Wednesday 08 / July / 2026
Muscat: The second edition of the Grape Festival, held in South Al Batinah Governorate has attracted more than 1,000 visitors over two days.
The South Al Batinah Governorate has witnessed significant tourism and economic activity, reflecting the success of local events in supporting sustainable development and promoting Omani agricultural products.
The second edition of the Grape Festival, held in the Wilayat of Al Awabi in the South Al Batinah Governorate, achieved remarkable success on both the agricultural and tourism levels, attracting 1,340 visitors over two days. This confirms the festival's growing importance as a platform for supporting the agricultural sector and stimulating tourism and economic activity in the governorate.
The festival recorded total sales exceeding OMR 10,000 , including the sale of various grape varieties for which the farms of Wadi Bani Kharous are famous, in addition to figs, dates, mangoes, and agricultural seedlings. Modern irrigation equipment, handicrafts, and products from productive families were also sold, providing direct marketing opportunities for farmers and artisans and contributing to the revitalization of related commercial and service activities.
The festival is an initiative aimed at highlighting local grapes, a seasonal crop of significant economic and social value. It supports farmers, encouraging them to expand grape cultivation and develop production methods, while also strengthening the village's agricultural identity and showcasing farmers' efforts in improving production techniques. The festival has also served as a tourist and social event, reinforcing the region's position as a prominent agricultural and heritage destination within the governorate.
Sami bin Ali Al Bahri, a participant in the second edition of the Grape Festival, stated that the festival has become a genuine platform for marketing agricultural products and introducing visitors to the quality of local produce.
Al Bahri added that the festival provides a valuable opportunity for farmers to market their produce directly to consumers without intermediaries.
He noted that the large turnout of visitors positively impacted sales volumes and contributed to raising awareness of the local grape varieties for which the villages of Wadi Bani Kharous are renowned.
For her part, Samia bint Salem Al Dhahli, Head of the Omani Women's Association in Al-Awabi, explained that the festival offers productive families a chance to showcase their traditional and artisanal products to a wide audience and introduce them to the distinctive local products of the region.
For his part, Maher bin Hamdan Al Riyami, one of the participants, said that the festival serves as an important platform to encourage young people to invest in agricultural and tourism projects.
He pointed out that the diversity of events and exhibits promotes a culture of entrepreneurship and opens new horizons for investment in industries related to the agricultural sector.
As part of future development plans, the festival organizers announced their intention to expand the event space within the village and create new facilities to accommodate a larger number of visitors. They also plan to extend the festival's duration from two days to a full week in the future and to organize accompanying programs and events before and after the grape season, thus enhancing the continuity of tourism and agricultural activity throughout the year.
