A’Rustaq: In 2024, the Governorate of South Al Batinah experienced a 15.8% increase in visitors to its historical landmarks, totaling 56,203 compared to 48,493 in 2023. According to statistics released by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the highest number of visitors to castles and forts occurred in November 2024, with 10,962 visitors, marking a 19.5% rise. February 2024 followed with 8,436 visitors, while January 2024 recorded 7,839 visitors.
Additionally, the village of Wakan, situated in Wadi Mustal within the Wilayat of Nakhal, welcomed 36,759 visitors, up from 35,302 in 2023, reflecting a 4.1% increase. February emerged as the peak month for visitor traffic, attracting 6,499 individuals, coinciding with the blooming of flowers on the village’s trees.
The statistics also reveal a rise in the number of tourist facilities, aligning with the growing tourism activity in the region. Data from the Department of Heritage and Tourism in South Al Batinah indicates that by the end of 2024, the number of licensed tourist facilities reached 162, encompassing resorts, hotels, hotel apartments, green lodges, guest houses, heritage lodges, tourist camps, and rest houses. Guest houses were the most prevalent, accounting for 95 facilities or 57.5%, followed by green lodges with 42 facilities at 25%, and 11 hotels, representing 6.2%, with the remaining percentages distributed among other types of tourist facilities.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has reported that by the end of last year, the South Al Batinah Governorate was home to 495 registered archaeological and historical sites. These include a variety of structures such as castles, forts, ancient mosques, walls, traditional houses, historic neighborhoods, and towers.
The Director of the Department of Heritage and Tourism in South Al Batinah noted that Rustaq wilayat boasts the highest concentration of historical landmarks, with 250 sites, accounting for 50.5 percent of the total in the governorate. Following Rustaq, Nakhal wilayat has 92 sites, representing 18.5 percent, while Al Awabi wilayat has 62 sites, making up 12.5 percent. Wadi Al Ma’awil wilayat contributes 49 sites, or 9.8 percent, to the total.
The remaining historical sites are found in Barka wilayat, which has 24 sites, and Al Musannah wilayat, with 16 sites, together comprising 8.7 percent of the total. The Director emphasized that numerous archaeological sites are spread throughout the governorate, tracing back to some of the earliest pre-Islamic civilizations, including notable sites such as Afi and Maslamat in Wadi Al Ma’awil, Halban and Al Khatm in Nakhal, and the Al Awabi site in Al Awabi.
The Director of the Department of Heritage and Tourism in South Al Batinah Governorate provided insights into the types of landmarks prevalent in the region. Notably, residential houses and neighborhoods are the most common, found in 163 locations, accounting for 32.9 percent of the total. This is followed by 152 historical towers, which make up 30.7 percent, and 96 mosques, representing 19.3 percent. Additionally, there are 58 castles and forts, comprising 11.7 percent of the landmarks. Historical walls are the least common, with only 26 identified in the governorate.
As of the end of last year, 47 historical sites in South Al Batinah Governorate have undergone restoration. This includes two castles, seven forts, eleven historical towers, twenty-five mosques, one house, and one historical wall.
In terms of investment in tourism projects, the Wilayat of Barka leads with 123 tourism facilities, which constitutes 70 percent of the total 174 facilities in the governorate. Following Barka, the Wilayat of Al Musannah has 24 facilities, representing 14.3 percent, while Rustaq ranks third with 18 facilities, accounting for 10.6 percent. The remaining facilities are distributed among Nakhal, which has eight, and Wadi Al Maawil, which has one.
Currently, several historical landmarks are managed by private sector companies, including Nakhal Fort in Nakhal, Sur and Al Khamis Tower in Al Musannah, as well as Beit Al Ghasham, which operates as a private museum in Wadi Al Maawil.
The South Al Batinah Governorate offers a range of exceptional tourist experiences, including boat excursions to the islands near Al Suwadi Beach, diving adventures at the Dimaniyat Islands, and the thrilling opportunity to try paragliding, a popular activity available in the region.
