Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort has announced the return of its Oman Olive Festival, scheduled for 24 to 28 September 2025. Now in its fourth year, this five-day celebration on the Green Mountain combines traditional harvesting with contemporary gastronomy, welcoming both resort guests and local community members to participate in the region’s agricultural heritage.
This year’s festival theme, “From Tree to Table – A Journey Through Olive Heritage“, encompasses hands-on harvesting sessions, olive oil tastings, and culinary experiences featuring two visiting chefs. Chef Ovidiu-Gabriel Mușat from Tivoli Portopiccolo Sistiana Wellness Resort & Spa in Italy joins Spanish chef Martin Aristondo from NH Collection San Sebastian Aranzazu, each bringing distinctive regional perspectives to the mountain resort’s kitchens.
Festival programme highlights local traditions
The Oman Olive Festival opens on Wednesday 24 September with a welcome ceremony on the Al Shurfa terrace, where guests can sample mountain-inspired drinks infused with local olives, herbs, and citrus. The opening evening continues at Al Maisan restaurant with an Italian and Spanish buffet prepared by the visiting chefs.
Daily activities include “Olive Tales at Breakfast” sessions with olive historian Giorgio Robles, competitive harvest competitions, and heritage tours led by Dr. Ali Al Furqani. These tours incorporate tastings and visits to the nearby olive oil press factory, where participants observe the complete production process from pressing to packaging.
Thursday’s programme features an Italian cooking class with chef Mușat and an outdoor Spanish garden dinner at Al Qalaa. Friday brings Spanish tapas classes followed by a Canyon View Dinner at Bella Vista showcasing a three-course Italian menu. Saturday transforms Bella Vista Terrace into Olive Market Day, featuring artisanal stalls, pop-up classes, and tastings that represent the festival’s social centrepiece.
Mountain location shapes unique agricultural heritage
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Positioned 2,000 metres above sea level, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar occupies one of the world’s highest luxury resort locations. The elevation and climate create ideal conditions for olive cultivation, with terraced orchards surrounding the property producing fruit with distinctive flavour profiles shaped by the mountain environment.
“The Oman Olive Festival is a tribute to the fertile land we have in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, but also the people and traditions that shape this region,” says general manager Maren Kuehl. “We are proud to host an event that connects guests to the richness of local culture and the universal joy of sharing a meal crafted with care, featuring hand-harvested olives and seasonal produce, sustainably sourced from our expansive resort gardens, which flourish throughout the year”.
Oman olive festival connects tradition with contemporary dining
The festival concludes on Sunday 28 September with a Spanish and Italian breakfast at Al Maisan, featuring regional specialities including tortillas, focaccia, and premium olive oil tastings. This closing meal allows participants to reflect on the five-day journey through olive heritage while sampling products created during the festival.
For those seeking authentic agricultural experiences in the Middle East, the Oman Olive Festival offers rare access to traditional harvesting methods combined with international culinary expertise, all within the dramatic canyon landscape of Al Jabal Al Akhdar.
Quick summary – Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Oman
- 🫒 Five-day olive harvest festival celebrating agricultural heritage and gastronomy
- 📍 Location: Al Jabal Al Akhdar (Green Mountain), Oman, 2,000 metres above sea level
- 🎨 Style: Contemporary Omani design within dramatic canyon landscape setting
- 🍷 Key feature: Hands-on olive harvesting with oil tastings and heritage tours
- 🍴 Dining: Italian and Spanish guest chefs presenting special dinners and cooking classes
- 🌄 Ambience: Mountain terraces with canyon views and traditional terraced orchards
- ✨ Ideal for: Cultural enthusiasts seeking authentic agricultural experiences combined with luxury mountain resort amenities
