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Oman is one of the most attractive tourist destinations of the Middle East awaiting discovery. Don’t wait for the hordes to descend; take a trip to the land of spectacular mountains and beautiful beaches that stretch forever. While coconuts grow in the southern coastal areas, roses and grapes are grown in the highlands around Jebel Akhdar.

The country has a historical past and an old world charm, unlike other Gulf countries where prosperity is only recently acquired. Muscat, the capital city, is the business hub but has preserved its 16th century monuments with care. The vacation capital, Salalah, has miles and miles of unblemished coastline full of beautiful beaches that stretch forever.

Did you know? Oman gained independence from the Portuguese empire in 1651 and till date it follows the system of 'Absolute Monarchy.'

Oman is traditionally known for breeding Arab horses. You will be delighted to see the horses in Oman clad in neck ornaments, a silver bridle, sweat cover placed on the back and a saddle to prevent abrasion and a silver collar piece. Omanis love and take pride in their horses!

The unique Frankincense trees grow wild in Oman.

Do you love fragrances? The leaves of myrtus communis or yas shrub found in Oman are used for making perfume.

Historically Speaking

Little is known about Oman's pre-Islamic past but it is clear from recent archaeological discoveries and research that early civilizations existed at least 5000 years ago.

Sumerian tablets refer to a country named "Magan" as a source of copper. It seems certain that they referred to Oman. Evidence from excavations near Sohar shows that the copper mining and smelting industry was well developed by the year 2000 BC. Frankincense from Dhofar, which was so important in the social religious life of ancient people, also proves there was an early trading community. Certain excavations reveal there were farming and fishing settlements from the earliest times. The ancestors of present day Omanis are believed to have arrived in two waves of migration over a number of years, the first from Yemen and the second from northern Arabia, at a time when the Persians occupied various parts of the country. It was in about 630 AD that Amr Ibn al-As arrived in Oman bearing a letter from The Prophet Mohammad to Abd and Jaifar, the two sons of al-Julanda, who ruled Oman jointly. They embraced Islam and consequently Oman became an Islamic state.

The early Imamate (Islamic state) in Oman arose out of a vision to create the true and ideal Muslim state. The first Ibadhi Imam (religious ruler), Julanda bin Mas'ud, was elected in 751 AD but he died in battle and it was not until 801 AD after a period of turmoil that Warith bin Kaab was elected. There then followed a period of peace, stability and prosperity lasting more than three hundred years. Maritime trade flourished and Sohar became the greatest seaport in the Islamic world. As they traveled and traded, the Omanis spread the message of Islam and Arab culture and language, reaching as Far East as China. In the early 16th century, the Portuguese under Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route round the Cape of Good Hope to India and they occupied Muscat for a century and a half to dominate the trade which had until then been an Arab monopoly. The Portuguese were expelled from Muscat in 1650 by Sultan bin Saif al-Yarubi and Oman became the first independent Arab state.

Since the expulsion of the Portuguese, no other foreign power has ever occupied Oman, apart from a brief period when the Persians made a partial occupation. The Ya'aruba Imams started a revival of Omani fortunes, uniting the country and bringing prosperity. It was under the Ya'aruba dynasty that many of the imposing castles and beautiful buildings that have been restored recently, such as the Nizwa Fort and the Palace at Jabrin, were built.

Unfortunately, on the death in 1718 of the Imam, Sultan bin Saif II, civil war broke out over the election of his successor. Persian troops occupied Muttrah and Muscat but failed to take Sohar which was defended by Ahmad bin Said, who continued to fight the Persians and drive them from Oman after the civil war had ended.

In 1744 Ahmad bin Said, who was a man of outstanding personality and courage, was elected Imam. He faced a number of difficulties in reconciling the rival factions after the civil war, building Omani naval power, driving the pirates out of the seas and the Persians out of Basra.

During the reign of Sayyid bin Sultan (1804-1856), Oman reached its zenith as a regional power with possessions on both sides of the Gulf and in East Africa. Sayyid concentrated on developing his country's economy and commerce. He made Zanzibar his second capital and concluded agreements with the European powers, as well as sending a special envoy to the United States, making Oman the first Arab state to establish diplomatic relations with that country. After this, however, there followed a period of decline and, at the time of the First World War, Oman's share of international commercial activities was negligible. Indeed, Oman remained largely isolated from the rest of the world until, in 1970, Sultan Qaboos came to power. This began a bright new era that renewed Oman's historic glories and opened a new chapter of development, prosperity and social and economic progress.

Habitat

Oman is about 300,000 sq km in area. It includes the Musandem peninsula that is separated from the rest of the country by the east coast of UAE.

The northern coastal strip is sand and gravel plain (known as the Batinah coast) and is separated from the rest of Arabia by the Hajar Mountains (in the north central Oman). The highest peak in the country is Jebel Akhdar (known as the green mountain) about 2980 m high. Actually, the term Jebal Akhdar refers to the entire Hajar range in north central Oman. There are two large areas of salt flats and a sandy desert area, the Wahiba Sands, where tourists go for "wadi bashing" (driving a 4WD through creeks and dunes).

Oman has some rare and endangered species that the government is trying to protect and preserve at Bait al-Barakah, such as various kinds of mollusks, rare Arabian oryx, Arabian tahr and giant turtles. The government has set aside an area around Ras al-Hadd as the protecting breeding ground for giant sea turtles that come ashore Oman yearly to lay eggs.

The government has given special attention to the country’s plant life as well. It is running schemes all over Oman for protecting coastal areas, and nature preserves known as national protected areas, for example the Qurm Public Park and Nature Reserve in Greater Muscat.