Hotel revenues in Oman rose by more than 18 per cent year-on-year between January and September 2025 to reach a nine-month high of OMR193.4 million ($505 million), according to Cavendish Maxwell.
In the same period, room revenues climbed by nearly 21 per cent, occupancy rose by 13 per cent, hotel guest numbers grew by 9 per cent and employment in the hospitality sector increased by 5.3 per cent, the real estate advisory and property consultancy said.
By the end of September, Oman had 36,300 hotel rooms in operation, with another 1,000 set for completion in Q4 2025. With another 3,000 planned for the next two years, room inventory is set to reach 40,300 by the end of 2027, according to Cavendish Maxwell’s insight and analysis of Oman’s hospitality sector.
Oman hospitality sector records OMR193.4 million revenue growth through September 2025
Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is boosting the sector with OMR100 million ($260 million) worth of usufruct agreements covering hotels, resorts and integrated developments, while marketing campaigns are strengthening Oman’s position as a year-round destination.
The country’s 3-5 star hotels welcomed 1.7 million guests in the first nine months of year, compared to 1.5 million in the same period in 2024, with the Khareef season boosting visitor numbers.
“Oman’s hospitality industry performed strongly to the end of Q3 2025, with robust demand from domestic and international travellers. Government investment, population growth, targeted marketing initiatives and evolving travel patterns are all playing key roles in the success of the sector, which is set to enjoy further growth, resilience and diversity in 2026 and beyond,” Khalil Al Zadjali, Head of Oman at Cavendish Maxwell said in a statement.
Hotel occupancy in Oman climbs 13%
The research, which covers the first nine months of 2025, with a focus on 3-5 star hotels, shows hotel occupancy rose to almost 53 per cent, a year-on-year increase of over 13 per cent.
Average room rates reached OMR45.3 ($117), up 1.3 per cent on the same period in 2024.
Omani nationals accounted for the majority of guests, making up nearly 4 in every 10 travellers (38.1 per cent). Europeans are second, followed by Asians and GCC visitors.
Oman’s airports handled 11.2 million passengers, with 9.8 million (87.4%) using Muscat International Airport.
Hotel occupancy rose 13.1 per cent to reach an average of almost 53 per cent between January and September, with the performance driven by several factors including a rise in demand for leisure travel and an improved summer season supported by the #WithinOman tourism initiative.
The Khareef season, which falls from late June to early September, also boosted visitor numbers. April saw the highest occupancy, followed by January and August.
Hotel guest numbers in Oman increase 9% as room inventory set to reach 40,300 by 2027
Average room rates in the first nine months of the year were OMR45.3 ($117), just 1.3 per cent higher year-on-year. The increase demonstrates that hotels are focusing on driving occupancy and optimising inventory usage, rather than pursuing price increases to achieve revenue growth. Room rates were highest in April, followed by February and August.
Oman’s domestic market made up the biggest share of hotel guests between January and September, with Omani nationals accounting for nearly 678,000 (38.1 per cent).
Europeans took a share of almost 25 per cent with 425,000 check-ins, with Asian travellers making up 1 in 7 guests (14.4 per cent). Next were travellers from the GCC, other Arab countries, The Americas, Oceania and Africa.
Around 11.2 million people flew in and out of Oman’s airports in the first nine months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 0.7 per cent. Despite reduced operations at Suhar International Airport, total passenger volumes across the country’s airport network are expected to reach up to 14.9 million, compared to 14.5 million in 2024.
Passenger traffic remained concentrated at Muscat International, which handled 9.8 million travellers, or 87.4 per cent of the total, underscoring the airport’s position as the main gateway for business and leisure trips.
Salalah International Airport was the key secondary hub, accounting for 1.4 million passengers (12 per cent). The Khareef season generated more than a fifth (21 per cent) of Salalah Airport’s total passenger volumes.
