Can you drive an EV up Jabal Akhdhar, without a 4WD?

MUSCAT: Visitors to Jabal Akhdhar can now make the mountain journey in electric vehicles without needing a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle, a change that could open up one of Oman’s most popular tourist destinations to more travellers.

The update was announced by Shabib al Maamari, Managing Director of Visit Oman, in an interview with the Oman Observer. He said electric vehicles are now legally permitted to travel up the mountain, adding that visitors who do not own one can rent an EV for the trip.

Previously, access to Jabal Akhdhar through the checkpoint at Birkat Al Mouz was restricted to 4WD vehicles under safety regulations designed for the mountain’s steep, winding roads.

The change comes as the destination prepares for a higher tourism profile after being named the GCC Tourism Capital for 2027. Jabal Akhdhar attracted more than 220,000 visitors in 2025, with around 101,608 visiting in the first half of 2026 alone.

Further plans to improve access are also being explored, including proposals for a regional airport and passenger terminal on the mountain, as well as an alternative road linking Jabal Akhdhar directly to South Al Batinah without the need for a 4WD vehicle.