Wednesday 19 / August / 2026
Jabal Akhdar: The activities of the First Gulf Horse Riders Gathering kicked off on Wednesday in the Wilayat of Jabal Akhdar, organised by Al Dakhiliyah Governorate in cooperation with “Oman from Horse Backs” team.
Running until 21 August, the event features the participation of 22 male and female riders from the Sultanate of Oman, GCC countries, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United Kingdom.
Sheikh Mahmoud Rashid Al Saadi, Acting Governor of Al Dakhiliyah and chief guest of the occasion, confirmed that hosting the forum comes as part of the governorate’s direction toward organising qualitative events that invest in the natural and cultural assets of the Wilayat of Jabal Akhdar to diversify the tourism product, and link tourism activity with villages, agricultural sites, and local products, thereby supporting economic activity and enhancing benefits for the local community.
He added that including the forum among the activities of Jabal Akhdar Festival enhances the presence of adventure and equestrian tourism within the wilayat’s tourism programme, and expands the scope of activities linked to nature, terrain, and agricultural and cultural heritage of Jabal Akhdar.
The forum focuses on equestrian tourism and associated cultural experiences through a program that combines horseback riding along mountain trails, adventure tourism, camping, and exploring a number of sites and villages in the wilayat.
The forum’s programme includes field routes starting from Al Ghaleel Park, passing through juniper and wild olive tree forests, up to a campsite at an altitude of nearly 2,400 metres, alongside visiting a number of villages and agricultural terraces, learning about essential oil production, and the participation of the riders in several activities of Jabal Akhdar Festival.
For his part, Saif Ali Al Rawahi, head of “Oman from Horse Backs” team, stated that the forum brings together male and female riders from the Sultanate of Oman, GCC countries, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United Kingdom, noting that holding it in Jabal Akhdar comes as an extension of the team’s efforts to highlight the natural assets of the Sultanate of Oman through equestrian tourism and the exchange of expertise among participants.
The organisation of the First Gulf Horse Riders Forum comes as part of the Jabal Akhdar Festival 2026 programme, which features a range of tourism, cultural, and community events, aimed at supporting tourism activity and enhancing the participation of institutions and the local community.
