Oman Festivals

One of Oman's biggest festivals (after the National Day), the Muscat Festival brings together a myriad of nationalities, celebrating culture, colour and art. Even the performances at the festival are a reflection of the multitude of nationalities living/working in Oman. The Muscat Festival was first held back in 1998, and through the years has become one of the best times to visit the country. Some of the highlights of the festival are The Heritage Village of Al-Amaret Garden, The Dinosaur Village, The Park for the Entertainment Arts, "1001 Inventions", Exhibition of Small & Medium sized Enterprises and a range of theatrical performances that are sure to fascinate, excite and delight. The Muscat Festival is held from mid-January to mid-February.

Oman's National Day falls on the 18th of November. While the whole country comes to standstill to celebrate the date of Oman's sovereignty, hundreds of thousands of people gather all over the country to celebrate the special day. Be sure to head outdoors during the night, wherever you are, to marvel at the amazing firework displays that will light up the sky. Some of the other key attractions of the National Day are a range of cultural programmes, kids' festivals, Gallery Sarah Art Exhibition, Al Bustan Arabian Nights Dinner and History, Military Parade and Vehicle Parade.

This annual tourism festival is held from mid-July to the end of August and coincides with the Khareef season (which celebrates the monsoon lasting from June to September). The Salalah Tourism Festival is extremely popular among nationals, expatriates and tourists alike and over the years, has grown into an international celebration. The festival showcases a number of activities revolving around art, culture, sport, heritage, shopping and competitions in Salalah, which is just over 1,000 km from Muscat. The region of Salalah has 3 main souqs - Al Haffa, Gold Souq and the New Souq. If you are looking to stay at a beach resort, Salalah is a good option to consider. The likes of Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara will place you within close proximity to all the action.

Eid is a period of utmost importance to Muslims in Oman and all over the world, with families spending time together in worship, feasting and exchanging gifts. Eid ul Fitr is celebrated at the sighting of the new moon, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Eid ul Adha is celebrated on the 12th month of the Islamic calendar or September, coinciding with the Hajj Pilgrimage to Makkah. When encountering nationals or other Muslims, one can greet them with a simple "Eid Mubarak". Besides celebrations of all sorts there will be plenty of shopping opportunities to the shopaholic in you during the two Eid celebrations.

Camel racing is a very popular sport in the Middle East. Camels have played an integral role in the region for thousands of years and have been in use as a means of travel, food and entertainment. The sport itself is taken very seriously with plenty of race tracks, specialised farms to breed top-quality camels and state-of-the-art training programmes to ensure high performance. If you're travelling to Oman in September, be sure to visit the nearest racetrack for a once in a lifetime opportunity.