Muscat: Eight Emirati nationals were rescued by the Oman Royal Air Force after they had gone missing in one of the mountains of Khasab province on Wednesday. The eight Emiratis aged between 25 to 39 years, were in mountain trekking of Al Bainah village of Khasab. An official at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), told Gulf News that Khasab police station coordinated with the royal air force to rescue the Emirati nationals after receiving the report about the incident.

A helicopter belonging to the air force flew to the area and were able to rescue the Emiratis. They were then transported to the Khasab hospital after their health conditions deteriorated due to lack of food and water. They were on the trip for two days but they lost their way while they were climbing the mountain. Gulf News contacted Khasab hospital, which confirmed the eight Emirati nationals were in stable condition.

“When they were admitted to the hospital, they were in serious condition, mostly due to dehydration,” said an official at Khasab hospital.

The official added that they will all be discharged later on Thursday from the hospital.

The mountains in Khasab are very dangerous and people have been warned not to hike there.

Ahmad Al Shihi, a mountain climber and Khasab resident, told Gulf News that mountain climbing in Khasab requires very high skills due to the roughness of the mountains as well as the heights and steeps that make it harder to climb.

Al Shihi added that this was not the first case for tourists to have gone missing.

“We rescued three European and two Omanis last month when they went missing in Al Bainah mountains,” says Al Shihi.

Al Shihi explained that many flock to Khasab for mountain trekking and climbing, which is a real adventure for many tourists.

Haram Mountain has the highest summit in the country, reaching over 1,784 metres above sea level.

The dangerous of the mountains in Khasab has not deterred tourists, however, with hundreds flocking to climb every year.

Often described as a ‘slice of paradise’ the Khasab mountains range, which starts at the sea is home to many ancient villages and ports.

Saif is a journalist based in Muscat