Salalah – Oman Air and Russian tour operator Fun & Sun signed a strategic agreement on Saturday to expand direct flights between Russia and Salalah, as Oman steps up efforts to boost inbound tourism and diversify its source markets.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the inauguration of Grand Tours’ new headquarters in Salalah under the patronage of H E Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, in the presence of officials and representatives from the tourism and aviation sectors.

Under the agreement, Oman Air will start direct flights between Moscow and Salalah from September 2026, operating two flights a week. Services will increase to five weekly flights from November to meet expected seasonal demand.

The programme also includes the launch of direct flights from the Russian cities of Kazan and Yekaterinburg, further strengthening air connectivity between the two countries and supporting growing demand for Dhofar as a tourism destination.

During the event, Grand Tours also announced an agreement with Fun & Sun Kazakhstan to launch a direct flight programme between Kazakhstan and Dhofar from October 20, 2026.

The service will operate four flights a week, expanding Oman’s presence in Central Asian tourism markets and broadening the range of international visitors to the governorate.

The combined flight programmes from Russia and Kazakhstan are expected to bring more than 40,000 tourists to Dhofar during the upcoming tourism season, providing a boost to the hospitality sector and strengthening tourism’s contribution to the governorate’s economy.