Salalah: Waai (which in Arabic means awareness), a grassroots environmental campaign, warned four-wheel-drive drivers in Dhofar Governorate to avoid the region’s fragile, rain-soaked grasslands, saying they risk irreparable damage to the unique khareef ecosystem.
The initiative, operating under the soon-to-be-registered Nature Conservation Society of Dhofar, said repeat offenders are flagrantly breaching Oman’s environmental protection laws by driving over green spaces that only flourish during the June–September monsoon season. “Driving across the grass is neither adventurous nor harmless,” the group said. “It is a direct assault on the ecosystem that makes Dhofar unique.” Local authorities have recorded fresh tyre scars on plateaus overlooking Salalah, while herders in neighbouring valleys report that compressed soil from vehicles has slowed new plant growth. Khareef greenery is shallow-rooted and easily destroyed by repeated off-road driving.
Waai is calling on the Royal Oman Police and Dhofar Municipality to step up enforcement by increasing mobile patrols, erecting barriers around sensitive picnic areas, and imposing on-the-spot fines or impounding vehicles for serious breaches. The campaign also urges clear, tri-lingual signage—in Arabic, English and Malayalam—at known off-road entry points, along with QR-code maps to guide visitors to legal viewpoints and parking bays. Outreach programmes in schools, the group added, would help foster a “khareef guardian” culture among local youth.
Protecting Dhofar’s seasonal greenery aligns with Oman Vision 2040 goals on sustainable tourism and biodiversity conservation. Tourism officials say last year’s khareef season drew more than 950,000 visitors, supporting thousands of jobs in hospitality, transport and retail. Unchecked habitat damage, Waai warns, could put this vital income at risk.
For now, Waai is appealing as much to conscience as to compliance. “Let’s not erase the khareef magic in a few reckless minutes,” the group said.
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