Expats to pay more to visit Oman's Dimaniyat Islands

Muscat: Camping at Dimaniyat Islands has become more expensive for tourists.
Expatriates will now have to pay OMR10 per day to camp and dive at the nature reserve, while Omani Nationals only have to pay OMR5. This comes following a new ruling by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA).
Prior to this ruling, both Omanis and non Omanis used to pay OMR1 to enter the islands, OMR3 for diving, OMR5 for camping and OMR7 a day for the full package. But according to the new law, non-Omanis will have to pay OMR3 a day for visiting, OMR6 for diving and OMR10 for diving and overnight camping.
The fees for Omanis remain unchanged, with the exception of a OMR5 rate to go for an overnight stay, down from OMR7 before the ruling.
Any visitor to the Dimaniyat Islands must obtain written approval from the Ministry before visiting, as was the case with the former law. Visitors may only visit for 5 days at a time, with no more than 12 people in a group.
Day trip fees for Omani children below the age of 16 is 100 baisa each, but the fee for expat children is OMR1 per child. Overnight camping for children of Omani nationality costs OMR1, compared to OMR3 for expat children.
The Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve is located in Wilayat Al Seeb in the Governorate of Muscat and Wilayat Barka in Al Batinah. It lies about 18 kilometres off the coast of Barka, and 70 kilometres west of Muscat.
According to Ministry of Tourism website, the reserve has a rich natural heritage and is replete with several kinds of rare coral reefs. The island is home to a large number of sea turtles that lay their eggs and nest there, as well as a magnet for migratory and indigenous birds.