Muscat – Following the success of the inaugural Oman Golf Trophy diplomatic initiative held in partnership with public and private sectors in 2022-2023 in Italy and Oman, the Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with participating entities, revealed  details of the second edition of the event in 2024 on Monday.

The tournament is set to attract a diverse mix of local and international golf enthusiasts, bolstering Oman’s standing as a premier sports tourism destination. Eighty qualifying rounds will take place across seven countries from April to November 2024 with 7,400 participants vying  for a spot in the final.

The finale will be held at Al Mouj Golf in December 2024 featuring 140 players. Notable business and media figures from participating countries will gather in Muscat, adding prestige to the championship’s conclusion.

Commenting on the launch of the second edition, H E Khalid bin Hashil al Muslahi, Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs in the Foreign Ministry, stated, “This initiative aims to introduce Oman as a tourist destination and to establish a connection with golf enthusiasts, made up of businesspeople and high-net-worth individuals. It also aims to highlight Oman’s potential and attract investors, business owners, tourists and media personnel from participating countries, promoting it as an attractive destination for golf and other sports.”

H E Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, emphasised the fact that Oman Golf Trophy is the first sports championship bearing the name ‘Oman’ held abroad. He said this year’s edition will see the event expand to seven participating countries in the qualifying rounds, compared to the inaugural played only in Italy and Oman. “It presents a significant opportunity to promote investment opportunities, especially in sports tourism, in line with Oman Vision 2040.”

Munthir bin Salem al Barwani, President of Oman Golf Association, stated, “The Oman Golf Trophy is an initiative of the Unified National Plan team to promote the sultanate under the auspices of Oman’s Foreign Ministry. The first edition of the tournament saw 800 participants in the qualifying rounds in Italy from September to November 2022. Fourteen players qualified to compete in the final round at Al Mouj Golf Course, where Enrico Pardazi won the men’s and Barbara Moratti the women’s category.”

Qualifying rounds will be held in Italy (April to October), Austria (April to September), Germany (April to October), South Africa (May to August), India (August to November), France (September to October), and Japan (August to October).