TAQAH: Wadi Darbat in Dhofar Governorate is witnessing growing economic and tourism activity during the Khareef Dhofar Season 2026, driven by Omani youth-led projects that have successfully leveraged the valley's unique natural assets to offer diverse tourism services and experiences. This contributes to economic vitality, provides seasonal employment opportunities and supports entrepreneurship and sustainable tourism.
These projects are distributed across hospitality facilities, rural rest houses, tourist chalets, cafes, watercraft services, and adventure tourism, in addition to environmental conservation initiatives and the promotion of Omani handicrafts and heritage products. This has contributed to raising the quality of services provided to visitors arriving from various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and from abroad.
A number of project owners in Wadi Darbat said that the increasing demand during the Khareef season has served as an incentive to expand their investments and develop their services, in line with the sustained growth in tourism traffic and the year-on-year increase in visitor numbers to Dhofar Governorate.
Salim bin Mohammed al Maashani, owner of the Reef Darbat Rest House project, said that the project aims to embody Omani rural identity through a design inspired by the local environment, using natural materials such as wood and clay, in addition to showcasing heritage products including ghee, honey, pottery, and traditional crafts. This contributes to supporting artisans and family businesses and promoting community-based tourism.
Said bin Mahad al Maashani, owner of the 'Darbat Chalets' project, noted that the project has evolved from just three chalets at its launch five years ago into an integrated tourism destination offering online booking services, meal provision, and upgraded facilities and interior decor, alongside providing employment opportunities for Omani talent and a commitment to cultivating native plants and environmental conservation.
In the food and beverage sector, Hamid bin Alawi Ba Omar, owner of the 'Molo Darbat' cafe, explained that the cafe — which opened in 2022 — has become one of the valley's premier tourism destinations, thanks to its integrated experience combining nature with modern services. Its design has also made it a favourite spot for photography enthusiasts and content creators, thereby contributing to the destination's promotion across social media platforms.
Mohammed bin Mohsen al Maamari, owner of the 'Darbat Park Boats' project, stated that the project began with just three boats in 2008 and has since expanded to over 85 boats, operated by 48 employees — 33 of whom are Omanis. He noted that the expansion has included the development of hospitality facilities and the establishment of a modern cafe, helping to accommodate the growing number of visitors and reduce waiting times.
In the adventure tourism sector, Eng Abdul Hakim bin Amer al Maashani, co-founder of Dhofar Tourism and Investment Company, affirmed that the zipline project — launched in 2022 — has undergone continuous development phases. This year, the project aims to implement four launch lines and four return lines, providing approximately 72 seasonal job opportunities and reinforcing Dhofar Governorate's position as a preferred destination for adventure tourism, with a focus on qualifying national talent to manage and operate the project.
These initiatives represent a successful model of youth-led investment in Wadi Darbat's natural and tourism assets, transforming them into sustainable economic projects that stimulate tourism activity, diversify income sources, and create employment opportunities — thereby fulfilling key aspects of the Sultanate of Oman's developmental, economic, and tourism objectives. - ONA
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