Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
At first glance, Popular Sports to Play in Oman might evoke images of the desert and a few camels on the horizon. In reality, the sultanate is transforming into a genuine open-air playground, where hyper-popular football coexists with world-class diving, challenging mountain hikes, sand and sea gliding sports, horse riding, kitesurfing, and international endurance events like IRONMAN or UTMB Oman. All set in a territory known for being safe, uncrowded, and still largely preserved.
This article details the most practiced sports in the country, based on available data and Oman’s adopted strategy for developing sports and adventure tourism.
Soccer, the King of Sports and a National Passion
It’s impossible to discuss Popular Sports to Play in Oman without starting with soccer. It’s the national sport, the most widely played and by far the most followed in the country.
The body overseeing the entire system is the Oman Football Association (OFA), founded in 1978. Upon its creation, it joined FIFA and the Union of Arab Football Associations, then the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1980. Today, the OFA is the largest sports federation in the country, bringing together 44 clubs spread across all governorates.
A Structured Professional League
The top-tier championship, the Oman Professional League, was born in 1976. Long semi-amateur, it underwent a massive professionalization effort in the 2010s, with a clear goal: to raise the level of play and give the national team a better chance to compete in Asia.
Million OMR allocated annually by Sultan Qaboos for league development between 2010 and 2015.
The pyramid system includes three divisions: a first division with 12 clubs, a second with 13 teams, and a third with 20 clubs, totaling approximately 45 structured clubs. Matches are played in modern venues like the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex or Al-Seeb Stadium, some of which can accommodate up to 34,000 spectators.
The league’s record reflects soccer’s deep roots in several cities, notably Salalah, Fanja, Sur, Muscat, Seeb, and Al-Suwaiq. The most decorated club is Dhofar S.C.S.C., crowned champion 12 times, followed by Fanja (9 titles). Other clubs like Al-Nasr, Al-Oruba, Al-Nahda, Al-Suwaiq, and Al-Seeb also have several national trophies.
A synthetic overview of the most decorated clubs’ hierarchy gives an idea of the internal competition:
| Club | City / Region | League Championship Titles (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Dhofar | Salalah | 12 |
| Fanja | Fanja | 9 |
| Al-Nasr | Salalah | 5 |
| Al-Oruba | Sur | 4 |
| Al-Nahda | Al-Buraimi | 4 |
| Al-Suwaiq | Al-Suwaiq | 4 |
| Al-Seeb | Seeb | 4 |
| Muscat Club | Muscat | 3 |
| Sur | Sur | 2 |
| Oman Club | Muscat | 1 |
A Constantly Improving National Team
The national soccer team, nicknamed the Red Warriors, has reached several important milestones in recent decades. They won the Arabian Gulf Cup in 2009 and then in 2018, after narrowly losing the final in 2004 and 2007. Youth teams have also excelled: the U-17 team won the Asian Championship in 1996 and 2000, and finished fourth in the U-17 World Cup in 1995.
The OFA structures youth soccer through seven national teams (A, U-23, U-19, U-16, U-14, beach soccer, and futsal) to develop a talent pool across the entire territory.
A few emblematic players have marked recent history: goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, who played in the English Premier League and a four-time “Best Goalkeeper” of the Gulf Cup, Mohamed Al-Kathiri (Golden Ball winner at the 1995 U-17 World Cup), as well as Imad Al-Hosni and Hani Al-Dhabit, top scorers in several regional competitions.
Mass Participation
Soccer is also the most played sport at the amateur level: an estimated 50,000 people regularly play soccer in Oman, not counting occasional players. The network of clubs, stadiums, municipal fields, and sports complexes contributes to this spread, supported by a public policy that positions sport as a vehicle for integration and social cohesion.
In this landscape, Popular Sports to Play in Oman therefore include soccer first and foremost, both as a major spectacle and a daily activity for tens of thousands of young people.
Scuba Diving: A (Still) Understated Paradise
If there’s one sport that fully benefits from the country’s geography, it’s scuba diving. Oman has more than 3,000 km of coastline, washed by the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Gulf. Its seabeds remain largely preserved and uncrowded, making it a rising destination for divers seeking pristine sites.
Varied Conditions Year-Round
Diving is possible year-round, although conditions fluctuate with seasons and regions. Underwater visibility typically ranges from 5 m to 30 m. The water is warm most of the time: between 27 and 30°C during the hottest months, dropping to 22-23°C in winter.
The south of the country, around Salalah, is influenced by a seasonal monsoon, the khareef, between June and September. This phenomenon cools the water, enriches the water column with nutrients – attracting abundant marine life – but can reduce visibility. During this period, diving is suspended off the coast of Salalah.
The best months to combine good visibility, pleasant temperatures, and stable weather generally extend from October to May, with peaks often cited in April-May and September-October. The September-November period is considered ideal for observing whale sharks.
Impressive Biodiversity
The waters of the sultanate are home to remarkable marine life. There are an estimated 1,300 to 1,500 species of fish, as well as more than 130 species of hard corals and 60 species of soft corals. Among larger animals, 22 species of cetaceans are found: spinner and bottlenose dolphins, Arabian humpback whales, sperm whales, blue whales, and even occasionally observed orcas.
Five of the seven known species of sea turtles frequent Omani waters, and four of them (the green turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle, and olive ridley turtle) come to lay eggs on its beaches. A major nesting site is the Daymaniyat Islands off Muscat, home to one of the world’s highest hawksbill turtle nesting rates.
Frequent encounters include reef sharks (blacktip reef sharks, zebra sharks, or leopard sharks), eagle rays, mobulas, and stingrays, schools of trevallies, barracudas, snappers, fusiliers, sweetlips, as well as large moray eels. In the south, a unique phenomenon surprises biologists: the coexistence of tropical coral reefs with true kelp forests, typical of temperate waters.
Three Major Diving Regions
The main diving areas are divided into three major zones.
Around Muscat, the major sites are the Daymaniyat Islands (an archipelago of nine islets classified as a marine reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site), Fahal Island (or Shark Island), and Bandar Khayran Bay. Access to the Daymaniyats is regulated: permits required, bookings necessary, fishing and camping prohibited without authorization. Discover coral gardens, turtle nesting beaches, and, in season, a whale shark hotspot.
Fahal Island, 4 km off the coast of Muscat, is renowned for its sharks, coral gardens, a few wrecks, and a “swim-through” cave. Closer to shore, Bandar Khayran, 25 km southeast of the capital, combines shallow reefs, drop-offs, and a very popular artificial wreck: the Al Munassir, an 84 m long former naval landing vessel, scuttled in 2003. The wreck rests vertically at around 30 m and is more suited for Advanced divers.
To the north, the governorate of Musandam, nicknamed the “Norway of Arabia,” offers a grandiose topography of cliffs plunging into the sea. Embarkations are mainly from Khasab or Dibba. Lima Rock, for example, features walls covered in corals, caves, and crevices sheltering cleaner shrimp and lobsters (notably in the site called “The Caves”).
Discover the exceptional and uncrowded diving sites of southern Oman, accessible from Salalah and Mirbat.
Main land access points for exploring sites in the Dhofar region. Dives are organized via 4×4 from Mirbat or directly by boat from Salalah.
Archipelago accessible by boat from Salalah, offering pristine dive sites and rich marine life in crystal-clear waters.
A 120-meter long British cargo ship from World War I, resting at 30 meters depth. An impressive historical site for experienced divers.
Shallow dive site, remarkable for its huge table corals sheltering abundant biodiversity, ideal for all levels.
Dive Centers and Liveaboards
Numerous centers operate around Muscat, Musandam, and Salalah: Extra Divers, Sea Oman, Mola Mola Diving Center, Global Scuba, Euro Divers, Octopus Diving Center, Oman Dive Centre, Reef Oasis (Musandam), Omanta Scuba Academy, or Blue Bubbles, among others. Several seaside hotels, like Al Sawadi Beach Resort or Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah, have an integrated dive center.
To explore several regions in one go, dive cruises (liveaboards) ply the Daymaniyat Islands in the north and the Hallaniyat Islands in the south. Boats like Oman Explorer, Vision (12 passengers, 95 ft), Queen of Musandam, Oman Aggressor, or Red Dhow offer week-long itineraries, with budgets ranging from about 40 OMR per day for the simplest options to over 570–1150 OMR per week for the most high-end vessels.
The following table summarizes some cost benchmarks for a recreational diver around the major centers:
| Type of Service | Indicative Price Range |
|---|---|
| 2-tank boat trip (Muscat/Salalah) | ≈ 33–41 OMR per day |
| Full equipment rental | ≈ 15–17 OMR per day |
| Diving permit (per day) | ≈ 4 OMR (excluding protected areas) |
| Dive cruise (per day) | ≈ 40 OMR and up, depending on standard |
Most divers opt for guided trips, but experienced divers can buddy dive without a guide, provided they follow local rules and obtain necessary permits, especially for reserves like the Daymaniyats.
Desert Sports: Dune Bashing, Sandboarding, Quads, and Hikes
Popular Sports to Play in Oman obviously include a wide range of desert activities. The iconic area for this is the Wahiba Sands massif, also called Sharqiyah Sands, a vast sea of dunes covering nearly 12,500 km² in the east of the country.
Wahiba Sands, a Full-Scale Adventure Lab
This area, accessible in about two hours by road from Muscat or Nizwa, is dotted with dunes reaching up to 50 m in height, even nearly 100 m in some sectors. The main access points are around Bidiyah and Al Wasil, where you refuel, deflate tires, and meet guides.
Recommended psi for deflating a 4×4’s tires before practicing dune bashing in the dunes.
The more daring also try ATV (quad) riding, very popular on marked trails, or sandboarding, which transposes snowboarding sensations onto sand slopes. Specific boards are provided at most camps, with instruction on moderate-height dunes before tackling longer slopes.
Walking or climbing dunes is also a sport in itself. Progressing through soft sand requires significant cardiovascular effort, but the reward is at the top: panoramic views over endless dune ranges, spectacular sunsets, and starlit nights without light pollution.
Camels, Falcons, and Bedouin Life
The desert is also the stage for more traditional activities: camel rides, sometimes simple 30-minute sunset strolls, sometimes real mini-expeditions of several days following ancient caravan routes, with tent camping and Bedouin meals.
Some camps offer falconry demonstrations, a hunting art classified as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, as well as campfire evenings with poetry, music, and tastings of Omani coffee and dates. It’s an authentic immersion into the nomadic lifestyle that shaped the country’s identity.
Desert Camps: From Rustic to Ultra-Luxurious
The camps in Wahiba Sands range from the simplest to the most luxurious: Bedouin-style huts, comfortable tents with private bathrooms, geodesic domes, small boutique-hotel style units. Establishments like Thousand Nights Camp, Desert Nights Resort, Sama al Wasil Desert Camp, Desert Wonders, or Arabian Nights Resort and Spa illustrate the diversity of the offering.
A night at a camp often includes dinner and breakfast, with large common areas (majlis), outdoor fire pits, sometimes a pool or a playground for children. Many camps organize dune bashing, camel tours, or sandboarding directly on-site for their guests, greatly simplifying logistics.
Price in OMR for a stay for two adults and a teenager on weekdays at Sand Dream Tourist Camp, representative of a mid to upper-range camp.
Safety and Best Practices
A 4×4 is essential to venture into the dunes; for those who don’t wish to drive, 4×4 transfers from Bidiyah are frequently offered. It is recommended to arrive with a full tank, turn off traction control, check the vehicle’s condition, and travel with a guide, especially for off-roading.
Reputable operators equip their 4x4s with reinforced roll cages, communication devices, and seatbelts for all passengers, and conduct a safety briefing before departure. For attire, lightweight clothing, sunglasses, a hat, closed sandals or sports shoes, and a jacket for nights that can be cool are advisable.
The most pleasant period for these desert sports runs from October to April, with much more bearable temperatures than in summer when the mercury rises very high and many camps close, sometimes from March until September. The Omani weekend (Friday-Saturday) is often busier.
Hiking and Mountains: The Playground of the Hajar
Popular Sports to Play in Oman increasingly include hiking and trekking. The country is mountainous over about 15% of its area, dominated by the Hajar range, which runs along the northeast and peaks at over 3,000 m.
A Network of Marked Trails
Over the years, Oman has established a network of marked, maintained, and numbered trails. These range from simple family walks, like the urban route between Riyam and Mutrah in Muscat (C38, 2.5 km, about 2 hours, easy), to long, challenging traverses requiring self-sufficiency and excellent physical condition, like the route between Wadi Bani Khalid and Wadi Tiwi (E35, 28 km, 14–18 hours of walking, 1,800 m of positive elevation gain).
Hikers often navigate a rocky, arid landscape, dotted with wadis – sometimes water-filled riverbeds – and agricultural villages on terraces. Ancient irrigation channels, the falaj (a system inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site), accompany some trails.
Jebel Shams and the “Grand Canyon of Arabia”
The country’s highest point, Jebel Shams (“Mountain of the Sun”), dominates the region at about 3,000 m. Its southern face opens onto Wadi an Nakhur, often nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Arabia”. Two main routes stand out:
– the ascent to the summit (W4), a hike of 9 to 22 km depending on sources and variants, stated as 7 to 12 hours for seasoned hikers. The actually accessible peak reaches 2,997 m (Qarn Al Ghamaydah), the military summit remaining off-limits;
– the Balcony Walk (W6), a cliffside trail from the village of Al Khitaym to the abandoned hamlet of As Sab, covering about 4 to 8 km round trip and 4 to 5 hours of walking. The path partly follows an old route used by inhabitants to reach their crops, with the reward of a small natural pool and the exploration of a troglodyte village.
Further north, on the Musandam Peninsula, Jebel Harim dominates the area, offering views of the fjords (khors) and rocks filled with marine fossils.
Jebel Akhdar, the “Green Mountain”
Jebel Akhdar, at about 2,980 m, is another star for hikers. A natural reserve since 2011, the mountain hosts terraced orchards and fruit cultivation (apples, pears, pomegranates, grapes, walnuts, almonds, tomatoes), as well as a famous blooming of Damask roses in April-May, whose petals are distilled into rose water in the villages.
This easy hiking trail, approximately 4 km (2-3 hours walk), connects the villages of Al Aqor, Al Ayn, Ash Shirayjah, and Sayq in the mountains of Oman. It offers an immersion into traditional life by following falaj irrigation channels, crossing ancient alleyways and lush gardens, often with sweeping views over surrounding gorges.
Wadis and Canyons: Wadi Shab, Snake Gorge, Wadi Tiwi
In coastal wadis, hiking blends with light canyoning. Wadi Shab, near Tiwi, offers 4 to 5 km of walking (2 to 3 hours) through a setting of cliffs, palm groves, and turquoise pools, with a hidden cave accessible by swimming. Neighboring Wadi Tiwi also features waterfalls, natural pools, and perched villages.
More technical, Snake Gorge (in Wadi Bani Awf) is an adventure canyon: about 8 km, 4 to 6 hours, with easy climbing sections, swimming, and rappelling descents. This type of outing is best done with a specialized guide, especially due to the risk of flash floods in case of storms.
Safety, Equipment, and Seasons
The government lists 53 mountain trails officially approved for adventure activities, mainly in the Hajar and around Muscat, with 73 information signs and 30 detailed signs installed. Projects to enhance safety and amenities (suspension bridge at Wadi Shab, via ferrata, zip lines, access roads, restrooms, cafes) are underway to make these activities more accessible.
The ideal period for hiking extends from October/November to April, when temperatures are bearable, even cool at altitude. Even in winter, it’s crucial to anticipate significant temperature swings, with nights that can be very cold in high mountains.
Recommended equipment is standard but should not be neglected: sturdy hiking boots (ideally waterproof), a backpack with at least 3 L of water per person per day, complete sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), covering and modest clothing when passing through villages, discreet swimwear (shorts and t-shirt) for swimming in wadis, a first aid kit, headlamp, map or GPS, trekking poles. It is highly advisable to check the weather (to avoid floods), inform someone of your itinerary, and not rely on smartphones in isolated areas.
Many local agencies have specialized in these mountain sports: Husaak Adventures, Twenty3 Extreme, Outward Bound Oman, Oman Trekking, Wadi Shab Adventures, Wadi Walkers, or Oman Mountain Club, among others. They provide guides, technical equipment, and logistics.
Gliding and Water Sports: Kitesurfing, Sailing, Endurance
The Omani coast, over 3,000 km long, is a fantastic terrain for water sports. Popular Sports to Play in Oman now include kitesurfing, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, sailing, and wingfoiling, set against a backdrop of deserted beaches and turquoise lagoons.
Kitesurfing: Powerful Winds and Wild Spots
Kitesurfing is still relatively new in the sultanate, but conditions are remarkable: powerful winds, warm water, varied spots, and very few people. The main season for the north coast and mainland coastline runs from April/May to September, peaking in June-August. It’s driven by monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean.
Wind statistics for certain areas typically show 20 to 35 knots, with occasional gusts above 40 knots. Air and water are warm: frequently 30 to 40°C, possibly rising above 50°C in some interior areas swept by desert winds. In the south, around Salalah, the windy season often covers May to September, tempered by the khareef climate.
Masirah Island is the reference island for kitesurfing in Oman. Accessible by ferry, it offers varied conditions: the west coast features flat, shallow bays, perfect for freestyle and beginners, while the east coast, with spots like Amq or Khaseet, is known for waves reaching 2 to 3 m, even 5 m under certain conditions. The island, sparsely developed with a population of about 12,000 living mainly from fishing, offers a preserved setting.
Another near-secret gem, Bar Al Hikman, a long peninsula dotted with lagoons of knee-deep translucent water and white sandbanks, stretching nearly 35 km. The wind blows onshore on the ocean side and offshore in the lagoons, requiring good logistical planning and particular attention to safety.
Closer to urban centers, several spots allow for practice or learning:
– Muscat Kite Beach (Al Hail/The Wave), about twenty kilometers from the capital, with flat water, shallow depth, and thermal wind of 7 to 15 knots in the afternoon, suitable for beginners;
Sawadi Beach, located in Mussanah about 70 km northwest of Muscat, is a kitesurfing spot known for its flat conditions. It’s particularly frequented by hotels in the Batinah coastal area. Riders typically benefit from winds of about 25 knots.
– Ras Al Hadd, with a shallow lagoon of about 1 km², navigable at mid to high tide, also known for green turtle watching nearby;
– Quryat, a 90-minute drive from Muscat, more geared towards experienced riders, foilers, and racers, with side-on winds of 15 to 20 knots and shore-break;
– Al Ashkharah (Wave Spot Aseelah), famous wave spot 12 km north of Aseelah, reserved for advanced levels due to a powerful beach-break and reefs.
More challenging spots like Al Khaluf, famous for its “sugar sand” dunes, require a guide and 4×4 due to the presence of quicksand.
The main drawback for kitesurfing in Oman is the lack of specialized infrastructure (shops, repairers, rental centers) outside specific hubs like KiteAway on Masirah. Riders must therefore travel with all their equipment and a repair kit. For women, practice is possible by wearing covering attire, and joining a group or organized tour is recommended for greater comfort.
Sailing, Regattas, and Various Water Sports
Sailing holds a special place in the country’s sports strategy. The organization Oman Sail, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, managed 14 events in 2018, mainly nautical competitions, attracting over 4,500 international visitors and generating an estimated economic impact of 7.7 million OMR (about 20 million dollars).
Among emblematic events is the Dhabi-Muscat offshore race, organized annually, which highlights the sultanate’s maritime frontage. Oman also hosts international kitesurfing competitions (like the Speed and Formula Kite World Championships held in Muscat), regattas, high-level sailing events, while developing the sport among youth through sailing schools.
Other water sports are very present: stand up paddleboarding, sea or wadi kayaking, waterskiing, jet-skiing, wakeboarding, freediving and snorkeling, big game fishing (with, for example, the Sinbad Classic, an international offshore fishing competition qualifying for IGFA championships).
Horse Riding, Traditions, and Equestrian Sports
Popular Sports to Play in Oman are also rooted in a very ancient equestrian tradition. The Arabian horse holds a central place in the country’s heritage: renowned for its elegance, endurance, and docile temperament, it is both a tourist attraction and an identity symbol.
A Structured Equestrian Sector
Breeding purebred Arabian horses long represented a major source of income for many Omani families. Bloodlines are carefully tracked, with pedigrees tracing back, according to tradition, to a stallion named Zad-ar-Raakib, gifted by the Prophet Suleiman to a local delegation. Each horse receives an equine passport for identification.
The Omani state places strategic importance on equestrian sports, structured by three main entities: the Royal Cavalry (under the Royal Court Affairs), the Royal Horse Racing Club, and the Oman Equestrian Federation. Established in 1983, this federation collaborates with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth to organize all national competitions and events, including show jumping, dressage, endurance, and racing.
Major events include the annual Royal Encounter, show jumping competitions each winter, racing festivals organized at the Madinat Al Adiyat Racing Track, and a Royal Equestrian Show every five years. These festivals have gradually integrated different disciplines: flat racing, endurance, tent pegging (a spectacular discipline where a rider at full gallop must pick up small pegs from the ground with a lance or saber), Arabian horse beauty contests, performance trials.
Riding Centers and Clubs
In the Muscat region, several stables and schools allow visitors and locals to ride horses, often on the beach or in natural parks. Al Fursan Stable in Qurm offers lessons and rides in Qurm Park, while Qurm Equestrian School, located in the “Rose Gardens,” provides lessons, a pony club, and even carriage rides.
Discover Oman’s landscapes on horseback with agencies offering outings suited to all levels, from gentle rides to more sportive treks.
Offers outings tailored to each rider’s level, from beginner rides to treks for the more confident.
Offers varied equestrian experiences, including faster outings with trot and canter for experienced riders.
Combines hotel transfer, horseback ride, and dinner for a complete experience, like a sunrise ride on the beach.
Further south, in the Sharqiyah governorate, the Sur Equestrian Club aims to promote Omani equestrian heritage, develop skills, support the rider community, and ensure horse welfare.
Again, the ideal season generally runs from October to April, with facilities sometimes offering night sessions to avoid summer heat.
Camel Racing and Traditional Sports
Popular Sports to Play in Oman are not limited to modern disciplines: they encompass an entire corpus of traditional practices that still punctuate social life, especially in rural areas.
Camel Racing: Bedouin Heritage and Modernization
Camel racing is deeply linked to Bedouin culture. Historically, these animals were a pillar of desert life (transport, milk, meat, leather, hair). The earliest forms of competition date back to at least the 7th century AD, in the form of races during festivals and tribal gatherings.
The professional camel racing industry in the Gulf is now worth several million dollars.
Distances vary according to the animals’ age: around 4 km for younger ones, up to 10 km for adults, with some major events going up to 22 km. A race typically includes 15 to 30 camels. Anti-doping tests (urine analysis) are conducted after arrival, and animals are identified with electronic chips.
Oman banned the use of jockeys under 15 in 2005, following the example of other Gulf countries. To replace children, the use of remote-controlled robot jockeys, equipped with GPS and mechanical whips, has become standard in camel racing.
Camel racing remains a powerful tourist attraction and a highlight of major gatherings, with processions in traditional costume, poetry, songs, markets, and sometimes considerable prize ceremonies.
Bull Butting, Falconry, and Other Games
Bull butting, a ritualized clash between two bulls locking heads until one yields, is considered the most popular traditional sport on parts of the Batinah coast. Each clash lasts only a few minutes but attracts large crowds.
Falconry, the art of hunting with falcons, is also recognized as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Other traditional games, like Al-Tareeq, Al-Kabd (a form of wrestling), Al-Mashu, Al-Tahtib (stick fighting), Shabal (similar to hockey, with a wooden ball), or Layla (a chasing game similar to “tag”), are still practiced during festivals like the Muscat Festival or the Nizwa and Salalah celebrations.
Endurance, Trail Running, Cycling, and Fitness: A Clear Shift Towards Sports Tourism
Oman is not just developing contemplative tourism: the country has proactively positioned itself in the adventure sports and major endurance events niche.
IRONMAN, UTMB Oman, Marathons and Ultra-Trails
A large-scale partnership now links the sultanate with the IRONMAN group until 2030, the first time a destination has become a global partner of the famous long-distance triathlon series. This collaboration plans for regular races: a half-distance format in the coastal city of Salalah, another in Muscat which will serve as the Middle East Championship for that distance, and a full annual IRONMAN in the capital in November.
For trail running, the organization behind the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) launched a first race in 2018, followed in 2019 by a second event gathering about 1,800 runners from 68 countries on the trails of the Hajar. Formats range from technical mountain trails to very long ultras, exploiting the spectacular topography of Jebel Akhdar, Jebel Shams, or the wadis.
Distance in kilometers of the Oman Desert Marathon across the dunes of Sharqiyah Sands.
On the road, the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon has established itself as a major regional calendar event. First edition in 2012, rebranded in 2017, and already over 8,000 participants from 103 nationalities for the eighth edition in 2019, across marathon, half-marathon, 10 km, and other formats.
Cycling, Rallies, Motorsports
The Tour of Oman, a road cycling stage race part of the UCI Asia Tour calendar since 2010, regularly features spectacular finishes in the passes of the Hajar or by the sea, and serves as an international showcase for the country.
Other competitions punctuate the year, like the Oman International Rally (counting for the Middle East Rally Championship), the Oman National Day Rally, or events combining running and mountain biking like Oman Adventure (a five-day endurance race for teams).
A Public Strategy for Adventure and Fitness
All these events are part of the country’s Vision 2040, which makes tourism – and particularly adventure tourism – a pillar of economic diversification. The National Tourism Strategy plans until 2040 in several development phases, with a clear goal: to increase tourism’s contribution to 5% of GDP by 2030, then 10% by 2040.
The tourism sector generated nearly 191,500 jobs in 2023, a 15% increase year-on-year.
In this context, adventure sports benefit from targeted investments: creation and marking of trails, via ferrata installations, zip lines at Wadi Darbat and in Musandam, suspension bridges, access roads to remote villages like Al Sogara on Jebel Akhdar, installation of showers and cafes along some mountain paths, development of dive centers (e.g., in partnership with Freestyle Divers at Atana Musandam Hotel), etc.
The fitness market is projected to reach 125 million dollars by 2025, driven by greater health awareness and infrastructure development.
The table below summarizes some key data of this rise in sports tourism and fitness:
| Indicator | Value / Period |
|---|---|
| Fitness market size (2020) | ≈ 60 M USD |
| Projected size (2025) | ≈ 125 M USD |
| Estimated annual growth | 15–17 % |
| Tourism’s contribution to GDP (2022) | ≈ 3 % |
| 2030 Target | 5 % of GDP |
| 2040 Target | 10 % of GDP |
| International tourists (2023) | ≈ 4 million |
| Tourism-related jobs (2023) | ≈ 191,500 (+15 % vs 2022) |
| Share of protected land | > 20 % of territory |
Major fitness chains like Horizon Fitness (multi-site clubs, sometimes open 24/7) or GymNation (subscriptions from 10 OMR per month, clubs over 3,000 m², 500 machines, 400 group classes monthly) are establishing themselves and strengthening the everyday sports culture. Specialized stores like Lifetime Fitness Store distribute international brand equipment (NordicTrack, Life Fitness, Concept2, etc.) nationwide, with delivery, installation, and after-sales service.
A Very Wide Array of Disciplines
Beyond the disciplines already mentioned, Popular Sports to Play in Oman cover an extremely broad spectrum: athletics, swimming, handball, basketball, volleyball, hockey, tennis, golf, combat sports, strength sports, bowling, billiards, sports for people with disabilities (wheelchair basketball, goalball, blind soccer, etc.), not to mention cricket, widely played by expatriate communities.
The weightlifting and strength sports committee accumulated 121 medals, the highest number among the mentioned sports committees.
Attendance figures at public facilities also testify to the enthusiasm: in 2019, about 1.19 million people used government sports complexes, compared to 1.07 million the previous year, an increase affecting both men and women. In parallel, summer sports programs engaged over 78,000 participants, notably through activities like “Summer Sports,” “Cheer Your Team,” or youth club camps.
Conclusion: An Open-Air Playground
From the fervor of stadiums during Oman Professional League matches to the solitary lagoons of Masirah, from the heights of Jebel Shams to the dunes of Wahiba Sands, Popular Sports to Play in Oman paint a picture of rare diversity. Soccer, diving, hiking, kitesurfing, equestrian sports, camel racing, ultra-trails, sailing, urban fitness: the country clearly bets on this mosaic to attract active tourists, elite athletes, and adrenaline seekers.
Oman, long understated, has preserved its largely unspoiled natural and marine spaces while developing quality infrastructure and regulations. It constitutes an ideal destination to combine cultural discovery, immersion in powerful landscapes (mountains, desert, ocean), and sports activities.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
