Bidiyah’s winter deserves a bigger stage

As the weather cools, attention turns again to Bidiyah. Its long stretches of dunes become a meeting ground for drivers, spectators and families, with weekend traffic giving parts of the desert the bustle of a busy highway. For those who love sand, engines and a challenge, this is the season they wait for.
There is something worth taking seriously here. People organise their weekends around these gatherings. They prepare vehicles, book accommodation and spend money along the way. Behind the spectacle is an audience already willing to travel for its entertainment.
Liwa, in neighbouring Abu Dhabi, shows how far that enthusiasm can go. Around Tal Moreeb, a winter festival brings together motorsport, camping, food, heritage and family attractions. Its latest completed edition attracted more than 700,000 visitors over 23 days, according to organisers.
The coming edition adds Nitro Circus to a programme that includes racing, drifting and village entertainment. The appeal stretches beyond the person behind the wheel. A family can make a trip of it because there are reasons for everyone to stay.
Oman already shares in that appetite. Omani driver Mohsin bin Hani bin Abdulaziz topped the hybrid category on the opening day of Liwa’s latest hill-climb championship. That is a useful reminder that our enthusiasts are participants in this regional scene.
Bidiyah, meanwhile, is building its own platform. The Rimal Bidiyah Carnival is scheduled from November 19 to December 19, with motorsport, cultural activities and entertainment. Its Hill Climb Challenge runs from November 24 to 27. The foundations exist, and the people developing them deserve recognition.
I would like to see those foundations support a clearly branded Bidiyah winter season, with dates announced early and one dependable website covering competitions, bookings, access, accommodation and family activities.
Imagine a temporary desert village with shaded viewing areas, proper toilets, food stalls, workshops and evening performances. Give local businesses affordable places to trade. Let camps, guides, craftspeople and residents help shape the programme. Government agencies, organisers and sponsors could work towards the same visitor experience.
But popularity needs management. Racing areas need separation from spectators, clear rescue access and trained marshals. Waste collection must keep pace with crowds. Quiet camping areas deserve protection, too. Someone travelling for stars and silence should still find both.
Success should be measured in local earnings, safe events and returning visitors, alongside attendance.
Bidiyah has the landscape and an established community of enthusiasts. With consistent planning, it could give Oman a winter gathering people put in their calendars months ahead.
The desert already means many things to many people. There is room for a bigger season here, provided we organise it well enough to keep those different pleasures alive and give residents a meaningful stake.