AL JABAL AL AKHDHAR: The spring rose harvest season in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, is witnessing growing visitor turnout, reaffirming its status as one of the most prominent tourist seasons in the Sultanate of Oman. The season is distinguished by its unique natural attributes and deeply rooted cultural heritage, which together contribute to energising tourism activity and supporting the local economy.
The season serves as a significant economic driver, empowering family-run businesses and revitalising traditional industries associated with mountain roses, foremost among them the production of rose water, soaps, and essential oils. This provides sustainable sources of income and boosts the entrepreneurship sector.
The rose season, which typically runs from mid-March to mid- or late May each year, helps boost tourism activity during the first half of the year, stimulates demand for tourism-related services, and tangibly enhances the local economy.
Estimates indicate that the number of rose plants cultivated in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar stands at approximately 6,000 plants, with an annual production of around 30,000 litres of rose water, and a market value estimated at roughly RO 210,000, highlighting the growing economic importance of this agricultural sector intertwined with cultural heritage.
Ahlam bint Hamad al Qasabi, Director of the Heritage and Tourism Department in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, said the rose season is one of the vital tourist seasons that reflects the unique character of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar and enriches the visitor experience through direct engagement with the natural environment and local heritage. She noted that the season serves as an integrated community platform in which local residents and productive families participate by showcasing and marketing rose products and derivatives.
She explained that the promotional efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism during the spring rose season include filming and producing a promotional video, purchasing promotional gifts, acquiring a painted artwork of roses in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, implementing promotional media coverage, collaborating with influencers at various social media platforms, running digital advertisements in both the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, setting up advertising screens in several governorates of Oman, conducting continuous promotional postings about the season on social media platforms, and creating a digital promotional page for booking tourism packages in collaboration with the national travel and tourism operator.
Ahmed bin Salim al Toobi, Director-General of Administrative and Financial Affairs in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, stated that the spring rose season embodies an integrated model of harnessing natural and heritage assets to support economic diversification in the governorate. He noted that the governorate is working to develop the season into a comprehensive economic and tourism platform that contributes to stimulating activities related to tourism, agriculture and manufacturing industries.
Recent data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) showed that the number of visitors to the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar during the past year, 2025, reached 222,151 visitors, compared to 203,629 visitors during 2024, marking an increase of 9.1%.
This year's spring rose season, organised by Al Dakhiliyah Governorate in partnership with a number of public and private institutions, features a diverse programme of events. Most notable among them is the Rose Trail between villages, which connects several agricultural villages with the participation of approximately 400 competitors, offering an experience that combines sports, tourism, and mountain nature exploration.
The season also includes the organisation of a specialised academic symposium exploring prospects for developing the rose and aromatic plants sector in the Sultanate of Oman, alongside discussions on investment, export opportunities, and modern distillation technologies. Additionally, awareness and educational programmes targeted at children and families are held to promote environmental and agricultural awareness through interactive methods.
The residents of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar are committed to preserving the cultivation of mountain roses and passing down traditional production techniques from generation to generation, as this cultivation holds both economic and cultural value, contributing to the consolidation of local identity and enhancing the wilayat's position as a distinguished year-round tourist destination. — ONA
Total rose plants: 6,000
Annual production: 30,000 litres of rose water
Market value: RO 210,000
Total visitors (2025): 222,151
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