Latest news with #Dakhiliyah
Times of Oman
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
Families flock to Dhofar for engaging children's activities in Khareef 2025
Muscat : The Dhofar Khareef Season 2025 activities for children have a distinctly entertaining and educational theme, combining fun and exploration in diverse and attractive environments. The activities have been carefully designed to cater to the interests of children of all ages, within the season's map, through a range of engaging programs that transport them to enchanting worlds filled with colors and stories, offering them moments of high-quality entertainment that combines fun and learning. In an atmosphere of joy, happiness, and entertainment for families and children, the Dhofar Khareef Season activities are witnessing a growing turnout of visitors from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman. Yahya bin Khalfan Al Touqi from the Wilayat of Adam in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate explained that what attracts visitors is the diversity of the programs on offer, represented by interactive theatrical performances that present educational scenes in a simplified style that appeals to children. Mu'ayyad bin Awad Al Yafi'i from Salalah said that there are a number of daily segments presented to children in various locations, and that educational plays convey important educational messages in an entertaining manner. He also spoke about the variety of recreational games, both aerial and electronic, that suit children's various desires and interests. Ali bin Sulaiman from Al Mudhaibi, North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, one of the parents who flocked to Atin Square with his family, said that such venues and the activities they offer for children are an important outlet for families and an ideal place to entertain children in a safe and enjoyable environment. Al Mudhaibi emphasised that the variety of activities, such as fireworks displays, drone shows, and performances by acrobatic groups such as the Latin Band and the Crew Show, contribute to developing children's imaginations and enriching their visual tastes, and that the facilities cater to a variety of tastes and interests. Abdul Nasser bin Yaqoub Al-Na'ar from the Kingdom of Bahrain expressed his admiration for the high level of organization and precision in selecting activities targeting children. He stated that the allocation of integrated pavilions for children in several locations in Dhofar Governorate allowed him and his family to move around comfortably and easily. Al-Na'ar added that the heritage shows, which connected children to their cultural roots in a simple and fun way, are initiatives that demonstrate a deep understanding of children's needs and the development of their mental and creative skills. He noted that the Dhofar Season has become an integrated tourist destination that combines natural beauty with purposeful family activities. Saeed bin Muslim Habis, owner of the "Ateen Slide" project, said that the project is the first of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman and is being implemented for the first time in Dhofar Governorate, taking advantage of the natural beauty of the Ateen Plain to provide a fun and safe entertainment experience for visitors to the governorate during the Khareef season. He pointed out that the support provided by Dhofar Municipality to youth projects contributed to turning the idea into reality. He emphasised that the project represents a qualitative addition that enhances the diversity and sustainability of tourism and recreational activities in the governorate, with aspirations to develop it in the future, contributing to consolidating Dhofar's position as an integrated tourism destination.
Zawya
23-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
Study finds aflaj vital for Oman's social and economic wellbeing
MUSCAT: Oman's traditional aflaj systems — centuries-old channels that once shaped where and how communities lived — are facing mounting threats that could undermine their role as cornerstones of Omani society. A new research study warns that rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, and changing social dynamics now endanger more than water access: They put at risk a long-standing model of cooperation, resilience, and balance. 'This isn't just about infrastructure or heritage,' says Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, principal investigator of the study and UNESCO Chair on Aflaj Studies and Archaeo-Hydrology at the University of Nizwa. 'The aflaj are a living system that have sustained communities not only through water, but through social collaboration and shared responsibility.' The study, 'Aflaj Systems and Social Cohesion in Oman, Dakhiliyah Region', funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation under its Block Funding Programme, positions the aflaj as much more than functional irrigation tools. It finds that these systems have long served as organising structures for intertribal cooperation, economic interdependence, and conflict resolution — contributing to Oman's unique socio-environmental equilibrium. In challenging earlier anthropological portrayals of tribal societies as territorially insular, the researchers introduce the concept of 'hydro-tribalism' — a framework that explains how shared water management, rather than fixed land boundaries, has shaped tribal interaction in Oman. The falaj, they argue, functions as a unifying force, compelling cooperation due to the technical and geographic realities of water flow. 'Falaj systems cross tribal lines by necessity,' explains Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki. 'To maintain and benefit from a shared water source, tribes had to develop mechanisms of negotiation, joint investment, and trust. That's where the real power of the aflaj lies — it made collaboration essential.' The study's methodology combined ethnographic fieldwork in northern Oman, in-depth interviews with local falaj stakeholders, and a comprehensive literature review from archival and online sources. It reveals how falaj-based cooperation facilitated not only social cohesion but also supported a broader hydro-economic network —with communities investing collectively in farming systems, coordinating planting schedules, and sustaining commerce through waqf-funded infrastructure. These networks, the study suggests, have been instrumental in maintaining social balance and economic sustainability in often harsh environmental conditions. However, that equilibrium is increasingly fragile. 'With urban development encroaching on falaj zones and climate variability reducing water flow, the entire system is at risk of breakdown,' Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki warns. 'We're not just talking about losing an irrigation method — we're talking about the erosion of centuries of social architecture.' The report calls for urgent action, including legal protection for falaj routes, educational efforts to revive traditional knowledge among younger generations, and integrated planning policies that recognise aflaj as both environmental and cultural assets. The researchers stress that the value of the system lies not only in its technical ingenuity, but in the social intelligence it embodies. 'Falaj governance is rooted in equity and consensus. It's a model of sustainability that deserves more than admiration — it demands protection,' says Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki. The research, published in the Journal of Arabian Studies and GeoJournal, was conducted by a multidisciplinary team including Dr. Abdullah Al Ghafri, Amjad Al Rawahi, Dr. Khalifa Al Kindi, Dr. Nasser Al Saadi, Zahra Al Abri, and Ishaq Al Shabibi — each contributing critical expertise in hydrology, history, and cultural studies. © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times of Oman
22-06-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Study finds aflaj vital for Oman's social and economic wellbeing
MUSCAT: Oman's traditional aflaj systems — centuries-old channels that once shaped where and how communities lived — are facing mounting threats that could undermine their role as cornerstones of Omani society. A new research study warns that rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, and changing social dynamics now endanger more than water access: They put at risk a long-standing model of cooperation, resilience, and balance. 'This isn't just about infrastructure or heritage,' says Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, principal investigator of the study and UNESCO Chair on Aflaj Studies and Archaeo-Hydrology at the University of Nizwa. 'The aflaj are a living system that have sustained communities not only through water, but through social collaboration and shared responsibility.' The study, 'Aflaj Systems and Social Cohesion in Oman, Dakhiliyah Region', funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation under its Block Funding Programme, positions the aflaj as much more than functional irrigation tools. It finds that these systems have long served as organising structures for intertribal cooperation, economic interdependence, and conflict resolution — contributing to Oman's unique socio-environmental equilibrium. In challenging earlier anthropological portrayals of tribal societies as territorially insular, the researchers introduce the concept of 'hydro-tribalism' — a framework that explains how shared water management, rather than fixed land boundaries, has shaped tribal interaction in Oman. The falaj, they argue, functions as a unifying force, compelling cooperation due to the technical and geographic realities of water flow. 'Falaj systems cross tribal lines by necessity,' explains Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki. 'To maintain and benefit from a shared water source, tribes had to develop mechanisms of negotiation, joint investment, and trust. That's where the real power of the aflaj lies — it made collaboration essential.' The study's methodology combined ethnographic fieldwork in northern Oman, in-depth interviews with local falaj stakeholders, and a comprehensive literature review from archival and online sources. It reveals how falaj-based cooperation facilitated not only social cohesion but also supported a broader hydro-economic network —with communities investing collectively in farming systems, coordinating planting schedules, and sustaining commerce through waqf-funded infrastructure. These networks, the study suggests, have been instrumental in maintaining social balance and economic sustainability in often harsh environmental conditions. However, that equilibrium is increasingly fragile. 'With urban development encroaching on falaj zones and climate variability reducing water flow, the entire system is at risk of breakdown,' Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki warns. 'We're not just talking about losing an irrigation method — we're talking about the erosion of centuries of social architecture.' The report calls for urgent action, including legal protection for falaj routes, educational efforts to revive traditional knowledge among younger generations, and integrated planning policies that recognise aflaj as both environmental and cultural assets. The researchers stress that the value of the system lies not only in its technical ingenuity, but in the social intelligence it embodies. 'Falaj governance is rooted in equity and consensus. It's a model of sustainability that deserves more than admiration — it demands protection,' says Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki. The research, published in the Journal of Arabian Studies and GeoJournal, was conducted by a multidisciplinary team including Dr. Abdullah Al Ghafri, Amjad Al Rawahi, Dr. Khalifa Al Kindi, Dr. Nasser Al Saadi, Zahra Al Abri, and Ishaq Al Shabibi — each contributing critical expertise in hydrology, history, and cultural studies.
Times of Oman
22-06-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Research project explores the role of aflaj in Omani tribal society
Muscat: For a research project the role of falaj water management systems in shaping social cohesion and economic sustainability within Omani tribal communities is being studied, according to Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, Assistant Professor and UNESCO Chair on Aflaj Studies and Archaeo- Hydrology at the University of Nizwa. The project, 'Aflaj Systems and Social Cohesion in Oman, Dakhiliyah Region', is a pioneering research project funded by the block funding programme of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. While many Western anthropologists have portrayed tribal societies as territorially insular and resistant to external influences, the findings of this study challenge this notion. The aflaj system instead emerges as a central organising principle that transcends tribal boundaries, fostering cooperation and economic interdependence. For the methodology, Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki and his team employed an inductive qualitative approach, drawing on archival research and ethnographic fieldwork in northern Oman. They conducted in-depth interviews with local aflaj stakeholders, complemented by an extensive literature review using both hard copy and online sources. The findings of the study reveal that the aflaj irrigation system in the Sultanate of Oman functions more than a method of water distribution—it serves as a foundation for what the researchers' term 'hydro-tribalism,' a social structure where intertribal cooperation is driven by the technical and geographic demands of shared water resources. Contrary to western anthropological depictions of tribalism as territorially rigid and insular, the falaj system promotes collaboration across tribal lines, compelling communities to adapt spatially and socially to the hydrological realities of water's mobility. This dynamic reframes the aflaj as a central organising force that tempers territorial disputes and facilitates shared governance. Moreover, the research highlights how the aflaj system underpins a broader hydro-economic network that transcends tribal divisions through collective investment, standardised agricultural practices, and trade enabled by waqf-supported infrastructure. This interdependence has historically fostered social cohesion and economic sustainability. However, the system now faces existential threats from urbanisation and environmental degradation. Preserving the aflaj is critical not only for water management, but also for safeguarding the social and economic fabric it sustains, offering a valuable model for resilience and sustainable development in an era of climate and societal pressures. Through this study, Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki recommends safeguarding afalaj systems not only as a water supply source, but also as a social asset that has enabled Omanis to live in perfect harmony with both others and nature. The lessons embedded in the aflaj system offer invaluable insights into sustainable development, demonstrating how cooperation can prevail over territorialism in shaping resilient societies. This research project was published in the Journal of Arabian Studies and GeoJournal. The research team consisted of Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, Dr. Abdullah Al Ghafri, Amjad Al Rawahi, Dr Khalifa Al Kindi, Dr. Nasser Al Saadi, Ms. Zahra Al Abri, and Ishaq Al Shabibi.
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Over 4,200 passengers use Mwasalat buses in Nizwa during Eid break
Muscat – Mwasalat, in cooperation with Dakhiliyah Governor's Office, recorded a strong response to its public transport services in Nizwa during the Eid Al Adha holiday, with more than 4,276 passengers using its buses over a four-day period. The increased ridership reflects a growing awareness among the public of the advantages of public transport, particularly in terms of ease of movement, reduced traffic congestion, and overall convenience. Mwasalat continues to enhance and expand its network across the sultanate, supporting national efforts to provide sustainable and efficient transportation solutions. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
