Road projects enhance access to tourist sites in Dhofar Governorate

Salalah: Road projects in Dhofar Governorate represent one of the primary pillars strengthening the infrastructure supporting the revitalisation of the tourism sector during the Khareef Dhofar (monsoon) season, by facilitating movement and access to natural, heritage, and entertainment sites while ensuring the highest traffic safety standards, supporting development and service projects, and boosting economic activity.With expectations that the number of visitors to the governorate will exceed one million tourists during the Khareef Dhofar season 2026, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, represented by the Directorate General of Roads and Land Transport in Dhofar Governorate, is implementing a number of projects and mountain roads connected to tourist sites to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow, particularly during the Khareef season. Eng. Said Mohammed Tabook, Director General of the Directorate General of Roads and Land Transport in Dhofar Governorate, said that the Ministry worked on accelerating the implementation of road projects in the mountain strip across several wilayats of the governorate, serving citizens and residents and contributing to facilitating traffic movement for visitors and tourists.He explained in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the execution of these projects falls within the Ministry’s efforts to raise the efficiency of the road network and improve the quality of services provided to its users, alongside strengthening connectivity between wilayats and natural and tourist sites, thereby supporting tourist and economic activity and keeping pace with the growing number of visitors.Among the most prominent of these projects is the opening of traffic on the 20-kilometre dirt road connecting the Wilayats of Rakhyut and Dhalkut via the coast, which passes through several pristine natural and tourist areas, contributing to enhancing connectivity between the two wilayats and facilitating visitor access to tourist locations situated along the route.He clarified that among the important projects aimed at facilitating traffic movement is the 33-kilometre Raysut–Al Mughsayl road dualisation project, costing over OMR30 million, alongside the Al Mughsayl road and bridge project, which was opened to traffic in early July at a cost exceeding OMR9 million.The Al Mughsayl road and bridge project includes parking lots, an illuminated walkway, and beautification works, as well as an underpass serving the waterfront in Al Mughsayl area and Al Marneef Cave area, with its famous natural features and water blowholes.In the eastern part of Dhofar Governorate, rehabilitation and dualisation works continue on the 21-kilometre Al Maamourah–Taqah road at a cost exceeding OMR1.5 million, with the project scheduled for completion by the end of the current year.Additionally, the rehabilitation project for the 24-kilometre Taqah–Madinat Al Haq road is underway at a cost exceeding OMR1.5 million, with completion set for the end of this year.Furthermore, rehabilitation works continue on the Madinat Al Haq–Yoor and Tawi Ater–Darbat roads, totaling 42 kilometers in length, at a cost exceeding OMR1.9 million, with project completion expected in mid-2027. Meanwhile, the road network leading to natural sites has been completed, alongside the rehabilitation works of the 30-kilometre Tawi Ater–Rakah–Jibjat road project, costing over OMR1.2 million, which was handed over by the end of last year.