Oman Air has announced a new three-weekly direct service between Dubai and Salalah, a move designed to power year-round tourism in southern Oman and deepen air connectivity across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The route, which will launch on 3 July 2026, positions the Sultanate to capture growing regional demand for short-haul leisure travel while reinforcing Muscat’s ambition to serve as a key hub between the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

The new Oman Air service will connect Dubai and Salalah three times a week throughout the year, providing a direct link between one of the GCC’s busiest tourism and business gateways and Oman’s leading monsoon-season destination. Operating year-round rather than seasonally, the schedule is intended to support both the peak khareef months, when Salalah’s cooler climate attracts visitors from across the Gulf, and the growing appeal of Dhofar as an emerging winter-sun and nature destination.

According to Oman Air, the link responds to sustained growth in demand between the two cities and is part of the carrier’s strategy to add capacity where underlying traffic is strong and stable. The three-weekly pattern is seen as a balance between offering sufficient choice for both short breaks and longer stays, while maintaining load factors that support commercial viability. The airline will integrate the new flights into its wider GCC timetable, enabling connections via Muscat for passengers coming from or continuing to other Gulf capitals.

The Dubai–Salalah route has long been served indirectly via Muscat and by a combination of regional carriers, but the new non-stop service significantly reduces travel time and complexity for passengers. By eliminating the need for a domestic or hub connection, Oman Air is positioning the route as a convenient weekender or mid-week escape, broadening its appeal to travellers who might previously have opted for other short-haul coastal destinations in the region.

Boost for Dhofar Tourism and the Khareef Season

For Oman’s tourism planners, the timing of the launch just ahead of the 2026 khareef season is central to the route’s importance. Salalah and the broader Dhofar Governorate experience a unique Indian Ocean monsoon from June to September, transforming the usually arid landscape into green hills and mist-covered valleys. This seasonal weather pattern has helped establish Salalah as a major summer draw for Gulf residents seeking cooler temperatures within a relatively short flight of home.

Oman Air’s new flights from Dubai are expected to drive additional arrivals during this critical period by tapping into the large expatriate and local population in the United Arab Emirates, as well as international visitors using Dubai as a regional gateway. The airline has previously reported double-digit increases in capacity to Salalah during recent khareef seasons, and the new route builds on that trend by adding a direct international feeder into Dhofar.

Local tourism operators in Salalah are preparing for a further rise in demand, particularly from family and group travellers. The simplified air access is expected to support higher occupancy levels at beach resorts, city hotels and eco-lodges, while also providing a boost to tour companies offering trips to attractions such as Wadi Darbat, the frankincense trail sites and the coastal cliffs of Mughsail. Increased air connectivity is also likely to encourage longer average stays, as travellers combine Salalah with time in Dubai or Muscat.

Strengthening GCC Air Corridors and Intra-Regional Travel

The Dubai–Salalah announcement fits within a broader push by Oman Air and the Sultanate’s aviation authorities to deepen air corridors within the GCC. The airline already operates frequent services between Muscat and major Gulf hubs including Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Bahrain and Kuwait, providing a dense network of short-haul links around the Arabian Peninsula. The addition of point-to-point routes beyond the Omani capital reflects a shift toward a more distributed model of connectivity where secondary cities also act as demand generators.

GCC governments have been encouraging greater intra-regional tourism as part of their post-pandemic recovery strategies, with air connectivity seen as a key lever. The new Dubai–Salalah flights complement recent expansions by Oman Air into Saudi Arabia, including a three-weekly Muscat–Taif service that began at the end of January 2026, further knitting together secondary and tertiary cities across the Gulf. As short-haul leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic rebounds, airlines are increasingly focusing on right-sized frequencies with narrowbody aircraft to match market demand.

From a regional perspective, the route underscores the growing importance of diversified Gulf tourism offerings. While Dubai continues to act as a magnet for shopping, entertainment and large-scale events, destinations such as Salalah allow GCC residents and international visitors to experience different landscapes and cultural settings without leaving the region. Enhanced connectivity between the two cities aligns with a wider tourism strategy that encourages multi-stop itineraries across multiple Gulf states.

Oman Vision 2040 and the Shift to Point-to-Point Growth

Oman Air has framed the Dubai–Salalah launch as part of its role in supporting Oman Vision 2040, the national roadmap that places tourism and logistics at the heart of economic diversification. In recent years, the airline has reoriented its network strategy to prioritize point-to-point traffic into the Sultanate, rather than relying primarily on transfer passengers using Muscat as a through hub. Company data show that direct inbound travellers now represent a majority of overall traffic, highlighting the effectiveness of this approach.

The three-weekly service between Dubai and Salalah fits squarely within that point-to-point focus, delivering visitors directly to a regional destination rather than funnelling them through Muscat. By adding carefully selected routes where demand is proven and tourism infrastructure is ready, Oman Air aims to catalyse visitor growth while maintaining sustainable route economics. Officials have consistently stressed that the airline’s expansion is driven less by network size for its own sake and more by routes that support Oman’s socio-economic priorities.

Beyond Dhofar, the airline’s evolving network includes new long- and medium-haul destinations such as Amsterdam and an upcoming Muscat–Singapore service, as well as renewed frequencies on popular routes like London. These additions extend Oman’s reach into high-value source markets, but the Dubai–Salalah link illustrates how relatively short sectors can deliver high strategic impact when aligned with national tourism clusters and seasonality patterns.

Fleet Modernization Underpins New Routes

Oman Air’s ability to launch targeted three-weekly routes such as Dubai–Salalah has been bolstered by a fleet modernization programme that concluded a major investment phase at the start of February 2026. The carrier’s fleet now stands at 33 aircraft, comprising Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 737 variants, including the fuel-efficient 737 MAX-8. The mix allows the airline to deploy the right capacity on both trunk and niche routes, optimising operating costs while offering a competitive onboard product.

Narrowbody aircraft are expected to operate the Dubai–Salalah sector, reflecting the route’s relatively short flying time and the airline’s emphasis on frequency and reliability. The use of new-generation jets helps Oman Air manage fuel burn and emissions while maintaining cabin comfort standards that appeal to increasingly discerning Gulf travellers. The airline has also been investing in onboard experience, renewing its inflight entertainment partnership with specialist providers to keep pace with evolving passenger expectations.

Fleet flexibility is particularly important as Oman Air expands in multiple directions at once. While widebody aircraft are reserved for long-haul markets connecting Oman with Europe and Asia-Pacific, single-aisle jets are the workhorses of GCC connectivity, supporting multiple daily frequencies where warranted and lower-intensity three-weekly patterns where demand is growing. This structure allows the airline to open new routes like Dubai–Salalah with manageable risk while retaining the ability to scale up if performance exceeds expectations.

Competition and Collaboration in a Tightening Gulf Market

The new Oman Air service enters a Gulf aviation market that is both competitive and increasingly interconnected. Dubai remains a core hub for several major carriers, and Salalah is already on the radar of regional airlines seeking to tap into the khareef-driven summer market. By offering its own year-round non-stop link, Oman Air aims to solidify its position as the natural carrier of choice for travel into southern Oman, leveraging national branding and strong local partnerships.

At the same time, Oman’s aviation strategy emphasises collaboration as much as competition. The country has signed a growing number of bilateral air services agreements and memoranda of understanding with partner states, expanding the traffic rights and operating flexibility available to national carriers. Oman Air’s membership in the oneworld alliance further extends its reach, enabling through-ticketing and coordinated schedules with international partners that feed traffic into its regional network.

Within the GCC, the Dubai–Salalah route may also stimulate cooperative marketing efforts focused on dual-destination holidays, with travellers encouraged to combine time in Dubai’s urban environment with a nature-focused stay in Dhofar. For Oman Air, working alongside tourism bodies in both countries on joint campaigns could help the route mature more quickly, spreading awareness of Salalah’s attractions among residents and frequent visitors to the United Arab Emirates.

Implications for Tour Operators, Hospitality and Local Economies

The additional air capacity into Salalah is expected to be felt across Oman’s tourism value chain. Hotels and resorts along Salalah’s coastline will gain more predictable access to a source market that typically books short breaks and repeat visits, providing a buffer against seasonal fluctuations. Urban properties in the city centre could benefit from increased corporate and government travel as connectivity encourages more events and meetings to be held in Dhofar.

For tour operators, the three-weekly pattern from Dubai allows greater flexibility in designing itineraries that cater to both long weekends and extended stays. Packages that pair Salalah with Muscat or other GCC cities are likely to gain traction, particularly among younger travellers and families seeking variety without long-haul flights. Ground transport providers, excursion firms and local guides stand to gain from higher volumes, especially during khareef when demand for organised sightseeing and nature experiences peaks.

At the community level, improved air access has the potential to spur growth in small and medium-sized enterprises ranging from restaurants and cafes to handicraft shops and adventure tourism startups. The government’s broader development agenda for Dhofar includes investments in infrastructure, heritage conservation and coastal development, and the new Oman Air route adds a critical connectivity layer to support these plans. As visitor numbers rise, stakeholders are also expected to place renewed emphasis on sustainable tourism practices that protect the region’s natural assets.

Positioning Oman as a Connected, Multi-Gateway Destination

With the Dubai–Salalah service, Oman continues to refine its positioning on the regional aviation map as a destination with multiple gateways rather than a single entry point. Muscat will remain the primary hub and the focus of long-haul connectivity, but airports such as Salalah are playing a larger role as direct points of entry tied to distinctive tourism products. This differentiated approach allows the country to attract varied traveller segments, from nature seekers and heritage enthusiasts to beach holidaymakers and business visitors.

The launch of additional point-to-point services within the GCC is likely to reinforce Oman’s reputation as a convenient and accessible destination for short, frequent trips from neighbouring states. For many Gulf residents, a direct flight from a familiar hub like Dubai can lower psychological and logistical barriers to trying a new destination, particularly when travel times are under two hours and visa processes are being simplified for key markets.

As Oman Air prepares to inaugurate its Dubai–Salalah route in July 2026, industry observers will be watching closely to see how the new service performs across the first khareef season and into the quieter months that follow. If the airline’s broader experience with point-to-point growth and carefully chosen frequencies is any indication, the three-weekly link could prove to be a template for future intra-GCC routes that blend commercial discipline with national tourism ambitions.