An airplane takes off from an airport runway during sunset with several aircraft parked nearby.

Salalah Airport

Salalah Airport

Written by: Nils Lindhorst Last updated at: May 21, 2025

The international airport of Salalah is located behind the airport in Muscat , the second largest in the country. The airport is about 10 kilometers from the city center and lies a little north of Salalah . From here, one can choose both domestic connections to Muscat and other regions of Oman as well as European destinations.

History of the airport

The airport of Salalah was opened in 1977. It was the time when Sultan Qaboos had just begun to implement the first significant improvements in infrastructure development. The very first reforms and construction projects benefited from the steady flow of oil . Initially, Salalah Airport was not much more than a small domestic airport from which flights to Muscat departed. In the following years, there were a few charter flights, but significant development was lacking. This only materialized over time. In 2000, only about 190,000 passengers were processed here in a year. In 2003, the first direct flights to and from Salalah were added to the schedule. Initially, there were only short-haul destinations like Dubai, but in 2004, regular flights to India commenced from Salalah. Since 2014, work has been underway for further expansion and modernization of the airport.

Developments at Salalah Airport

As early as 2013, before the works for the modernization and expansion of Salalah Airport had begun, the number of passengers processed here in a year had multiplied. Almost 800,000 people passed through in 2013. Today, the expansion is already well underway. The new terminal at the airport has already been put into operation and allows for faster and more comfortable processing of arriving and departing guests - including new duty-free shopping opportunities and several international car rental companies that have their offices and stores here. In addition, there have been a whole series of new interesting flight connections to and from Salalah in recent years.

Discover Oman with experts who have called it their home

Your dream holiday, tailor-made by experts.

We don't just know Oman from books, we visit the country several times a year to experience the culture, landscape and people first-hand.

From your first enquiry to your return home, we are there for you personally - by phone, email or WhatsApp, whenever you need us. Our trips are as unique as you are: individually planned and provided with exclusive privileges and high-quality arrangements that will make your trip unforgettable.

You might also like this

Traditional pottery shop in Nizwa Souq with clay pots and a palm tree in Oman.

Nizwa Souq

3 min read

The market of Nizwa is definitely worth a visit. You are most likely to get an impression of the life and hustle of an Arabic souq if you visit the market in the morning hours. The area where the various market sections are located is well-organized, but still offers a great variety of goods and offers. The souq, located to the east of Nizwa Fort, is completely surrounded by a wall and thus clearly distinguishes itself from the other districts. The market is divided into six areas. These are the West Souq, the East Souq, the fruit and vegetable hall with associated buildings for meat, fish, an...

A grand white building with arched windows and tall trees lining the entrance, set against a mountainous backdrop.

The political system in Oman

1 min read

Are you planning a trip to Oman? Then it is helpful to inform yourself about the political system of the country. Oman is a sultanate, an Arab and Islamic state, whose political structure differs significantly from Western democracy....

A barren desert landscape with distant mountains under a clear sky.

Ancient times

1 min read

Already in the third century, the eastern Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by the Umm an-Nar culture, whose territory extended from present-day UAE to the northern part of Oman. Important trading partners for this early culture were the Sumerians as well as the Indus Valley culture in present-day Pakistan. The land was then referred to as Magan and was limited to the present northern part of the sultanate. Little is known about the organization of this culture, aside from a mention by Naram-Sin of Akkad (2200 BC) about a victory over King Manium of Magan. Due to the existing copper deposits in...