| Highlights |
Salalah is the capital of the southern region. It is a city set amongst coconut groves and banana plantations, sprawled along sandy beaches that run the length of its plain. The lush vegetation makes Salalah seem almost tropical. Sur is situated in the north-eastern province of Sharqiya. It is a seafaring town, a fishing village and a trading port all rolled into one. Famous for its traditional ship building, Sur started trading along the African coast as early as the 6th century. It is an old town with winding streets, carved wooden doors and old arabesque buildings. Sohar has a very large souk (market) full of tailors, fruit-sellers and fishermen. An imposing 4 storey fort with six towers overlooks the bay. Nizwa is the main town in the interior province. It was the capital in the 6th and 7th centuries. The town's immense palm oasis stretches for 13km (8 miles) along the course of two wadis. It is famous for its fort and its gold and silver handicrafts. Jabrin has a 17th century fortified palace here, notable for its painted wooden ceilings and the splendid view across the desert to the mountains. Bahlah is an ancient town known for its pottery with a good souk and close to the picturesque village of Al Hamra. Al Hazm fort is perched on the northern slopes of the Jebel Akhdar, and was built in 1708. The oasis town of Rustag is also on the slopes of the mountain.Qurum encapsulates Oman's archaeology, history and culture. The National Museum has a collection of silver, jewellery, weapons and ancient stone artefacts. From here dhows cruise along the palm-fringed coast and there are excellent fishing grounds and beaches.
Oman's delayed debut into the modern world has been conducted with enormous sensitivity for traditional values, meaning that the country's rich cultural heritage can still be appreciated to the fullest extent. It is nonetheless one of the most developed and stable countries in the region, and extremely safe as a travel destination. In Muscat make sure you while away an afternoon in a popular coffee house and sample the ubiquitous soft, mouth-watering dates. 2700 miles of beautiful, empty beaches and enormous sand dunes that have never seen a footprint mean it is as easy as anything to find a corner of Oman's untouched beauty to yourself.
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| History |
Archaeological excavations have recently shown that much of the civilisation in Oman predates the Arab period. The region embraced Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Sultans of Muscat were often powerful figures in Arabia and East Africa, who often came into conflict with the colonial powers in the region, particularly the Portuguese, who first settled in the 16th century, in an attempt to protect their eastern trade routes. Close ties have been maintained with Britain since 1798, when a treaty of friendship was concluded. The country was known as Muscat and Oman until 1970.
British influence remains strong but the number of British advisers occupying key positions in Omani Government Department, substantial during the early days of the present regime, headed by the hereditary ruler, Sultan Qaboos, has steadily declined and is now limited to a handful of advisers in key posts. During the early years of his reign, which began in 1970, Sultan Qaboos' overriding priority was to deal with an insurgency in the western part of his kingdom, conducted by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO) with the backing of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen; since unified with North Yemen).
The defeat of the insurgents served to increase both domestic and foreign pressure on Qaboos to introduce democratic reforms. A series of incremental measures have been introduced to modernise and liberalise this previously autocratic regime. Two Consultative Assemblies, the Majlis as-Shura (which evolved from the old Consultative Assembly) and the more recently formed Majlis al-Dawlah, were originally groomed to assume the functions of a Bicameral Parliament at the turn of the millennium. This has not happened, nor is it likely to do so for the foreseeable future. The two Majlis have some influence over domestic affairs, and the franchise that elects them has been steadily expanded to include all men and women over the age of 21, but no say in foreign and defence matters. The most recent poll for the Majlis as-Shura in November 2003 registered little change in its make-up: no formal political parties are allowed but supporters of the Sultan are in the majority.
Relations with Oman's immediate neighbours have been cordial, especially with Yemen, since the end of the PFLO insurgency and the unification of Yemen itself. In recent years, Omani concerns have been focused further afield. In 1981, Oman was a founder member of the Gulf Co-operation Council and has played a leading role in promoting its increasing involvement in regional security issues. The country's strategic importance to the West has been underlined throughout the last two decades as it has been used as a staging post for Anglo-American military, naval and air operations during the Iran-Iraq War, the counter-invasion of Kuwait and, in more recent times, both the assaults on Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 1994, Oman was the first Gulf state to establish official relations with Israel. Since 1998, it has also developed good relations with Iran, now extending as far as mutual security co-operation in the Gulf.
Aside from some protests in January 2011, small-scale in comparison to neighbouring countries, Oman weathered the so-called 'Arab Spring' relatively quietly. Government efforts largely placated protesters, and Oman has not seen significant demonstrations since May 2011.
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| Geography |
Oman is bordered to the west by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of Yemen. The Musandam Peninsula forms a coastal enclave on the Strait of Hormaz. The 1700 miles of coastline are surrounded by the Arabian and Indian Seas. The Hajir Mountains divide the land stretching from the Musandam Peninsula to the Southeast. To the west lies the fertile narrow plain of the Batinah coast dominated by the Jebel Akhdar (The Green Mountain, noted for its picturesque terraced villages). In the south, set apart by a desert, Dhofar has a coastal plain, beyond which are mountains. Out to sea are the Kuria Muria Islands. The Batinah coast is inhabited by descendants of Asian merchants, Baluchi traders and other Arab nationals, who are more in contact with the international community than the tribesmen of the interior and mountains. Along the coast at Muscat and Matrah, Arab traditions remain strong despite increasing Western influence. In the southern capital of Salalah are many black Omanis descended mainly from former slaves, whereas the interior is populated by the nomadic Bedouin.
The months of June and July are particularly hot. Rainfall varies according to region and in Salalah between June and September there is a light monsoon rain. In terms of clothing, lightweight clothes are worn throughout the year with something slightly warmer for cooler winter evenings. It is also advisable to pack some light rainwear.
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