Middle East : Oman
Oman
Situated on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman is bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the West, and the Republic of Yemen to the South. The United Arab Emirates lies on the North West, and to the East lies the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The land area is 309,500 sq. kms.
Since the discovery of massive oil deposits, Oman has seen spectacular economic growth and modernization. The country has kept faithful to its Islamic traditions, however.
Even so, Oman has managed to create a relative open society, more open to influences from the outside than other Gulf countries. In 1970 when the current Sultan took over the government in a bloodless palace coup, Oman was barely out of the Middle Ages. Now, a mere 30 years later, women drive, can be elected – or appointed – to the Majlis as-Shura, Oman’s quasi-parliament, which advises the Sultan – and run many successful businesses around the country.
The Gulf has been an important waterway since ancient times bringing the people who live on its shores into early contact with other civilizations. In the ancient world the Gulf peoples established trade connections with India; in the Middle Ages they went as far as China; and in the modern era they became involved with the European powers that sailed into the Indian Ocean and around Southeast Asia. In the Twentieth Century the discovery of massive oil deposits in the Gulf region made the area once again a crossroads for the modern world.
In Oman, high mountain ranges running parallel to the coast effectively cut off the Interior from the rest of the country. The highest peak, Jebel Shams (Sun Mountain), is just over 3,000 meters, and is a favorite destination of locals, expatriates, and tourists alike. It’s also a good place to go to escape the stifling heat of the summer.
Travel Destinations in Oman
Muscat, Al khuwair, Hamriya, Barka, Salalah, Sur, Sohar, Jabrin, Buraimi, Masirah Island, Musandam peninsula, Ibri
