Sunday 15 / November / 2026
Muscat: The Bidiyah Recreation Centre in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate is preparing to open its doors to visitors for the Bidiyah Sands Carnival 2026, which will take place between November 19 and December 19. This follows the completion of construction and outfitting work on the project, which represents a significant addition to the development, tourism, and entertainment projects in the Wilayat of Bidiya.
The centre embodies a vision to create a comprehensive destination that hosts events, festivals, and cultural, social, and recreational activities, thereby enhancing the Wilayat's tourism potential and providing facilities and services that meet the needs of residents, visitors, and tourists.
The centre spans over 217,900 square metres and was constructed by the North Al Sharqiyah Municipality at a cost exceeding OMR 2.5 million. It features a diverse range of facilities and services, most notably a fully equipped open-air theater with projection and lighting systems, 9 shops, 4 restaurants, 5 kiosks, dedicated children's play areas and electronic games, multi-purpose halls, walkways, open spaces, and green areas. The main entrance boasts an architectural design inspired by the desert environment and sand dunes for which the Wilayat of Bidiyah is renowned.
Mohammed bin Nasser Al Hajri, a member of the Bidiyah Municipal Council, explained that holding the Bidiyah Sands Carnival at the entertainment centre presents a significant opportunity to showcase the region's rich tourism and recreational potential, and to utilise the center's facilities and spaces to host a variety of events and activities.
He said the carnival is expected to attract visitors and tourists from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman, stimulate commercial and economic activity in the wilayat , and open wider horizons for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and productive families to benefit from the opportunities accompanying the events.
Al Hajri added that the carnival serves as a platform to showcase the cultural, heritage, and civilizational legacy of the Wilayat of Bidiyah, and to provide a recreational and social atmosphere that attracts various segments of society and families, thus enhancing the Wilayat's presence on the local and regional tourism map.
Al Hajri pointed out that the centre's importance is not limited to its recreational role, but extends to being a promising tourist and investment destination that contributes to strengthening the position of the Wilayat of Bidiyah as one of the prominent tourist destinations in the North Sharqiyah Governorate, especially during the winter tourist season, which runs from October to March each year.
He explained that investment opportunities have been presented for developing the center and operating its facilities. These include the construction of a 3,160-square-meter multi-purpose hall and the development of approximately 32,000 square meters of vacant land, which will enhance the utilization of the project's components and support its economic and tourism sustainability.
Mohammed Al-Hajri stated that the center is expected to mark a new milestone in the development of the tourism and entertainment sector in the state, coinciding with the launch of the Bidiya Sands Carnival 2026. It will also serve as a catalyst for economic and tourism activity, keeping pace with the growing number of visitors and those interested in desert tourism in Bidiya.
