Al Dakhiliyah kicks off the sports season with diverse programmes

MANAH, JULY 7
Al Dakhiliyah Governorate and Sports Makers Company launched the Sports Season 2026-2027, which will run from August 2026 to February 2027, during a ceremony held at the Oman Across Ages Museum under the auspices of Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth.
The events include a number of championships, activities, sports and community programmes. The aim is to activate sports as a driver of sustainable development, enhance quality of life, promote sports tourism, support economic activity, and capitalise on the governorate's rich natural and cultural heritage.
Shaikh Mahmoud bin Rashid al Saadi, at the office of the Governor of Al Dakhiliyah, said: “The launch of the sports season comes as an extension of the governorate’s direction towards investing in the comparative advantages of its wilayat. It also helps employ sports as one of the enablers supporting sustainable development, through quality programmes and events that contribute to enhancing the quality of life, expanding community participation, and stimulating tourism and economic activity, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.”
The sports season will feature a wide range of competitions and events, including Al Dakhiliyah Electronic Games Festival, the Government Employees Sports Games, running race, the Empire Race, Nizwa Urban Games Festival, a mountain hike, Al Jabal Al Akhdhar Football League, the Gulf Equestrian Gathering, a Classic Car Exhibition, Salout Marathon, the Adam Legends Sports, sports caravans, open sports days, fitness programmes, and a variety of recreational sporting activities.
Among the events in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate is Al Jabal Al Akhdhar Festival, which runs from mid-July to the end of August and includes tourism, cultural, entertainment, and sporting programmes. These include the Gulf Equestrian Gathering, which brings together riders from the GCC countries for a tourism experience that showcases the natural beauty of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, and the Fig and Olive Festival.
Ahmed bin Salim al Toubi, Director-General of Administrative and Financial Affairs in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, said: 'The preparation for the sports season was based on an integrated operational plan that included technical, organisational and logistical aspects, in coordination with government agencies and implementing partners, to ensure the readiness of the event sites and the smooth implementation of the approved timetable. We were keen to distribute the events across a number of its wilayats according to the natural, tourist and heritage features that distinguish each wilayat, in order to achieve integration between the events, raise the quality of the experience of participants and visitors, and enhance the benefit of the economic sectors and small and medium enterprises from the activity accompanying the season.”
Zayed bin Khalifa al Rashdi, Director of Public Relations at Sports Makers Company, said: 'The company works to implement events according to the best organisational practices, while applying the highest standards of safety and quality, which contributes to providing an integrated sports experience.'
The ceremony also reviewed the careers of a select group of Omani athletes and their achievements in regional and international forums, highlighting inspiring national role models and their role in spreading a culture of sports excellence.
Among the athletes taking part in the exhibition are the sprinter Barakat al Harthy, tennis champion Fatma al Nabhani, and free diving champion Omar al Ghilani.
Al Rawas said: “This season the programme offers distinguished services to the community, and it is the result of integration between government institutions and the private sector. It is also an opportunity for the community to practice sports. We hope and invite everyone to participate in these distinguished events.”
The seven-month programme reflects Al Dakhiliyah Governorate's broader vision of using sport as a platform for community engagement, tourism development and economic growth. The season is expected to attract participants and visitors from across Oman and the GCC while showcasing the governorate's diverse natural and heritage attractions.