Festivals

The most active time to visit Salalah, Oman, is during the monsoon season that stretches from approximately late June to early September. While it may seem odd to have the monsoon season be the main attraction of the area, you must consider Salalah's location on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The sudden influx of rain turns Salalah from another desert town into a lush green paradise. The monsoons represent a welcome break from the stifling heat that is common to the area, and visitors from all around the Middle East flock to Salalah during this time.

Monsoon Fever

The main festival of the monsoon season is the Khareef Festival. Sponsored by the government to take advantage of the natural tourist attractions that the monsoon season offers, the Khareef Festival features a number of activities, including traditional games and crafts, art shows, folk music and poetry, children's contests, and sporting events. One of the highlights of the festival is a 3 km long carnival that showcases local culture and activities. As the traditional home of the sultan of Oman (only the most recent sultan, Qaboos bin Said, has bucked this tradition to live in the actual capital, Muscat) Salalah has a rich history to draw from, making this festival an interesting and rewarding experience.

Shop 'til You Drop

If you need more than cultural heritage and folk music to draw you to a festival, the Khareef Festival also features a massive shopping fair sponsored by the Oman International Trade and Exhibition. The fair features goods from all around the region, including India, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, China, Morocco and many other countries. As is common in the region, you should haggle over prices at the shopping fair, giving the more determined shoppers a great opportunity to find cheap merchandise. The fair offers everything from wedding dresses to household items to food, offering plenty of diversity to keep everyone's interest.

End of the Party

When the monsoon season ends, Salalah is relatively quiet--just another Middle Eastern city with a rich cultural heritage. But between June and September it becomes a meeting ground for the entire region, using the opportunity presented by the weather for people to come together and celebrate. If you are interested in the region, festival time provides a great opportunity to explore the culture of the Arabian Peninsula without having to endure the hot desert weather typical to the area.