Nearby Al Sawadi Beach 20 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
Afternoon thermal breeze reported; exact start time unconfirmed.
The wind
Direction
Kite sizes
Character
mixed
fills in: Afternoon thermal breeze reported; exact start time unconfirmed.
Strength
The quiver, in words
Riders reportedly use every kite size here; no size-by-month wind range was found.
Direction to shore
cross-on
Dominant direction
NNE, NE and ENE are listed as best directions; northeast winds are also reported to dominate in winter.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month54
- Feb, riders' month59
- Mar, riders' month80
- Apr, riders' month82
- May, riders' month75
- Jun, riders' month78
- Jul, riders' month83
- Aug, riders' month81
- Sep, riders' month87
- Oct, riders' month54
- Nov, riders' month36
- Dec, riders' month23
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 12Jan24°
- 11Feb24°
- 13Mar26°
- 13Apr28°
- 12May31°
- 12Jun34°
- 13Jul33°
- 12Aug31°
- 12Sep32°
- 11Oct32°
- 11Nov29°
- 10Dec26°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54% | 11.9 kt | E | 21.4°C | 24.3°C |
| Feb | 59% | 11.3 kt | WNW | 22.5°C | 24.1°C |
| Mar | 80% | 12.6 kt | NE | 25.7°C | 25.7°C |
| Apr | 82% | 12.5 kt | NE | 29.2°C | 27.8°C |
| May | 75% | 12.4 kt | N | 33.6°C | 31.1°C |
| Jun | 78% | 12.4 kt | NE | 35.4°C | 33.7°C |
| Jul | 83% | 13 kt | NE | 34.1°C | 33.4°C |
| Aug | 81% | 12.3 kt | NE | 32.7°C | 31.4°C |
| Sep | 87% | 12.1 kt | NE | 31.6°C | 31.6°C |
| Oct | 54% | 11.3 kt | NE | 29.9°C | 31.7°C |
| Nov | 36% | 10.7 kt | ENE | 26.8°C | 29.1°C |
| Dec | 23% | 10.1 kt | W | 23.1°C | 26.1°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
flat
Standing depth
Reported as shallow by multiple sources; no measured depth, tidal depth window, or distance from shore was found.
Tides
Barka has clear tide movement: predictions around 30 August 2026 put lows near 0.64-0.69 m and highs near 2.47-2.76 m. How the tide affects riding here is unconfirmed.
Temperature
30.3°C summer · 23.5°C winter
Wetsuit
Shorts or Lycra in the warm months and a shorty in winter, though Al Sawadi water temperatures stay roughly 23.5-25.5 C at their coolest.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
2 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: ok
Somewhere else
Al Sawadi Beach, 20 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Launch
Sandy beach launch with parking, and reportedly a school, shop, repair service and rental on site. Launch width, obstacles and the downwind buffer are unconfirmed.
Space
ok
No hazard is on record here
Nobody has flagged a hazard for this spot in what we have read. That is a gap in the record, not a safe beach.
Rules & access
- 2025: Oman's beach-activity permit covers organized sporting activities and events (diving, tour-boat operation, jet skiing, cruises) held at beaches and clubs by clubs and operators, not individual casual riders; conditions include designated sites, sunrise-to-sunset hours, weather checks and staying clear of royal, military and security facilities. Kitesurfing is not among the covered activities.
- 2026: no Barka-specific rule, no municipal kitesurf zoning and no individual-rider permit rule were found.
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Pull the Barka tide tables before you commit; nothing confirms whether low water exposes hazards or widens the flat.
- Call the school or shop the same week, because nobody has confirmed an operator standing at that launch.
- Bring sun protection even in winter; the Gulf of Oman stays warm by most kiting standards.
- Ask a Muscat contact which beach they are actually riding that day, since Barka, Sawadi, Mussanah and the Muscat beaches get blurred together.
Getting there
Airport
Muscat International Airport (MCT)
Route
Car access is reported: Barka Kite Beach is about 45 km from Muscat. No reliable public-transport route to the launch was found.
Cost level
mid
Staying
Accommodation at the Barka Kite Beach launch is unconfirmed. Nearby Al Sawadi/Mussanah has resort-style accommodation and beach tourism infrastructure.
No-wind days
Daymaniyat Islands diving/snorkeling and kayaking, Al-Sawadi Beach visits, Barka town, and South Al-Batinah heritage sites such as Al Hazm Castle and Nakhl Fort.
FAQ
Is Barka Kite Beach suitable for beginners?
Several sources call it beginner-friendly because of shallow flat water, though one source instead labels the spot intermediate.
What is the wind like at Barka?
Best directions are NNE, NE and ENE, with winter northeasterlies and an afternoon thermal breeze reported, though no verified historical average exists.
When is the best time to visit Barka?
Local listings claim usable conditions year-round, though nearby Sawadi's summer season is June-September and Muscat's cold-season window is November-April.
Are there schools or rental nearby?
Listings mention school, shop, repair, rental and parking features at the beach, but current operator presence should be confirmed before travel.
Last updated: August 2026