Muscat – Al Bashayer Festival, renowned for its Arabian camel racing, has won the Best Arab Tourism Festival Award at the 3rd Arab Forum for Tourism and Heritage in Salalah.

The award was announced on the first day of the two-day forum on Monday, inaugurated by Sayyid Marwan Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar.

The event, organised by the Arab Union for Tourism Media, includes various sessions and workshops focused on tourism and heritage, with a special emphasis on ‘Cultural Tourism as a Tool for Social and Economic Development’.

The forum’s opening ceremony offered a visual display of Dhofar governorate, speeches from various participants, and a documentary highlighting the contributions of Dr Abdulaziz al Musallam, Director of Sharjah Heritage Institute.

Dr Musallam was bestowed with the Arab Heritage Personality Award for 2023.

Sayyid Marwan later honoured the winners of the Arab Tourism Media Awards across multiple fields including tourism, investment, heritage, and media. He also acknowledged the efforts of the supporting entities.

Located in Adam under Dakhliyah governorate, Al Bashayer racecourse organises an annual race for coming camels from across the region. The event stands as one of the most notable sporting events in both the sultanate and the GCC.

The festival is held under the office of Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, the Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan.