Salalah – Oman’s traditional handicrafts sector will receive a major boost during this khareef season with the organisation of the Omani Handicrafts Forum 2026, a platform designed to promote heritage industries, support artisans and enhance cultural tourism in Dhofar.

Scheduled to run from August 10 to 22, the forum will bring together craftsmen, craftswomen and handicraft enterprises from across the sultanate, offering them an opportunity to display their products to the large number of visitors expected during the annual khareef season.

The event forms part of ongoing efforts to preserve Oman’s rich cultural heritage while creating economic opportunities for small and medium enterprises operating in the handicrafts sector.

Organisers said the forum aims to strengthen the visibility of traditional Omani crafts and provide artisans with direct access to potential customers, investors and business partners. It will also serve as a venue for exchanging expertise and encouraging innovation within heritage-based industries.

The forum will feature a broad range of handicrafts that reflect the diversity of Oman’s cultural identity. Participating sectors include textiles and wool products, pottery and ceramics, silver and metal crafts, leather products, incense and perfume manufacturing, aromatic plant distillation, woodwork, palm-frond weaving, stone and gypsum crafts, in addition to other traditional industries.

Officials noted that the initiative supports national efforts to empower entrepreneurs and expand the contribution of creative and cultural industries to economic development. By linking heritage products with tourism activity, the forum is expected to generate new commercial opportunities for artisans while enriching visitors’ experience of Omani culture.

Khareef Dhofar remains one of the sultanate’s most important tourism seasons, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The inclusion of a dedicated handicrafts forum is expected to further strengthen the event’s cultural dimension and highlight the skills of Omani artisans to a wider audience.

The forum is expected to emerge as one of the key cultural attractions of 2026 Khareef Dhofar, celebrating craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations and continues to play an important role in preserving Oman’s heritage.