Check Out Omani Drama 'Al-Qaffir' This Ramadan
Ramadan viewers in Oman get a deep cultural narrative as Al-Qaffir brings a celebrated novel to life with rich heritage and emotional depth.
- Publish date: since 15 hour Reading time: two min read
As part of its Ramadan 1447 AH / 2026 television lineup, Sultanate of Oman Television has unveiled the much-anticipated Omani drama series Al-Qaffir, a screen adaptation of the acclaimed novel Taghribat Al-Qaffir (The Water Diviner).
The original book by Zahran Al Qasimi won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) in 2023 and has now been brought to life onscreen for local audiences this holy month.
Al-Qaffir centers on a man’s lifelong pursuit of water in a traditional Omani village, intertwining the community’s collective struggles with deep cultural heritage and the mystical significance of water. The series pays special tribute to Oman’s ancient aflaj irrigation systems and the complex web of myths, social customs and individual destinies that shape village life.
Directed by Tamer Marwan Ishaq with associate directors Mukhlis Al-Saleh, Hussein Al-Baram and Osama Mur’i, and executive production by Nahla Dourobi and Ali Abdo, the series combines seasoned actors and emerging talent. Among the cast are Samira Al-Wahaibi; making her television return after nearly two decades; as Kadhiya, and Mohammed bin Khamis Al-Maamari as Abdullah Jamil, father of the protagonist Salim. The role of Salim is portrayed in youth by Firas Al-Rawahi and in adulthood by Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Siyabi.
The narrative opens with the tragic drowning of Al-Qaffir’s mother in a village well while pregnant, and the later death of his father beneath a falaj channel collapse, propelling Salim into a destiny closely bound to water itself.
Other key characters include Abdulsalam Al-Tamimi as the influential village elder Hamed and Zakaria Al-Zedjali as Zuhair, whose personal ambitions test community bonds. Khalid Al-Ma’ani plays the village teacher who embodies wisdom and stability as the story’s moral compass.
Director Ishaq said his creative approach was rooted in preserving the novel’s profound literary message while expanding it into a compelling month-long television arc.
The series explores life’s intricate social dynamics, from moments of conflict to bonds of communal solidarity, capturing the authentic rhythms of rural Omani existence.
By adapting one of Oman’s most honored literary works for Ramadan viewers, Al-Qaffir elevates national drama with rich cultural symbolism, emotional storytelling and a compelling look at the human condition, making it one of this year’s most talked-about series.