Salalah Prepares for November Culinary Festival Showcasing Local and Global Cuisine

Salalah will hold the Al Baleed Culinary Festival this November, a month-long event coordinated by Al Baleed Resort by Anantara. Scheduled for November 2025, the festival unites local chefs with internationally acclaimed culinary experts. Supported by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Dhofar Municipality, Experience Oman, and Amouage, the program aims to highlight Omani culinary traditions while featuring international expertise, presenting Salalah as a destination of interest for cultural and gastronomic travel.

Visitors will be able to take part in a range of planned activities that highlight local traditions, cuisine, and wellness. A main feature of the program is the Frankincense Experience, which includes:

• A guided visit to the resort’s farm,
• A spa treatment inspired by frankincense,
• A two-course harvest lunch prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients.

International highlights also feature special dinners at Mekong restaurant:

• Symphony of Taste by Jacob Jan Boerma on 12 November,
• Pursuit of Excellence by Christian Jürgens on 15 November.

The festival’s broader calendar presents themed dining led by the resort’s chefs. Highlights include Taste of Mekong set menus, Far East buffets, Flavours of the Spice Route showcasing South Asian cuisine, and Taste of the Arabian Ocean focused on seafood with handmade pasta and local vegetables. Omani Nights at Sakalan will bring visitors closer to local traditions with regional dishes and traditional entertainment, while desserts across the program will be created by Head Pastry Chef Khin Hnin Aung.

For travelers, the festival adds variety to a visit to southern Oman. The cost of events varies from OMR 20 for themed dinners to OMR 69 for the Frankincense Experience, with Michelin-starred evenings available at OMR 55 per person. With options across different budgets and interests, visitors can choose between immersive cultural activities, international fine dining, and interactive culinary events, all taking place within one destination during November 2025.

The festival demonstrates how culinary experiences can enhance travel by bringing together knowledge of regional traditions and expertise from internationally acclaimed chefs. Visitors to Salalah have the opportunity to experience the local food culture while simultaneously gaining exposure to global culinary practices. The festival represents a significant event in Salalah’s cultural schedule and offers travelers an additional reason to visit the city this autumn.