Bidiyah Sands Carnival

A month-long festival at the edge of the dunes

The Bidiyah Sands Carnival (listed as Rimal Bidiyah in the Experience Oman calendar) runs from Thursday 19 November to Saturday 19 December 2026 in the wilayat of Bidiyah, in North Al Sharqiyah. Bidiyah is one of the two villages, with Al Wasil, that mark the entrance to the Wahiba Sands, a little over two hours' drive from Muscat.

According to the Oman Observer, the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) organises the event under the rules of the FIA, the international automobile federation. The programme combines motorsport, live performances, camping, equestrian shows and family activities. An event village welcomes visitors, with spectator areas, live broadcast screens, a space for local small businesses and desert experiences.

Oman International Baja, 17 to 19 December

The highlight is the Oman International Baja, the first Baja rally held in Oman: an off-road race across dunes, open tracks and wadis. First planned for March, it was postponed because of hostilities in the Gulf region and now runs from 17 to 19 December 2026, the last three days of the carnival. A prologue sets the starting order, followed by two selective sections across the sands of Bidiyah and Al Qabil.

The ceremonial start and the service park are at Bidiyah Green Homes Park, the finish at the Bidiyah 4x4 Club, and the rally is based at the Jawharat Bidiyah Resort. Cars compete under the FIA, alongside motorcycles and quads. The race is a candidate for the 2027 FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups. Organisers expect more than 150 competitors from over 20 countries.

Other highlights

• Hill Climb Challenge, a hill-climb race, from 24 to 27 November.
• Bidiyah Sands Challenge, an obstacle race across the dunes: 5 km for adults (professional, amateur and corporate teams) and 500 m for children. The date has not been announced yet.

Getting there

Bidiyah is 185 km from Muscat airport, about 2 hours 10 minutes by road. From the village, the oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid is 50 minutes away, Ibra 40 minutes and Sur 1 hour 20 minutes. Beyond the villages, the sand tracks are for 4x4s only; most camps collect their guests at the edge of the desert. In November the average maximum at the Bidiyah weather station is 32 °C.

Where to stay

The Wahiba camps are close by: Thousand Nights Camp, about forty minutes along a desert track into the dunes, offers several levels of comfort, from Arabic tents to air-conditioned sand houses for families; Canvas Club is a private camp for a single group. The area is described on the Wahiba Sands page.

The carnival spans National Day, with public holidays on 25 and 26 November 2026. The Wahiba Sands then host the Oman Desert Marathon, from 9 January 2027. Our guide to the situation in Oman sums up travel advice. Your country's advice:

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