Salalah ready to offer a treat to visitors

With the onset of monsoon, Salalah has once again transformed into the jewel of Arabia, welcoming the much-anticipated Khareef Dhofar Season with a blanket of mist, cool drizzles and lush green landscapes.

The mountains of Dhofar, reaching heights of over 1,500 metres, now resemble a verdant crescent, rolling down gently into fertile plains and golden coastlines that stretch as far as the eye can see.

With temperatures hovering pleasantly between 20–26 °C, Salalah stands in stark contrast to the scorching 45 °C heat engulfing much of the Gulf.

The soft, uninterrupted drizzles over the last few days have confirmed what many were hoping for: Khareef has officially settled in — not just on the mountains, but in the heart of the city itself.

“Every year, this season feels like nature hits a reset button,” said Reem al Balushi, a resident of Salalah. “The grey clouds, the wet air, the smell of rain-drenched earth — it brings back childhood memories”. The mountain villages such as Qairun Hariti, Zeik, Hajif, Titam and Tawi Atir have been receiving consistent drizzling, with most dry patches now replaced by vibrant greenery.

Tourists have begun to trickle in, with long queues of vehicles heading towards Itin Mountain becoming a regular evening sight.

Coffee shops along Iteen Road and open-air cafes in New Salalah are witnessing a renewed buzz, with visitors relishing their cups of ‘karak’ in the misty ambiance.

According to Sultan al Mahri, a hotelier in the city, bookings have begun to pick up. “We’re already seeing GCC families making advance bookings. Compared to earlier years, the infrastructure has improved significantly — wider roads, better connectivity and more accommodation options make it easier to welcome large numbers”. Indeed, Salalah’s preparations this year are far ahead of the curve. Several new furnished apartments have sprung up across the city, while star hotels have introduced monsoon-themed events and culinary festivals to enhance the visitor experience.

“Last year was amazing, but this year we’re offering even more,” said Mahmoud Zain, who manages a newly opened boutique hotel near Al Haffa beach. “Our guests can enjoy local seafood delicacies, join guided hikes through the misty valleys, or just relax with the view of waterfalls cascading down the cliffs”. Beyond the mist and rain, the region’s tropical charm adds to the allure — coconut groves, banana plantations, papaya orchards and, of course, the famed frankincense trees that flourish in the nearby wadis. The seasonal fog acts as a natural shield, creating a microclimate that supports this unique blend of flora.

For many visitors, however, it’s not just the landscape, but the vibe of Khareef that draws them in. “You don’t come to Salalah just for a vacation,” said Ahmed al Khater, a visitor from Bahrain.

“You come here to breathe, to pause and to be part of something timeless”. With the season officially in full swing, Salalah is ready — not just to host tourists, but to immerse them in the magic of monsoon, the warmth of Omani hospitality and the soothing rhythm of nature’s finest performance.