Oman’s Jebel Akhdar Faces New Focus on Low-Impact Mountain Tourism

Jebel Akhdar is going through another era of tourism development for Oman as it tries to meet the increasing demand for tourism while safeguarding one of its unique mountain landscapes. The provided briefing dated September 29, 2026 talks about new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism on building height, construction materials, and the recycling of water for hotels in high altitudes. It also suggests that commercial investors will be mandated to employ traditional stone masonry and solar-thermal water systems independent of the grid. Those particular guidelines were not independently verified in the recent government sources available. However, the current information indicates that Jebel Akhdar is viewed as an important destination in terms of its potential for tourism development.

Jebel Akhdar Is Growing as a Tourism Destination

The scale of the destination’s tourism economy is becoming clearer.

In a September 2026 statement, Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism described Jebel Akhdar as a model for integrated tourism development. The ministry said the wilayat had reached 95 hotel and tourism establishments with more than 1,060 hotel rooms.

Visitor numbers also increased from 203,629 in 2024 to 222,151 in 2025, representing a 9% rise. The figures show why development controls are becoming increasingly relevant as accommodation and visitor infrastructure expand in the mountain destination.

The ministry’s broader tourism-development responsibilities include licensing accommodation, monitoring compliance with tourism regulations and incorporating sustainability and local-community partnerships into tourism development.

A Mountain Landscape That Needs Careful Development

Jebel Akhdar forms part of Oman’s Al Hajar mountain system and is known for steep valleys, dramatic cliffs, terraced agricultural landscapes and villages spread across high elevations.

The Jebel Akhdar Biosphere Reserve covers an important section of the mountain environment. Oman’s Environment Authority identifies biodiversity protection, sustainable ecotourism and reducing uncontrolled human impacts among the reserve’s objectives.

The protected landscape rises above 1,200 metres in key areas and reaches elevations of more than 2,500 metres. Its terrain includes deep wadis, rock formations, caves and water resources that have historically supported agriculture.

That geography makes conventional large-scale construction more complicated than development on flat urban land.

Road access, water supply, waste management, energy and visual impact all have to be considered against a landscape where the mountains themselves are part of the tourism product.

Architecture Is Already Part of the Visitor Experience

The idea of keeping new accommodation visually connected to the mountain environment is not entirely new.

Oman’s official tourism material already highlights mountain properties designed around local landscapes. The country’s tourism guide describes Alila Jabal Akhdar as a clifftop retreat built with locally sourced stone and wood, with architecture intended to blend with the surrounding mountains.

This approach is particularly relevant for Jebel Akhdar because travellers come for the landscape as much as the accommodation.

The appeal includes mountain views, cooler temperatures, hiking routes, traditional villages, orchards and seasonal rose cultivation. The official Experience Oman platform describes the region as a high-altitude destination with the Saiq Plateau at around 2,000 metres and a landscape of wadis and terraced orchards.

For developers, that creates a different proposition from building a conventional resort. The architecture has to coexist with a destination whose natural appearance is one of its strongest tourism assets.

Water Is a Critical Tourism Issue

Water management is another major consideration for mountain hospitality.

Jebel Akhdar has a relatively dry climate, while its agricultural communities depend on carefully managed water resources. Traditional aflaj irrigation systems remain part of Oman’s cultural landscape, directing water towards farms and settlements.

A significant increase in hotel rooms can therefore create pressure on water supplies unless new projects incorporate efficient consumption, wastewater treatment and reuse.

The Ministry’s existing hotel licensing process already distinguishes between different accommodation categories and includes specific requirements for green lodges and heritage inns. Applicants must submit architectural plans and, for green lodges, obtain approval from the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources.

That existing framework provides a foundation for more detailed sustainability standards if the measures described in the September briefing are formally adopted.

Jebel Akhdar’s Rural Tourism Model

Sustainability in Jebel Akhdar is also closely linked to local communities.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism previously supported the development of Al Suwgra village as a heritage tourism experience. The village combines accommodation, local food, mountain trails and traditional landscapes, allowing visitors to experience rural Omani life while supporting small local businesses.

This community dimension could become increasingly important as Jebel Akhdar expands.

Rather than concentrating tourism entirely around large resorts, a broader network of heritage inns, village stays, farms, hiking routes and locally operated experiences can distribute visitor spending across the mountain communities.

For travellers, that could mean a Jebel Akhdar itinerary built around several smaller experiences rather than a single hotel stay.

A New Phase for Oman’s Mountain Tourism

The latest government statistics indicate that Jebel Akhdar is now more than just a speciality stopover for an Oman itinerary. More than 222,000 tourists have visited the wilayat in 2025. Meanwhile, the number of tourism facilities continues to increase. This means that the design of future accommodation should be considered very carefully. The restrictions mentioned in the briefing on September 29 still need to be officially approved before height limits, construction materials, and solar water systems become the rules. What is known for sure at the moment is that the government tries to integrate sustainable development, heritage preservation, and local people into its tourist investments. As far as tourists are concerned, this may help to keep the special characteristics of Jebel Akhdar as the destination for high mountains where hotels, villages, orchards, trails, and amazing landscapes of Al Hajar can be enjoyed all together.