Sunday 01 / February / 2026
Muscat: The Environment Authority has issued an administrative decision regulating the management of the Arabian Oryx Reserve, aiming to organise activities within the protected area as part of efforts to conserve biodiversity and ensure the reserve’s long-term sustainability.
The decision specifies activities that require prior authorisation before being conducted inside the reserve, identifies prohibited activities, sets applicable fees, and outlines categories exempt from permit requirements. It also provides for the enforcement of administrative fines against violators, depending on the nature of the offence.
Activities requiring prior permits include entry into the reserve, recreational roaming, photography and documentary production, scientific research and sample collection, camping and overnight stays, grazing, construction or expansion within existing facilities, and agricultural activities.
The regulations prohibit hunting or collecting wildlife or plants, the use of firearms or poisons, driving vehicles outside designated tracks, cutting trees or damaging vegetation, polluting water sources or valleys, introducing invasive species, and tampering with signboards or boundary markers.
The decision establishes fees for certain activities such as entry, recreational roaming, mountain hiking, and camping. Fees range from OMR 1 to 2 for Omanis, OMR 3 to 5 for non-Omanis, and between OMR 0.100 and OMR 1 for children under 16 years of age.
Several categories are exempt from permit requirements, including members of the armed forces and Royal Oman Police performing official duties, government employees on official assignments, school students participating in educational trips, residents of the reserve and their first-degree relatives, and official government delegations.
The Environment Authority affirmed that administrative fines will be imposed on those who violate the regulations, stressing that the measures aim to protect the Arabian Oryx and its natural habitat, preserve ecological balance, and support sustainable environmental management of one of Oman’s most important wildlife reserves.
