It is snowing in the desert

It has been snowing in Oman since December 24 and a steady stream of yearning visitors comprising people from different walks of life who wished to bask in the snow and to shiver in the cool winds have been making it to the snow.

There, one is trying all snow exercises, sipping on steamy coffee amid the chilly winds beside the buildings covered in shimmering white snow as the ships frozen in time stood as reminiscences of the past while children went sledding down frozen sand dunes, and couples went discovering an exciting world of fun in icy cold temperatures.

Spread over a massive 14,830 square metres with a ‘Desert Blizzard’ theme — a reimagined world where Oman’s cityscapes and sand dunes are covered in real snow in the heart of the Mall of Oman, Snow Oman, the largest snow park in the MENA region, is the coolest must-visit destination that features a gamut of family-friendly rides.

And the rides vary from the Mountain Thriller, Snow Bullet, Slide Winder, and Cloud Climber to Zorb Ball, besides unique attractions such as Cold Town Muscat, Frozen Shipwreck and Lighthouse, and a 475-square metre ice rink. It is the only snow ambience in the Sultanate of Oman which is catering to those who love to explore icy alleys and frozen pathways between snow-frosted buildings.

“This is not the first time that an indoor snow experience is offered in the region. In 2005, the same group pioneered the first, sub-zero leisure offering in the Mall of the Emirates: Ski Dubai. The award-winning experience has been recognised as the World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort by the prestigious World Ski Awards for seven consecutive years. In 2017, Ski Egypt opened in the Mall of Egypt and set an all-new record for being the first of its kind in the African continent,” a representative from the Majid al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, which owns Snow Oman said.

Like its sister brands Ski Dubai and Ski Egypt, Snow Oman is now home to a colony of king and Gentoo penguins who are provided with the best possible care in a custom-built penguinarium. There are 6 King penguins and 6 Gentoo penguins at the Snow Oman. They come from a colony that was established in Ski Dubai in January 2012. The first colony hatched from eggs that were laid in San Antonio, US, and have since had chicks of their own and all the penguins at the Snow Oman are provided with the best natural habitat possible in a custom-built home.

Some of the attractions one should not miss at Snow Oman:

FROZEN SHIPWRECK AND LIGHTHOUSE

It is an experience packed with adventure aboard a ship frozen in time, and climb as high as you dare in the lighthouse.

SNOW PARK RIDES

One can climb from snowy chills to high-speed thrills, and it is a must for those who love snow rides and it caters to everyone in the family to enjoy.

ZORB BALLS

Families are provided with an unforgettable ride and one can tumble down a snowy slope in the safety of the giant inflatable Zorb balls in the snowy surrounding.

SNOW CONSTRUCTION

Young, budding architects can practice their snow-building skills in this exciting, challenging attraction and see how they build their own igloo.