Oman Winter Holidays 2025-2026: Musandam Fjords, Jebel Shams & Muscat Cultural Events

Published on December 6, 2025

As winter descends across the globe, the Sultanate of Oman is once again positioning itself as the premier destination for those seeking warm sun, thrilling adventures, and deep cultural immersion. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has launched a comprehensive promotional initiative for the 2025-2026 winter season, building on its ambitious National Strategy for Tourism 2040 to boost its economic contribution and global visibility.

The campaign, featuring the catchy appeal to local and GCC markets, “Try Our Winter,” is designed to highlight Oman’s unique combination of moderate winter climate, diverse natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and rapidly improving infrastructure. This isn’t just a marketing push; it’s a strategic effort to showcase an integrated tourism experience that moves beyond traditional desert holidays.

A Land of Diverse Winter Wonders

Oman’s geography provides an unparalleled range of experiences that are best enjoyed when the temperatures drop across the Arabian Peninsula. The MHT’s promotion focuses on distinct regional and experiential clusters, ensuring every type of traveler finds their perfect Omani adventure.

The Fjords of Musandam: The Northern Gem

The Musandam Governorate, often dubbed the “Norway of Arabia” for its dramatic, fjord-like coastline (khors), is a centerpiece of the winter campaign. The Governor’s Office has launched its own “Musandam Winter” season, featuring over 60 diverse events across its four wilayats (provinces).

• Adventure Focus: The season will feature local, regional, and international competitions and festivals. A major highlight is the much-anticipated 1,800-meter-long Zipline adventure over Khor Qada, promising breathtaking views and adrenaline-fueled excitement.
• Marine Exploration: Traditional dhow cruises through the spectacular fjords are promoted, offering serene sea trips, dolphin spotting, and exceptional diving and snorkeling opportunities in the clear waters.
• Infrastructure: The region is investing heavily, with new projects like the “Pearl of Khasab” integrated tourism complex and the restoration of historical sites like the Khasab and Bukha forts to enhance the visitor experience and meet growing demand.

Highland and Desert Adventures

Away from the coast, the interior of Oman shines during winter, with cool, crisp air making mountain and desert exploration genuinely enjoyable.

• Mountain Majesty: The Al Hajar Mountains, home to Jebel Shams (Oman’s Grand Canyon) and Jebel Akhdar (The Green Mountain), offer prime conditions for hiking, trekking, and sightseeing. Luxury mountain resorts provide comfortable retreats after a day of exploring terraced farms and ancient villages.
• Desert Serenity: The Wahiba Sands (A’Sharqiyah Sands) become accessible and inviting, providing the quintessential Arabian desert experience—dune bashing, camel riding, and stargazing during comfortable overnight camping stays in Bedouin-style camps.

Cultural and Urban Hubs

The cultural and urban centers of Muscat and Nizwa become delightful to explore without the summer heat. Visitors are encouraged to:

• Wander through the incense-scented aisles of the Muttrah Souq in Muscat.
• Visit the architectural masterpiece of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
• Explore the historic Nizwa Fort and its traditional market, which still holds a weekly goat and cattle auction.
• The Muscat Nights event, scheduled to start from January 1, 2026, and the anticipated opening of major projects like the Oman Botanic Garden and the Muttrah Cable Car, are expected to add significant cultural and leisure flavor to the season.

The Strategy: Connectivity and Quality

The 2025-2026 promotion is underpinned by solid strategic advancements aimed at making Oman easier to reach and more rewarding to explore.

• Enhanced Connectivity: Oman Air is significantly boosting its capacity, particularly with the relaunch of double-daily flights on the London Heathrow-Muscat route by the summer of 2026, with the second rotation starting four days a week in October 2025. Furthermore, new direct routes, such as the Beijing–Muscat flights, signal a major expansion into key Asian markets.
• Regional Collaboration: The upcoming launch of the GCC Unified Tourist Visa is a game-changer. This initiative will allow seamless travel across Gulf Cooperation Council member states, positioning Oman as an essential part of a multi-country Arabian itinerary and boosting regional tourism.
• Digital Marketing: The campaign relies heavily on digital campaigns targeting key markets in the GCC, Asia, and Europe, utilizing short promotional videos and social media engagement, with a focus on quality content that involves local SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in production.
• Cruise Tourism: The season is set to welcome new luxury vessels, including the “Islamic Cruise,” anchoring at Salalah Port for the first time, signaling a bold expansion in cruise tourism infrastructure and operations.

The Ministry’s efforts are designed not just to increase tourist arrivals but to encourage a longer average length of stay (currently 5-6 nights) and ensure the growth is sustainable, with strong community involvement and high-quality visitor experiences. The successful 2024-2025 season, which saw visitors inject over RO 1.1 billion into the economy, sets a strong foundation for the coming winter, positioning Oman to shatter previous tourism records.