning teams, and providing waste containers and public facilities at tourist sites. Upgrades have been made to sites like Darbat Waterfalls, Ain Razat, Sumhuram, and the Highlands — including parking, rest areas, and infrastructure improvements. Safety protocols have been coordinated with security and health authorities to ensure visitor well-being, including mobile toilets, first aid points, and other precautionary measures. A unique climatic and tourism phenomenon Khareef in Dhofar is a rare weather and tourism phenomenon in the region. The governorate experiences cloudy, rainy weather and moderate temperatures — especially in high-altitude areas often blanketed in mist. The mountains and plains turn vibrant green due to continuous drizzle and light rains, nourishing plants and natural grazing lands. Water flows abundantly from famous springs such as Razat, Hamran, Jarziz, Sahalnoot, and Tabraq, and dramatic waterfalls emerge — particularly in August in Darbat, Athoum, Khor, Jojob, and Hawta in Rakhyut, drawing large crowds. Natural and historical identity Dhofar boasts varied topography — coastal, agricultural, mountainous, and desert and a rich historical and archaeological heritage. It includes UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Al-Baleed and Sumhuram Archaeological Parks, The Land of Frankincense Museum, and historic forts in Rakhyut, Taqah, Mirbat, and Sadah. The Salalah Plain is known for its tropical produce like coconuts, bananas, papayas, and sugarcane, and the region is home to many creeks, protected natural reserves, and abundant marine and wildlife. In 2024, the Khareef Dhofar season welcomed over one million visitors, marking a 9% increase from 2023a testament to Dhofar's growing appeal. With this momentum, organizers of Khareef Dhofar 2025 extend a heartfelt invitation to both local and international visitors to explore the beauty of Dhofar and enjoy an unforgettable experience of nature, culture, and the warmth of authentic Omani hospitality.


Times of Oman
3 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman's High Performance 49er Team Sets Sail at Kieler Woche 2025
Muscat – Oman's high performance 49er team has commenced racing in Kiel, Germany, at the prestigious Kieler Woche regatta, one of the world's largest sailing events. The team, represented by Musab Al Hadi and Waleed Al Kindi, has joined 81 crews from 22 nations in the Men's Skiff 49er competition, held from 21 - 25 June as part of the event's Olympic programme. The event marks the team's second major international competition of the season, following their participation in the 49er European Championship in Greece earlier this month. With 12 races scheduled over five days, the regatta offers a critical opportunity to refine skills and gain experience against a highly competitive fleet. The team, however, was forced to wait for their first race of the day due to the light summer breeze and ended their shortened in 33rd position after completing just two races. Hashim Al Rashdi, Oman Sail's Head Performance Coach, commented: 'Kieler Woche is a cornerstone event in our preparation for the Asian Games 2026 and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The level of competition here is exceptional, providing our sailors with an ideal platform to test their progress under pressure. Musab and Waleed have shown great dedication, and we're confident this event will play a key role in their development as they work toward Olympic qualification.' The team is coached by Jacek Nowak, a seasoned 49er campaigner with extensive experience in European and world championships. Nowak emphasised the importance of adaptability: 'Kiel's conditions can be unpredictable, demanding quick decision-making and technical precision. Our goal is to leverage every race to strengthen the crew's tactical awareness and resilience, which are key for the upcoming World Championship and Asian Championship.' Following Kieler Woche, the team will return to Oman for further training before heading to the 49er World Championship in Italy from 7-13 October and the Asian Sailing Championship in November.


Times of Oman
6 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman Cricket to disburse T20 World Cup prize money shortly
MUSCAT: Oman Cricket (OC) has confirmed that the prize money awarded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the team's participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 will be disbursed to the full squad (squad comprises of players and support staff) by July 2025. The total amount of USD 225,000 is set to be shared among full squad, in line with ICC regulations. The OC board's decision follows various emergency meetings convened over the last 8 months on this topic. The board reiterated that the delay in disbursement was procedural, dependent on formal post-event clarifications from the ICC, which are typically received after global tournaments. Walkout before ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup At the centre of the controversy lies a highly unusual and deeply concerning episode in October 2024, when 11 senior players, including then captain Aqib Ilyas and ex-skipper Zeeshan Maqsood, withdrew from national duty hours before Oman's campaign at the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, which was held in Muscat. While concerns over the delayed prize money had been raised, Oman Cricket officials, including OC Chairman Pankaj Khimji, had repeatedly assured the players that payments would be made in full following the ICC's confirmation of the allocation and structure. Despite these reassurances, the group of players escalated the situation and refused to play, putting Oman's international commitment at serious risk. 'The players had every right to seek clarity, and we were transparent about the timelines involved,' said Pankaj Khimji. 'But to walk out at the last moment — just hours before representing the nation — was not only irresponsible, but it was also an insult to the entire team, the coaching staff, the board, and most importantly, the nation they were supposed to serve.' Board takes disciplinary action Following the walkout, the OC Board met twice in emergency sessions and unanimously resolved to terminate the central contracts of the 11 players and bar them from all national and domestic cricket until further notice. The decision was in line with the players' contractual obligations, which the board emphasised the players had clearly breached. The suspended players were Aqib Ilyas, Zeeshan Maqsood, Ayaan Khan, Kashyap Prajapati, Shoaib Khan, Ahmed Fayyaz Butt, Pratik Athavale, Kaleemullah, Rafiullah, Naseem Khushi, and Khalid Kail. Khimji reiterated that this was not a routine disciplinary matter but a serious act of disruption that almost compromised Oman's participation in a major tournament. The board described the episode as a coordinated walkout that amounted to 'blackmail', an act of pressure unbecoming of national representatives. The OC chairman also strongly criticised the involvement of the World Cricketers' Association (WCA), accusing it of orchestrating unrest within the squad at a critical time. 'It is evident that the players were heavily influenced and misled by external voices — particularly the WCA — which encouraged them to abandon their duties under the guise of advocacy. What happened was not protest, but provocation,' Khimji said. 'The WCA played an active role in sowing distrust and destabilising the team environment. The players were urged to take a drastic and unjustified stance, despite having my personal assurance that the prize money would be paid in full — regardless of whether they played the Emerging Cup or not. Such interference is unacceptable, and we cannot allow outside entities to manipulate our national team cricketers.' New leadership, new momentum In the wake of the withdrawals, a new squad was swiftly assembled under the leadership of experienced batter Jatinder Singh. With limited time to prepare, the revamped team regrouped and has since shown tremendous character. Under Jatinder's captaincy, Oman have won 9 out of 11 matches in the ongoing **ICC World Cup League 2, showcasing both resilience and emerging talent. The performance has helped restore belief in the team and underlined the depth of cricketing potential in the Sultanate. OC Treasurer Alkesh Joshi said: 'The response of the new squad has been nothing short of inspirational. They've played with heart, discipline, and a sense of responsibility — everything the national jersey should represent. It is a shame that the barred players came under the influence of certain people and organisations and threatened the sanctity of the game.' Transparency measures and way forward To avoid future lapses, Oman Cricket has constituted a special internal committee to investigate the communication gap around the prize money and to recommend a more robust, transparent structure for tournament-based remunerations and player engagement ahead. Joshi said: 'This was an isolated incident, but it showed us the need for stronger systems. We will ensure that players are never left uncertain about their entitlements — but also that professional commitments are never compromised.' Oman Cricket reiterated its commitment to upholding the integrity of the national team and ensuring that the values of discipline and respect for the nation remain non-negotiable. Khimji said that over the years, the players have been the largest beneficiaries of Oman Cricket's growth, with a sizeable percentage of ICC grants spent on their development. 'As an Associate nation, we have been at the forefront — not only in building world-class infrastructure — but also in treating our players like family. They have never been treated unfairly. This incident has been deeply unfortunate.' 'Our doors are open to talent, but closed to indiscipline,' added the Oman Cricket president. 'We will continue to support our players and honour their efforts — but we expect them, in turn, to honour the nation and the badge they wear.'