About Outward Bound Oman
Outward Bound Oman is an educational not for profit foundation established by ministerial decision, and is part of the international Outward Bound community that started in Wales in 1941.
Using the mountains and deserts of Oman, our courses help develop people from all walks of life. Our inclusive, adventurous and challenging outdoor experiential learning programmes equip people with valuable skills for education, work and life.
Working with young people from both inside and outside of Oman, we help them become more confident, more effective and more capable at school, college and in the workplace.
In addition to our work with young people, we also deliver training and professional development programmes for a growing number of leading companies in the region, as well as bespoke leadership and team development courses and expeditions.
MISSION AND VALUES
WE BELIEVE
We are all better than we know. If only we can be brought to realise this, we may never again be prepared to settle for anything else.
Kurt Hahn,
co-founder of Outward Bound
MISSION
Outward Bound Oman utilizes outdoor experiences to foster personal development across diverse backgrounds, supported by corporate and government partnerships, empowering individuals with essential skills for education, work, and life, fostering confidence and effectiveness in various settings.
VALUES
HISTORY
Outward Bound was founded in 1941 by the naval captain Laurence Holt, and the educationalist Kurt Hahn.
At this time, we provided training for young and inexperienced sailors who were drafted into the navy in World War II, helping them prepare for a tough life at sea, and showing them how to survive if they were shipwrecked.
After the war it was felt that the courses offered by Outward Bound were valuable for society in general, and Outward Bound expanded rapidly around the world. Today there are Outward Bound centres in more than 30 countries. The work of Outward Bound has never been as relevant as it is today, and each year some 250,000 people take part in an Outward Bound course somewhere in the world.
In May 2009, Outward Bound was launched in Oman by the founding partners Dentons, Shell and The Suhail Bahwan Group, marking it as the first Outward Bound school in any Arabic speaking country, and in 2014 it was further established by Ministerial Decision, operating as an educational foundation under the Ministry of Social Development.
Outward Bound Founder,
naval captain Laurence Holt
PATRON
His Highness Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said
His Highness became our Patron in 2010, and we are fortunate to be one of several organisations to which His Highness devotes much of his time.
Outward Bound Oman is not only challenging and helping develop the human resource of Oman, but as it grows it is creating jobs for talented young Omani’s of whom this nation can be proud. Any visit to see the team leaves me inspired; they are all outstanding role models, and I am proud to be their Patron.
A skilled and motivated workforce is crucial to the continued growth of our country, and Outward Bound’s Skills for Life and Next Generation courses equip and expose young people to the core skills, values and attitudes needed to be productive citizens, not only in the workplace, but also in the community at large.
Our aim is to substantially increase the numbers of young people who take part in and benefit from these courses, and your continued support and investment in the future of our nation remains as valuable and appreciated as ever.
GOVERNANCE
The board members of Outward Bound Oman play an important part in our governance process, and ensure Outward Bound Oman adheres to the highest of international standards.
Made up of voluntary experts drawn from the corporate, government, financial and legal sectors of the community, the board meets on a quarterly basis, and is responsible for the ongoing financial viability, sustainability and strategic development of Outward Bound Oman, in line with the constitution, and taking into account the ethos and values of Outward Bound International.
Suleiman Al Harthy, Chairman 2017 –
The current Chairman is Suleiman Al Harthy, who has been a board member since Outward Bound Oman started in 2009.
Hilal Al Mawali, Chairman 2009-17
Hilal played a pivotal role in establishing Outward Bound in Oman, and has recently been elected onto the board of Outward Bound International.
OUR PEOPLE
Outward Bound currently employs more than 40 full-time staff, making us the largest professional outdoor experiential training provider in Oman, and the region.
Our instructors are highly trained, full-time trainers and facilitators, dedicated and committed to transforming the lives of the people with whom they work, but they are only one part of the organisation, and are dependent on the support of our fantastic office administration and stores team.
PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
Our Founding Partners in 2009 were Dentons, Shell and The Suhail Bahwan Group, and they have since been joined by a growing network of partners who see Outward Bound Oman as a perfect opportunity for powerful, in-country Corporate Social Investment, helping to shape and nurture the next generation of leaders for the nation, and in the process creating jobs for young Omani’s to work with Outward Bound as we grow year on year.
OUTWARD BOUND INTERNATIONAL
Based in Aviemore in Scotland, Outward Bound International (OBI) is the membership and support organization of the international network of Outward Bound schools operating in more than 30 countries, with over 250 wilderness and urban locations worldwide.
The core mission of OBI is to promote and protect the good name of Outward Bound throughout the world, and to assist in the establishment, development and support of Outward Bound Centres able to provide safe, high quality programmes that fulfil the mission of Outward Bound.
OBI’S STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THIS MISSION ARE:
SAFETY
At Outward Bound Oman, we work with people’s most precious possessions. Our long-standing reputation for safety is one of the most often-stated reasons for using Outward Bound, and having evolved over 80 years, we are considered as one of the most experienced in our field.
All of our stakeholders demand the highest standards of safety, and we recognise the importance of this. In addition to our own internal systems, policies, reviews and risk assessments, every two years Outward Bound Oman undergoes an external examination by Outward Bound International.
Our instructional staff undergo intensive training, both here in Oman, and through visiting Outward Bound schools elsewhere in the world. All are police cleared, and hold up to date wilderness first responder and first aid certificates. All undertake defensive driving and child psychology courses, and undergo a programme of continuous professional development.
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Outward Bound Oman is not only challenging and helping develop the human resource of Oman, but as it grows it is creating jobs for talented young Omani’s of whom this nation can be proud. Any visit to see the team leaves me inspired; they are all outstanding role models, and I am proud to be their Patron.
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DISCOVERING OMAN – PHASE ONE
With soaring sand dunes, spectacular mountains that reach up to 10,000 feet into the sky, frankincense covered uplands, a coastline that stretches for more than 1,800 miles, modern cities, warm hospitality and a rich culture and heritage that goes back some 5,000 years – Oman is a land of fascinating geographical diversity that is positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa.
In the 1980s, in Oman’s Sharqiya Sands desert, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) undertook the most intensive study of any arid environment to date. The Sharqiya Sands Desert Study Pack is based on the results of that initial research, updated to incorporate more recent developments. In 2017, exactly thirty years after that research ended, Oman opened its first purpose-built centre for outdoor learning in the same desert.
The Discovering Oman project aims to create a series of innovative, curriculum linked, on-line resources for use by teachers in the UK and Oman that look beyond the desert, and that compare Oman and the UK in a whole range of geographical themes. The lesson plans have been created by practicing geography teachers from the UK and Oman.
PATRON
His Highness Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said
His Highness became our Patron in 2010, and we are fortunate to be one of several organisations to which His Highness devotes much of his time.
Outward Bound Oman is not only challenging and helping develop the human resource of Oman, but as it grows it is creating jobs for talented young Omani’s of whom this nation can be proud. Any visit to see the team leaves me inspired; they are all outstanding role models, and I am proud to be their Patron.
A skilled and motivated workforce is crucial to the continued growth of our country, and Outward Bound’s Skills for Life and Next Generation courses equip and expose young people to the core skills, values and attitudes needed to be productive citizens, not only in the workplace, but also in the community at large.
Our aim is to substantially increase the numbers of young people who take part in and benefit from these courses, and your continued support and investment in the future of our nation remains as valuable and appreciated as ever.
These plans have been created with the support of:
In partnership with:
Lesson One
An Introduction to Oman
An introduction to the basic geography of Oman, and its main physical and human characteristics
Lesson Two
Who Lives Here?
A lesson that compares the population structures of Oman and the UK, and looks at the different challenges each country faces as a result
Bespoke Courses-for Groups, Charities and Individuals
Whether you are a charity such as Walking with the Wounded planning an event in Oman, a private group or an individual with a dream, we have the resources and flexibility to work with you to design and deliver a course to suit your needs. We have designed courses to act as a catalyst and thinktank for groups of young entrepreneurs, for special needs schools who work with young people with specific behavioural needs and have hosted multi-day international conferences at our desert training centre for more than 100 people.
We have the resources and the flexibility to design and deliver a whole variety of courses, from special needs schools in the UK, to young Omani entrepreneurs, to people undergoing drug rehabilitation, to courses recognised in the international arena by UNESCO that focus on intercultural understanding and dialogue.
Get booked on
Powerful award-winning courses
From running courses for the emerging talent of leading organisations, to courses on employability and work ethics for job seekers, to courses for people experiencing mental wellbeing or drug related issues we deliver unique and innovative learning experiences for a diverse range of organisations and individuals from every region of Oman, and beyond.
Our creative team are always delighted to work with you, to help turn your needs and thoughts into reality.
Delivered either in the desert, mountains or at one of our three National Training Centres in Oman are designed to challenge and shape the lives and thinking of thousands of people each year.
Courses for young people in Oman
Working closely with the Ministry of Education’s National Careers Guidance Unit, The Ministry of Social Development and The Ministry of Higher Education, we work with schools, colleges, universities, training institutes and with young people from all over the Sultanate of Oman.
All of our courses are designed to help embed the key pillars of Vision 2040, the government’s roadmap for future Oman.
We closely monitor latest thinking from The World Economic Forum to ensure our courses capture the key skills for future jobs, many of which do not yet exist, so preparing young people for the 4th Industrial Revolution, and an increasingly artificial intelligence led, entrepreneurial economy.
Who we are and what we do
Established in 1941 by the educational visionary Kurt Hahn, and Laurence Holt, and now operating in more than 35 nations, Outward Bound is the world’s leading experiential learning organization, with a focus on the development of human talent through learning outdoors.
Outward Bound Oman was launched in May 2009 and was further established in 2014 by Ministerial Decree. From school students to job seekers and the emerging talent of leading organisations, our courses have helped shape the lives of more than 16,000 people, helping equip individuals with the skills and toolkit to help make Vision 2040 a reality for Oman.
Our Partners in 2025 are:
Muscat Centre Location
Sat Nav Location:
23°35’27.34″N 58°08’06.13″E
what3words Location:
///suckled.lifesaving.wicked
Altitude above sea level:
69m/226ft
Facilities:
A central administration and equipment storage HQ for Outward Bound Oman operations. Two indoor training rooms for use by corporate and school groups, indoor climbing wall and tower for team challenges, AV centre for monthly community adventure lectures.
The centre acts as a versatile, inspiring and unique training facility
In addition to acting as an administrative HQ for Outward Bound Oman, the centre has;
Outside catering can be arranged and delivered to suit for conferences and meetings
Bookings and Reservations
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Partners 2025
Supporters 2025
