BankDhofar champions Khareef Festival 2025 as Gold sponsor
A longstanding patron of Oman’s major cultural events, BankDhofar — the second largest bank in Oman by branch network — returns once again as a gold sponsor of the 2025 Salalah Khareef Festival, Dhofar’s celebrated seasonal showcase. Spanning from July 15 to August 31, the festival draws over a million visitors annually to Salalah during the monsoon season, when the region is transformed into a lush, green haven alive with traditional music, art, dance, and cuisine.
BankDhofar’s partnership with the festival is two-pronged. With footfall surging across Dhofar, the Bank is seizing the opportunity to showcase its full range of banking products and financial services to both existing and prospective customers. Equally important, the Bank is using this platform to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses, many of whom rely on the khareef season to generate vital income. By offering financial guidance and promoting access to tailored products, BankDhofar aims to help these businesses thrive and grow.
Anchoring the Bank’s physical presence is a striking, brand-coloured stand at the Ittin festival grounds in Salalah. Welcoming and interactive, the stand is staffed by a dedicated team who offer visitors insights into BankDhofar’s latest offerings, while also providing customers with the convenience of on-site transactions and service touchpoints. Prospective clients are invited to explore innovations across retail, SME, digital, and personal banking verticals.
Extending its reach beyond Ittin, BankDhofar is deploying its fully equipped mobile branch — the “Bank on Wheels” — to various festival locations throughout the governorate. This mobile unit offers the full spectrum of banking services and personalised consultations. Staffed by trained professionals, the van ensures banking convenience for residents and tourists alike, wherever they are.
As part of its social responsibility, the bank provided two hybrid cars to the Dhofar Municipality for use during the Khareef season and other seasons, contributing to a long-term positive impact on the community. This initiative is part of a series of BankDhofar initiatives aimed at supporting the transition to a green economy and achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050.
For BankDhofar, the Khareef Festival is more than a seasonal celebration — it is a vital economic engine for Dhofar. The surge in tourism boosts sectors such as hospitality, home rentals, car hire, food and beverage, guided tours, and traditional crafts. Hotels and guesthouses operate at full capacity, while artisans, frankincense traders, and local producers of honey and textiles see record sales. Restaurants, cafés, and street vendors enjoy heightened demand, often expanding operations to cater to the festive crowds. They often use mobile digital services to facilitate the payment process, such as BankDhofar's Soft POS service.
In championing the Khareef Festival, BankDhofar reiterates its broader commitment to CSR, financial inclusion, and community engagement. By aligning its brand with Dhofar’s most important annual event, the Bank underscores its support for the governorate’s social fabric and economic prosperity — a partnership rooted in service, sustainability, and shared growth.
