Dhofar Governorate
Dhofar welcomed 1.048M khareef visitors in 2024—up 9%—as the monsoon transforms Arabia's only green summer destination into Oman's tourism engine, anchored by UNESCO frankincense heritage sites.
Dhofar exists because the Indian Ocean monsoon touches Arabia only here—the khareef brings seasonal rains from June through September that transform the Qara Mountains into lush greenery while the rest of the Gulf swelters at 40°C. This climatic anomaly created the conditions for frankincense trees to thrive, making Dhofar the ancient world's primary source of the precious resin that traveled to Rome, Jerusalem, and China.
The khareef now drives mass tourism. Dhofar welcomed 1.048 million visitors during Khareef 2024—a 9% year-on-year increase—with 827,115 visitors by mid-August 2025, up 2.1% from the same period. Omani domestic visitors grew 71.5% to 591,577, while GCC nationals added 143,431. Hospitality capacity expanded to 100 licensed establishments with 7,300 rooms across Salalah, Taqah, and Mirbat.
UNESCO World Heritage sites anchor cultural tourism year-round: Al-Baleed and Sumhuram Archaeological Parks preserve frankincense trading port remnants from the 8th-16th centuries. The Land of Frankincense Museum contextualizes the resin trade that shaped regional history. Salalah's shopping centers continue traditional commerce in frankincense, silver, pottery, and Omani halwa sweets.
The 2025 season organized events across five thematic zones: Ateen Square (fireworks, drone shows), Al-Saada (folk events), Awqad Park (children), Ateen Plain Promenade (sports), and Salalah Park (fitness). Dhofar represents Oman's success at monetizing its most distinctive natural asset.
By 2026, Dhofar's trajectory depends on whether infrastructure can scale to meet growing demand while the khareef itself remains predictable amid climate uncertainty.