Fewer Passengers Fly Through Oman's Airports Between January and August 2026

More than 9.3 million passengers passed through Oman's airports by the end of August 2026, a 7.1 percent drop from the 10.02 million recorded in the equivalent stretch of 2025. The National Centre for Statistics and Information published the figures, which show lower passenger and flight volumes across the country's main airports.

Key facts

• Period covered: January to August 2026, compared with the same months of 2025
• Total passengers: more than 9.3 million, down 7.1 percent from 10.02 million
• Airports counted: Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Duqm
• Busiest airport: Muscat International, with 8.1 million passengers
• Source of the data: Oman's National Centre for Statistics and Information

How many flights did Oman's airports handle?

International arrivals and departures combined across Muscat, Salalah and Sohar airports reached 53,716 by the end of August, an 8.8 percent fall from the 58,890 flights logged in the matching period a year earlier.

Muscat International Airport recorded 57,870 international and domestic flights over the first eight months of 2026, down 6.7 percent from 62,007 a year before. Salalah handled 7,657 flights, a 1.4 percent dip from 7,769, while Sohar registered 188 flights, down 6.9 percent from 202. Duqm logged 380 domestic flights, a 7.3 percent decrease from 410.

How did each airport's passenger numbers change?

Muscat International Airport served 8.1 million passengers in the eight months to the end of August, a 7.5 percent reduction from 8.76 million in the same window of 2025.

Salalah Airport welcomed 1.16 million passengers, a 4.4 percent contraction from 1.21 million the previous year. Sohar Airport's traffic dropped 17.4 percent to 15,292, versus 18,522 a year earlier, and Duqm Airport saw passenger figures fall 9.3 percent to 36,443, compared with 40,173.

Which travellers used Muscat airport in August?

Omani passport holders formed the biggest cohort of arrivals and departures at Muscat International Airport in August, numbering 202,033 — 111,360 arrivals and 90,673 departures.

Travellers from India placed second at 145,720, with 77,001 arriving and 68,719 departing. Bangladeshi nationals took third spot with 42,050 passengers, comprising 23,454 arrivals and 18,596 departures.

What this means for travellers

The statistics centre's figures describe reduced passenger traffic and flight activity throughout Oman's airports in the opening eight months of 2026. The data covers passenger and flight volumes only; the source does not announce any change to entry rules, visas, air services or airport operations.

No forecast for the remainder of 2026 is included in the data.