Wednesday 19 / November / 2025
Wadi Al Maawil: The Hajarat Al Sheikh Tourist Walkway in the Wilayat of Wadi Al Maawil, South Al Batinah Governorate, is witnessing increasing popularity, attracting nearly 28,000 visitors monthly, making it one of the most prominent natural and heritage tourist destinations in the Wilayat.
The walkway, implemented through a partnership between the Office of the Governor of South Al Batinah and the people of the Wilayat, serves as a recreational space for visitors, combining the beauty of nature with history.
Saud bin Said Al Maawali, Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Council in South Al Batinah Governorate, Representative of the Wilayat of Wadi Al Maawil, and Head of the Governorate Development Committee, said that the project has seen significant development since its opening on 16 November 2024, including the addition of services and aesthetic touches along the path to enhance the visitor experience.
These enhancements include the development of the glass fence and the cafés established inside the farms with innovative and creative designs, managed by Omani youth, in addition to the establishment of new heritage entrances. A special corner was also allocated for Productive Families to support their participation in tourism and economic activities.
He added that work is currently underway to prepare similar tourism projects to the Hajarat Al Sheikh Walkway concept in the villages of Muslamat, Hibra, and Al Lajjal, due to the unique nature and authentic Omani heritage of these villages, which includes castles, forts, Aflaj (traditional irrigation channels), and water springs. This makes them promising locations for establishing tourist trails that enhance tourism attraction in the Wilayat.
He further explained that these projects come within the framework of a comprehensive plan for developing rural tourist trails in Wadi Al Maawil, by utilizing the natural and heritage resources of each village and transforming them into attraction points that enrich the visitor experience and support the local economy. He noted that work teams have begun conducting preliminary field studies of the proposed sites to determine suitable walking paths, evaluate elements of attraction and urban heritage, and assess the needs for infrastructure and supporting services.
He stressed that these initiatives will contribute to creating direct and indirect job opportunities for the villagers and enhance community participation in tourism projects through rural cafés, recreational activities, and productive family displays. He clarified that the Wilayat possesses great potential that qualifies it to be a model for the development of tourist trails with an authentic Omani identity.
He concluded that these projects are consistent with the directions of the South Al Batinah Governorate towards promoting domestic tourism, raising the quality of tourist facilities, and activating partnership between government units and the local community, thereby achieving sustainable development that reflects the Governorate's vision and future aspirations.
