Roads to Salalah ready for Khareef travel surge

MUSCAT: As the Khareef Dhofar season approaches, attention is once again turning to the roads leading to Dhofar Governorate, which serve as a vital artery for the movement of thousands of visitors arriving from across the Sultanate of Oman and neighbouring GCC countries.

Every year, these routes witness early preparations and continuous efforts aimed at ensuring smooth traffic flow and enhancing road safety amid expectations of increased travel activity during the upcoming tourism season.

The overland journey to Salalah has become an annual tradition cherished by many families and travellers, offering diverse landscapes that stretch from vast desert plains and rolling dunes to mountain ranges and the mist-covered scenery that characterises Dhofar during the Khareef season. However, the long-distance journey also requires integrated infrastructure readiness, supporting services, and heightened traffic awareness to ensure the safety of road users.

Over recent months, the relevant authorities have intensified maintenance and rehabilitation works on several major roads leading to Dhofar, particularly the Adam–Thumrait Road, considered the primary route for travellers coming from northern Oman.

The works included repairing surface cracks, repainting lane markings, maintaining barriers and road reflectors, and strengthening directional and warning signage in areas prone to heavy traffic or sudden weather changes.

In this regard, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology stated that preparations for the Khareef season began early through the implementation of preventive maintenance and rehabilitation programmes on vital roads leading to Dhofar Governorate. The ministry noted that technical teams continue to monitor road readiness and ensure the safety of infrastructure components and related services.

The ministry added that current efforts are also focused on enhancing traffic safety through updating road signs and surface markings, maintaining safety barriers and coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure rapid response to any emergencies during the season, especially with expectations of increased vehicle movement and visitor numbers compared to normal months.

Efforts are also ongoing to improve the readiness of rest stops and fuel stations located along the route, particularly in desert areas where travellers frequently stop to refuel or rest.

Abdullah bin Naser al Maamari, a frequent traveller on the route, said the journey to Salalah has become more comfortable in recent years due to continuous improvements in road quality and the expansion of services. He stressed the importance of adhering to speed limits and taking adequate rest breaks during the journey to ensure traveller safety.

Meanwhile, Al Qasim bin Hamad noted that the noticeable development in infrastructure and roadside services has encouraged more families to travel by road to Dhofar. He added that the journey has become safer and more organised, particularly with the spread of fuel stations, rest areas, and emergency services along the route.

Authorities continue to launch traffic awareness campaigns ahead of the season, focusing on the importance of vehicle inspections and ensuring the safety of tyres, brakes and cooling systems, particularly due to the high temperatures experienced in some areas along the road.

Specialists believe that road readiness extends beyond maintenance work to include rapid emergency response capabilities and the provision of ambulance and rescue services along key routes, especially with the expected increase in traffic during the Khareef season.

The roads leading to Dhofar have also witnessed gradual improvements in digital travel services, with many travellers now relying on navigation applications to monitor road conditions, locate rest stops and available services, and follow weather and traffic updates in real time. This has significantly improved the travel experience and reduced some of the challenges previously associated with long-distance road trips.

As the countdown to the Khareef season begins, roads leading to Salalah appear to be in a race against time to complete all preparations, amid expectations of a vibrant season driven by continued demand for domestic tourism and family road trips.