Sunday 16 / August / 2026
Muscat : The Shaat overlook in the Wilayat of Rakhyut, Dhofar Governorate, has been given a new look, enhancing its status as a prominent tourist destination in the region. A modern tourism project adds an exceptional experience to the stunning natural landscape: a glass observation deck offering visitors breathtaking views of the mountain slopes and the Arabian Sea from a dizzying height. The view is a breathtaking spectacle where the azure sea meets the verdant mountains and the vast horizon.
Located on the slopes of Jabal Sajer, within the Al Qamar mountain range in the Wilayat of Rakhyut, the Shaat overlook overlooks the sea from an altitude exceeding 1,000 meters. It is approximately 80 kilometers from the city of Salalah via the main road connecting Salalah with the Wilayats of Rakhyut and Dhalkut.
The new project gives the site a unique tourist dimension, featuring a 10-meter-long and 12-meter-wide glass observation deck, along with viewing platforms, seating areas, rest areas, pedestrian walkways, parking, service facilities, retail areas, a children's play area, and an open-air theater. This provides visitors with a comprehensive experience that combines enjoying nature with access to essential services.
The glass observation deck is distinguished by its design, allowing visitors to stand above the natural landscape and enjoy a panoramic view of the sea and mountains. It offers an experience that combines excitement, contemplation, and photography, at a time when Dhofar Governorate is witnessing a growing interest in natural sites that combine geographical features with modern tourism services.
Ahmed bin Saeed Baqi, owner of Sager Investment Company, the project's developer, stated that the construction of the glass observation deck adhered to numerous engineering and technical requirements. These included structural and environmental studies, load and wind analysis, safety assessments, and risk management. Soil tests were conducted before construction, as well as tests on the steel structure and glass panels after installation.
He added that the structure underwent a 40-ton load test, and the glass consists of three layers with a total thickness of 43 millimeters.
Ahmed bin Saeed emphasized that these measures aim to ensure the structure's durability, visitor safety, and provide an enjoyable and secure tourist experience.
owner of Sager Investment Company, the project's developer explained that the glass overlook was constructed according to the vision of the Dhofar Municipality, the project owner, with the aim of capitalizing on the unique natural beauty of the Shaat site and providing visitors with a new experience that combines scenic beauty with safety and quality standards.
He noted that the choice of glass design was intended to give visitors an open view and allow them to enjoy the natural scenery from a different perspective, thus enhancing the site's appeal and adding a distinctive element to the tourist destinations in the Dhofar Governorate.
Ahmed bin Saeed further explained that the project also prioritized providing a number of facilities and services that contribute to visitor comfort and regulate movement within the site.
He emphasized that the work was comprehensive in terms of infrastructure, tourist facilities, viewing areas, and rest areas.
He added that the high turnout the site has witnessed since its opening reflects the importance of developing such natural sites and supports efforts to revitalize tourism and the economy in the Wilayat of Rakhyut and the Dhofar Governorate.
The visitor experience at Shaat is not limited to the glass overlook. It also includes dedicated areas for local artisans and producers, adjacent to the overlook, showcasing Omani products and cuisine, as well as incense, perfumes, and handicrafts, adding an economic dimension to the visit that supports local products. The newly opened overlook has attracted a large number of visitors since its inauguration. Data published by the Dhofar Municipality in early August indicates that the site has received over 50,000 visitors. Entry to the overlook is regulated, with no more than 30 people at a time, for a set duration per group, to manage crowd flow and enhance visitor safety.
The development of the Shaat overlook reflects a trend towards utilising natural features to create new tourism experiences while preserving the area's unique character. In 2025, the Dhofar Municipality announced the implementation of the second phase of the overlook's development project, which includes rest areas, public facilities, viewing areas, parking, landscaping, and beautification, at a total cost exceeding one million Omani rials.
With the completion of the new project, the Shaat overlook stands as a model tourist destination that combines natural beauty with innovative design, offering visitors to the Dhofar Governorate a unique experience that places them at the heart of the scene. Visitors stand above the glass, with the mountain's depths at their feet, the Arabian Sea stretching out before them, and the green mountains of Dhofar surrounding them during the Khareef (monsoon) season.
The Shaat Viewpoint is also a favorite location for photography in the governorate, thanks to its expansive panoramic views and diverse terrain and landscapes.
Through the development of such sites, the Dhofar Governorate continues to enhance the diversity of its tourism offerings and create destinations capable of attracting visitors from within the Sultanate of Oman and abroad. This supports tourism and the economy, aligning with the goals of Oman Vision 2040 to develop the tourism sector and leverage the natural and cultural assets of the governorates.
