Muscat: The Frankincense Market for productive families on Al Hafa Beach in Salalah is attracting a large crowd. This event is one of the Dhofar Municipality's events commemorating the 2025 Khareef season. The air is scented with frankincense, and the décor includes real Omani history and art.
Dhofar Municipality contributes to supporting over 300 productive families and small and medium enterprises from throughout the governorate through this event. The market offers a diverse assortment of crafts, Omani cuisine, and historical items that represent the cultural and social character of Dhofar Governorate.
This year's market has seen organisational advancements, such as the expansion of product display areas, the construction of public amenities and parking spaces, and the renovation of booths and surrounding structures in a local architectural style. This enhances the visitor experience while also emphasizing the governorate's cultural legacy.
Salem bin Abdullah Fadhel, director of the Frankincense Market event, stated that the market is seeing exceptional participation diversity this year, owing to the direct support offered by Dhofar Municipality. He emphasized that the market is more than a selling venue, but also an integrated platform for exhibiting and showcasing parts of local history.
He stated that visitors will discover a diverse range of crafts at the market, including palm fronds, incense burners, and Omani frankincense items, as well as traditional foods prepared by productive families.
The related event features daily performances by traditional Omani art groups on the market stage from 4:00 p. m. to midnight, during which they perform cultural works inspired by local heritage, such as AlHabut, AlBar'ah, and AlMadima. There will also be children's performances, folk plays, and singing sessions featuring various Omani artists.
The market will remain open to tourists until the end of the autumn season, serving as a tourist and cultural attraction, an excellent source of support for local initiatives and productive families, and a contributor to the rejuvenation of the community economy in the Dhofar Governorate.
