At least three French tourists have drowned in Oman after the boat they were in capsized in waters off the sultanate’s capital city of Muscat, police said.
The Royal Oman Police on Tuesday said the boat carried 25 French tourists, as well as a tour guide and a boat captain, when it capsized in the Gulf of Oman. It said three tourists died and two suffered minor injuries.
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The police said in a short statement that “investigations are still ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident”.
The boat was 2.5 nautical miles (4.6km) from Sultan Qaboos Port in the Gulf of Oman when it tipped over.
Local media reported that the boat was on its way to the Daymaniyat Islands, a diving hotspot located to the northwest of the capital, known for its pristine underwater environment.
France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has not yet commented on the incident.
Oman, on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, is increasingly drawing international travellers for its diving and the natural beauty of its mountains and coastline.
The country welcomed nearly four million visitors in 2024, and the government is aiming to triple that figure by 2040 with a focus on sustainable tourism.