Bidiyah – Motorsport, adventure, tourism and entertainment will come together at the Bidiyah Sands Carnival 2026, scheduled to take place from November 19 to December 19 in North  Sharqiyah Governorate.

The month-long event aims to establish Bidiyah as a leading regional and international destination for desert tourism and adventure sports, while supporting local businesses and boosting economic activity in the wilayat.

Organised as part of a vision to make the carnival an annual event, the programme will combine international motorsport competitions with sporting, cultural and entertainment activities, making use of Bidiyah’s distinctive desert landscape.

A key attraction will be the Oman International Baja, the first championship of its kind to be held in Oman. The event will be organised under the umbrella of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), with international standards governing its technical, organisational and safety requirements.

The championship is expected to strengthen Oman’s position on the international motorsport scene and could help pave the way for the country to host a round of the FIA Baja World Cup in the future.

Baja rallying involves competitors tackling challenging desert terrain, including sand dunes, open desert tracks, wadis and natural routes. The Oman International Baja will feature several vehicle categories, including four-wheel-drive cars, motorcycles, quad bikes and SSVs.

The carnival programme will extend beyond motorsport, with a range of sporting, entertainment and cultural activities aimed at different age groups and segments of the community.

Among the highlights will be the Bidiyah Sands Challenge, an obstacle race using the area’s natural terrain and sand dunes. It will include a 5km course for adults, with categories for professional athletes, amateurs and corporate teams, as well as a 500m race for children.

A dedicated Event Village will also be established, featuring spectator areas, sponsor activation zones, live broadcast screens, interactive areas and desert experiences. It will also include a dedicated space for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), allowing local businesses to showcase their products and services.

Organisers expect the carnival to generate wider economic benefits for Bidiyah by increasing demand for hotels, desert camps and other accommodation, while supporting restaurants, cafés, retail outlets, transport operators and other tourism-related businesses.

The event is also expected to create direct and indirect opportunities for SMEs, individuals and service providers involved in tourism, hospitality, transport, retail and event operations.

More than 150 participants from over 20 countries are expected to take part, alongside more than 150 media representatives, over 200 volunteers and more than 300 organisers and operational staff.

The scale of participation is expected to give the event a strong international sporting and media profile, while providing Bidiyah with an opportunity to promote its desert landscapes and tourism offerings to visitors from Oman and abroad.

The carnival forms part of wider efforts to diversify Oman’s tourism products and increase the economic contribution of sports and adventure tourism.

By establishing the Bidiyah Sands Carnival as an annual event, organisers aim to create a sustainable platform that combines international motorsport with tourism, entertainment and community participation, while reinforcing Bidiyah’s position on the regional desert tourism map.