Oman drew 6.94 lakh Indian visitors in 2025, up 11%, with 3.81 lakh more in H1 2026. What is driving the surge and where to go beyond Muscat.
Cover image: the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat at dusk — photo by Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Oman welcomed 6.94 lakh Indian visitors in 2025, a rise of 11 per cent over 2024 figures, the Gulf sultanate's tourism ministry has said. The momentum has carried into this year, with 3.81 lakh Indian arrivals in the first half of 2026. The numbers confirm Oman's arrival as one of the fastest-growing short-haul picks for Indian travellers.
The figures were shared by Yousuf Khalaf Al Mujaizi, Assistant Director of Business Development in the Tourism Promotion Directorate of Oman's Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in remarks reported by PTI from Nagpur on September 6. Accessibility and growing air connectivity are the key drivers he named behind the surge.
How many Indians visited Oman in 2025?
The ministry's tally puts 2025 Indian arrivals at 6.94 lakh, up 11 per cent year on year. January to June 2026 added 3.81 lakh more, a pace that keeps Oman on course for another record year if second-half travel holds.
To put the scale in context, the growth matches a broader pattern of Indians choosing nearby premium destinations. Regional travel spending has been climbing across Asia this year, with Trip.com data showing a surge in Malaysia travel spending in the first half of 2026, and island rivals competing hard for the same wallet. Our cost breakdown of a Maldives trip from India shows the price band Oman is now contesting.
What is driving Oman's growth with Indian travellers?
Connectivity first. The official pointed to direct services from more than 10 Indian cities to Muscat, plus expanding links to the southern city of Salalah. For travellers, that means one-stop-free access from most major metros and competitive fares on a two-to-three-hour hop from the west coast.
Product second. Oman blends nature, culture, adventure, luxury and hospitality in a single itinerary: forts and souks around Muscat and Nizwa, the Musandam fjords, Wahiba Sands desert camps, turtle beaches at Ras Al Jinz and the monsoon-fed greenery of Salalah's khareef season. The mix suits evolving Indian preferences that now span family holidays, premium travel, adventure, nature, destination weddings and MICE groups.
What is Oman planning next for the Indian market?
More trade engagement. The ministry plans additional travel roadshows and training, with priority on strengthening destination knowledge among Indian tour operators and travel advisors, the intermediaries who shape family and premium decisions.
The pitch leans on history: centuries of maritime trade in spices and textiles between India and Oman are now evolving into a structured tourism partnership with Indian trade, airlines and media. Officials expect the upswing to become a sustained, higher-value relationship rather than a one-season spike.
Where should Indian visitors go beyond Muscat?
The ministry's stated focus is encouraging longer stays and dispersing visitors beyond Muscat and Salalah to emerging regions. That is practical advice for repeat visitors too. A first trip covers the capital's Grand Mosque, Mutrah corniche and Nizwa fort. A second trip can add Jebel Shams canyon hikes, the Sharqiya Sands, Sur's dhow yards and a khareef-season Salalah escape between June and September.
Travellers planning around events or weddings should lock hotels early in peak winter months, when European demand overlaps with Indian holiday traffic and premium inventory tightens.
Frequently asked questions
How many Indian tourists visited Oman in 2025?
Oman received 6.94 lakh Indian visitors in 2025, an 11 per cent rise over 2024, according to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. January to June 2026 brought a further 3.81 lakh Indian arrivals.
Which Indian cities have direct flights to Oman?
Direct services connect more than 10 Indian cities to Muscat, with expanding links to Salalah, according to Oman's tourism ministry. Most major metros have non-stop options, keeping flight times short from western India.
What is there to do in Oman for Indian families?
Family itineraries combine Muscat's Grand Mosque and Mutrah souk, Nizwa fort, desert camps in Wahiba Sands, turtle watching at Ras Al Jinz and beach time near Salalah. Adventure, nature, luxury resorts and destination weddings are all established segments.
When is the best time for Indians to visit Oman?
October to March suits most of Oman, with mild winter weather ideal for Muscat, Nizwa and the desert. Salalah is the exception: its khareef monsoon season from June to September turns the south green and draws peak regional crowds.
