How Salalah, Oman grows bananas and coconuts in the desert

Ask most people where bananas and coconuts grow, and they picture jungles, islands, or at least steamy tropics — certainly not a desert. Yet in southern Oman, the city of Salalah produces these fruits in abundance, right among sand and mountains.

It’s a genuine anomaly on the Arabian Peninsula. How did a desert nation end up cultivating such tropical produce? The answer lies in nature, technology, and the persistence of local farmers.

Oman’s green surprise

Salalah sits at Oman’s far south, in Dhofar. Each year, from June to September, a distinct season known as khareef rolls in. Temperatures drop, rains arrive, and the landscape turns verdant — a welcome pause from heat and dryness.

That is when the fields around Salalah become exceptionally fertile. Thanks to rainfall and humidity, fruits rarely seen elsewhere in the country thrive here.

What and how much they grow

According to the latest 2025 data, Salalah’s farmers harvest around 7,000 tons of coconuts annually — a striking figure for a region that spends most of the year in drought.

Bananas fare well too, at about 4,900 tons a year, roughly a fifth of the area’s total fruit yield.

Beyond coconuts and bananas, papaya, lemons, guava and even various vegetables grow here. Still, bananas and coconuts remain the headline crops.

How fruit survive in the desert

To coax such crops from a demanding climate, local farmers blend traditional and modern methods, including:

- Drip irrigation that conserves water and delivers it straight to the roots.

- Greenhouses for year-round cultivation.

- Hydroponics — growing without soil, in nutrient-rich water.

- Solar panels that power pumps and other systems.

Some farms open their gates to visitors: people come to see bananas growing, sip coconut water straight from the nut, and learn how agriculture operates under these conditions.

The challenges

Not everything runs smoothly. In recent years, coconut yields have begun to decline. The reasons include insect pests that damage the trees, shifts in the weather, and a shortage of land for new plantings.

Water is limited and the terrain is tough. The fruit-growing plain is hemmed in by mountains, leaving few easy options for expansion.

Getting produce to market isn’t always simple either: farmers compete with other countries, and logistics in the mountains can be difficult.

What’s next?

Even with headwinds, Salalah’s outlook is promising. The region has started introducing new banana varieties better suited to the local climate. One of them, called Moz Razat, appeared only recently and is already being tested.

Authorities are also backing projects that combine farming with tourism — a mix that supports both growers and the wider regional economy.

Salalah shows that successful agriculture can take root in the most unlikely places when nature and technology are put to work wisely.

The little details

During the rainy season, roadside fruit stalls pop up, and visitors can try a chilled drink known as mashli — fresh coconut water enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

All that greenery depends on just a few wet months each year. The rest of the time brings heat and aridity, much like any desert.

These successes are inspiring for countries where the climate is becoming more challenging. Salalah’s experience may soon prove useful in other parts of the world.