In fact, the agriculture is still an important source of income. Though, now the iron ore industry close to the oasis provides jobs for many local people. Recently there is an increase in tourism to the oasis because of antiquities. The antiquities include tombs, mummies and other artifacts discovered there. Moreover, it is also because of the beautiful surrounding deserts. The locals and foreign guides lead adventure desert tours based out of the oasis. In fact, they do to the surrounding deserts such as White
surrounding deserts such as White Desert and Black Desert. Sometimes, they also do to Siwa Oasis and the southern oases. The tourism is a new and indeed important source of income for locals. In fact, it brought an international presence to the oasis.
The people of the oases are the descendants of the ancient people who inhabited the oasis. Moreover, the oasis also comprises Bedouin tribes from Libya and the north coast. Some other people from the Nile Valley came to settled in the oasis. The majority of local people in Bahariya oasis are Muslims. In fact, there are some mosques in the oasis. The nature of social settings in the oasis indeed influenced by Islam. Moreover, the traditional music is important to the local people. Flutes, drums played at social gatherings, particularly at weddings. Traditional songs sung in rural style which passed down from generation to generation. In fact, some new songs invented as well. Music from Cairo and other parts of the world now accessible to the people of the oasis.