Grape harvest season begins in Al Awabi vineyards

The air drifting through Jalb in Al Alya Village, the Wilayat of Al Awabi, Al Batinah South Governorate, carried the scent of ripening grapes, newly ploughed soil, freshly cut leaves and grass.
Before sunrise, following the Fajr prayers, farmers gathered at their vineyards to begin the grape harvest before the summer heat became too intense. After the morning’s usual banter, they set to work picking grapes from farms stretching across the village’s lush mountain landscape. By mid-morning, they returned home with the day’s harvest, having completed much of their work before the sun reached its peak.
The season was celebrated through the second Al Awabi Grape Festival, held at Jalb Farm in Wadi Bani Kharus under the auspices of Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidy, Minister of Heritage and Tourism.
The two-day agricultural and eco-tourism event highlighted Al Awabi’s grape-growing heritage, promoted locally grown produce and encouraged domestic rural tourism.
Among those in attendance were Eng Ibrahim bin Said al Kharousi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Heritage; Eng Masoud bin Said al Hashmi, Governor of Al Batinah South; Colonel Nasser bin Saud al Riyami; and Ishaq bin Salem al Rawahi, Wali of Al Awabi.
The festival aimed to promote locally grown grapes as a high-value seasonal crop, while encouraging farmers to expand cultivation and adopt modern production techniques.
“This Grape Festival, celebrated for the second time in a row, is where farmers from across Oman display the fruits of their labour — a wide variety of fresh local grapes and agricultural products — for the public”, said Ammar al Bahri, one of the organisers and proprietor of Jalb Café.
“We were expecting no less than 5,000 to 6,000 kilos of crop this year”, he added.
Al Bahri said the festival served as a platform for farmers to showcase their produce, exchange expertise and strengthen Al Awabi’s reputation as one of Oman’s leading agricultural and heritage destinations.

The event also supported farmers and small businesses by connecting them directly with consumers. The accompanying agricultural market featured exhibitors from across the Sultanate of Oman, offering grape varieties and value-added grape products alongside seasonal fruits, Omani honey, sidr products, natural soaps and handmade rural goods produced by local families.
Visitors explored traditional aflaj-irrigated farms and green mountain vineyards, received grape seedlings and experienced the village’s rural cafés. Stalls selling Omani honey, handicrafts and local food added to the festival atmosphere.
Beyond its cultural value, the grape harvest had a growing economic and tourism impact. Around 4,000 kilos of Omani grapes were exported annually, while the harvest season attracted visitors from within Oman and abroad to Al Awabi’s villages and farms.
Speaking at the festival, Ishaq bin Salem al Rawahi, Wali of Al Awabi, said the event reflected growing national interest in supporting agriculture and empowering farmers to improve production methods.
He noted that the festival contributed to Oman’s food security goals by encouraging increased local agricultural production, sustainability and self-sufficiency.
The event also provided a platform for productive families, including the Omani Women’s Corner in Al Awabi and the Al Awabi Charity Team. They displayed traditional foods and handicrafts, while the programme included heritage performances, seminars on modern farming, children’s activities and live tastings of grape-based products.