With the FIFA Football World Cup about to begin in Qatar, the entire GCC region is preparing for a boom in tourism as most nations in the region expect the over 1.2 million football fans to relish not just the games inside the stadiums, but also discover the region and its many marvels. Like its neighbours, Oman, too, has prepared a whole host of activities and attractions for visitors.

All the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries are preparing to receive the overflow of the over 1.2 million football fans that are expected to be headed to Qatar to watch the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup that begins on Sunday.

Most studies suggest that the millions of fans who head to watch sports events, notably the FIFA World Cup or Olympics do stay on to visit tourism destinations around the place of competition and this is what the GCC countries, including Oman, are banking on – a boom in tourism spillover from Qatar.

FIFA has announced that some three million tickets have been sold for the matches so far. A large proportion of these has been bought by locals and people from the region, with international ticket purchases not limited to the 32 countries whose national teams have qualified for the finals.

In a press statement, Oman Tourism says that FIFA fever extends beyond the host country, as most of its neighbours in the GCC region have made extensive preparations to support the State of Qatar in hosting the World Cup. The statement says that Oman’s capital Muscat is among the accredited cities to host fans, and has developed an integrated programme to welcome World Cup fans and allow them to experience the Sultanate’s unique cultural and tourism offerings.

To facilitate the travel of fans between Qatar and Oman, additional daily flights have been mounted between Oman and Qatar from November 20 to December 18, 2022. The statement says that fans holding a ‘Hayya’ card will receive a free multiple-entry visa and have the opportunity to bring their families along on their FIFA trip. There are special provisions for transport and procedures at the airport, accommodation packages and tourism programmes that have been launched with more than 20,000 hotel rooms in 11 governorates and more than 200 tourism products through more than 35 suppliers in the tourism sector in Oman.

The statement says that Oman is characterised by unique cultural and tourist attractions, including natural areas such as coasts, seas, mountains, deserts, waterfalls, hot springs, caves and valleys, as well as its historical architecture. The hosting of the FIFA World Cup coincides with the winter season, during which numerous cultural, heritage and tourism events are held in the various parts of Oman.

Not very far away from all the action and excitement in the stadiums, the country is organising a Football Fan Festival at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in the capital Muscat, one of the few cities accredited to receive fans of the tournament.

The football theatre is located in the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is considered an architectural masterpiece of urban design in Muscat and has a fan zone that has become a major attraction during World Cups in recent years. FIFA fans here have the opportunity to watch the matches of the tournament in a special atmosphere on a big screen, as well as enjoy activities and culinary experiences and interactive activities, competitions and live performances for local and international tastes.

The garden of the Oman Convention Centre, where the festival will be held, covers an area of over 9,000 sqm, and the car park can accommodate 4,000 cars. Created by several partners, including entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises, the festival zone innovatively combines authentic Omani culture with cutting-edge technology to offer visitors unforgettable experiences, says the statement.

The festival also includes a virtual reality area where visitors can test their football skills, join the e-player competition for the Football Fan Fest championship and receive limited editions of official festival memorabilia.

The Football Fan Festival is a celebration for the whole family with football competitions for children on small pitches on the festival grounds. Oman national team goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi and players from various European clubs will appear as official brand ambassadors of the World Cup Fans Festival. Several sports and art stars will also participate in the various activities, adds the statement.

Mixing sports with tourism

The statement says that Oman is one of those unique destinations that stand out for the diversity of its tourist attractions that can be enjoyed throughout the year in different seasons. Sports enthusiasts can take advantage of their presence in the region to participate in or watch short and long-distance races organised in the desert and enjoy the adventurous activities in Oman’s rugged nature, which is a popular attraction for visitors, it says.

There are many climbing areas in the country, such as Wadi Ghoul in Al Dakhiliyah, Governorate and Jebel Misht, which has one of the largest rocky facades of, 850 m high. The governorate of Musandam also has many attractions to offer, including many mountains that stretch around the capital Muscat, most famous of all is Jabal Shams, which is one of the highest mountains peaking at 3,000 m attracting both amateur and professional mountaineers.

For diving enthusiasts, Oman is considered one of the best and most famous diving destinations in the region, boasting a rich diversity of marine life. There are many sea cliffs, small islands, bays and caves and a rich and unique marine and coral life. While the best-known diving areas around the capital Muscat include Bandar Al Khairan, Al Fahal Island, Daymaniyat Islands, Al Maqbara Bay (Old Muscat) and Al Jissah Beach, the tourism board says.

During the winter season, the Frankincense festival is organised by Dhofar Governorate, showcasing the historical role it plays in Omani culture and includes an exhibition for the sale and display of frankincense products, live demonstrations of frankincense distillation and traditional crafts, in addition to entertainment and cultural events.

Another unmissable event surrounding the FIFA World Cup is the Oman Air Carnival, organised in the scenic areas around Muscat, South Al Batinah and A’Dakhiliyah governorates, with paragliding parades taking place at various tourist attractions. The very popular Muscat Food Festival, which attracted over 60,000 visitors and feature more than 156 unique restaurants in the last edition, will be returning at the same time, the tourism board adds.

In the North Sharqiyah Governorate, the Desert Adventure Festival will take place, attracting adventure-seekers to a variety of activities, from outdoor camping to off-roading and witnessing the Oman Desert Marathon. In addition, various events take place in different governorates during the winter season, says the statement.