Oman Kite Festival to showcase potential of adventure tourism
Scheduled to take place from July 15 to 24, the festival will begin at Barr al Hikman and conclude at Ras al Hadd, covering several of the sultanate's key coastal regions.
Sultan Sulaiman al Khudoori, Assets Manager at Omran, said the initiative supports the group's strategy to diversify tourism offerings and capitalise on Oman's natural assets. He added that momentum from last year's downwinder races helped scale up the event.
'The expanded format is expected to attract a larger number of international athletes and deliver a richer tourism offering that reflects the diversity of Oman's coastal environments,' he said.
Shaima Said al Asmi, events specialist at Oman Sail, described the festival as a milestone for marine sports development in the country. She noted that Oman's coastline offers ideal conditions for kite surfing, including ecological variety and favourable wind and weather.
'The participation of elite international kitesurfers brings a new dimension to the festival and strengthens Oman's positioning as a top destination for water-based adventure tourism,' she said.
The festival will include a multi-stage 'Downwinder' race, beginning from Barr al Hikman to Masirah Island, then proceeding to Ras al Ruwais, followed by a stage from the Pink Lagoons to Al Ashkharah, and ending with a stretch from Ras al Jinz to Ras al Hadd.
Additional races include the Kite Course Race at Barr al Hikman, a Coastal Race at Masirah Island, and a Slalom Race at Ras al Hadd. The event will also feature family-oriented activities and an exhibition for small and medium enterprises at Ashkharah Municipal Park.
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