Wednesday 08 / April / 2026
Barka: The number of visitors to the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve during the past year, 2025, reached 136,549, compared to 105,686 visitors in 2024, reflecting the growing interest in eco-tourism in the Sultanate of Oman and reaffirming the islands' status as a distinctive tourist destination both locally and internationally.
Data issued by the Environment Authority showed a wide diversity of nationalities from various countries around the world, with a notable presence of European visitors, including French, Italian, German, and British nationals, alongside visitors from Asian and African countries, in addition to a significant number of local visitors.
Zahra Khalaf Al Shuraiqi, Head of the Natural Reserves Management Department at the Environment Authority, told Oman News Agency that the Authority places great importance on the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve due to its high environmental value, as it is considered one of the most prominent marine reserves in the Sultanate of Oman.
She explained that the Environment Authority undertakes numerous efforts, including regulating visits according to specific environmental controls, enhancing monitoring and protection efforts to preserve sensitive marine habitats, implementing environmental awareness programmes targeting visitors, and supporting scientific monitoring of biodiversity, particularly coral reefs, sea turtles, and migratory and resident seabirds and land birds.
She noted that the Daymaniyat Islands are distinguished by several tourist attractions, most notably the clarity of the waters and the richness of marine life, which includes diverse coral reefs and different species of fish and marine organisms, in addition to being one of the most important turtle nesting sites in the region. She indicated that the islands provide an ideal environment for diving and swimming enthusiasts, along with their pristine nature that reflects the beauty of Oman's marine ecosystems, and they also serve as they also serve as a nesting site for the sooty falcon.
She further explained that the Authority is continuously working to develop the reserve's management in a manner that achieves a balance between environmental protection and sustainable tourism utilisation, by improving visit regulation, enhancing awareness services, developing environmental monitoring mechanisms, as well as studying innovative initiatives that contribute to enhancing the quality of the visitor experience without impacting the islands' sensitive natural environment.
She pointed out that the underwater museum in the Daymaniyat Islands is one of the pioneering initiatives aimed at enhancing environmental awareness among visitors, providing a distinctive educational experience that highlights marine biodiversity and the importance of its conservation.
She affirmed that the Authority is developing this concept to serve as a supporting element for environmental awareness, thereby contributing to enriching the visitor experience and deepening understanding of the value of Oman's marine ecosystems. -ONA
