Tuesday 04 / November / 2025
London: The Khareef Dhofar (Monsoon) Season has been awarded the 'Leading Tourism Destination of 2025' prize at the Arab Tourism and Travel Awards, organised by the Arab London Foundation in London. The event saw participation from several prominent figures and institutions in the global tourism sector.
This award crowns the successful journey of the Khareef Dhofar Season over the past years and its remarkable regional and global presence, thanks to its unique natural assets and exceptional climate that make Dhofar Governorate a renewed tourist destination throughout the year.
HH Sayyid Marwan Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, stated to Oman News Agency (ONA) that this achievement embodies the growing stature of the Khareef Dhofar Season on the global tourism map and reflects the continuous efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman to promote sustainable tourism development. He indicated that the season has become an integrated model for managing tourist destinations in terms of planning, organisation, and the integration of roles between government and private entities and the local community.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Mohsen Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, who received the award, explained that this international accolade is the result of integrated efforts among various authorities concerned in the governorate. He affirmed that the Arab London Foundation based its selection of the Khareef Dhofar Season on a set of qualitative indicators, including the growing international turnout for the season, the diversity of tourism, cultural, and environmental events and activities, alongside the level of services and supporting tourism infrastructure.
He added that the award also reflects the international community's appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Sultanate of Oman to preserve the natural environment and biodiversity, which is a fundamental pillar in promoting the concept of sustainable tourism adopted by Dhofar Municipality within its long-term strategy.
Meanwhile, Azzan Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, stated that the Ministry implemented an integrated promotional plan for the Khareef Dhofar Season 2025, which included the "Your Green Summer" campaign and a number of marketing activities in the local and Gulf markets. This was accompanied by mobile exhibitions organised in a number of Gulf capitals to introduce the tourism, natural, and entertainment assets that Dhofar Governorate is rich in. The digital promotional campaign reached approximately 6 million views.
He pointed to the opening of new hotel facilities this year to enhance the accommodation capacity, which has exceeded eight thousand hotel rooms in the governorate.
It is worth noting that the Arab London Foundation is a leading entity in the United Kingdom in the field of cultural and civilizational communication between the Arab world and the international community. It organises several prestigious annual events, including the Arab Woman Award, London Art and Fashion Week, and the Arab Tourism and Travel Awards, which felicitate the most prominent initiatives and distinguished tourism seasons at both the Arab and international levels.
