The term “jewel in the crown” has been well used, but never again is it more appropriate to describe the Kingdom of Oman, the jewel in the crown that comprises the Arab states. Oman is simply the “essence of Arabia”.

Dominated by an interior of rugged mountains (jebels), vast deserts and plains, Oman is a scenic delight occupying the eastern bulge of the Arabian Peninsula, and until recently it has been among the backwaters of world tourism. The vast and varied landscape of the country has an almost childlike innocence: virgin, unblemished and uncorrupted.

Geographically, the country stretches from the arid fjord-like majesty of the Musandam Peninsula that plunges into the Strait of Hormaz in the north, to the lush, monsoon-laden tropical Salalah in the south. In between is the vast sandy desert (Rub al Khali, the famous ‘Empty Quarter’) and the fertile plain of Batinah.

Populated since 6000 years before Christ, few countries can boast of having suffered so little oppression. Only in the 17th century Oman was partially occupied by the Portuguese, and once expelled, the country has maintained self-government through the royal family of the Sultan of Bin Said. Halted by years of overly conservative and inner-thinking rule, Sultan Qaboos bin Said came to the throne in 1970 after ditching his father, starting a renaissance that took Oman from the Middle Ages into the 21st century. Today the country has great prosperity through its oil, copper, gold, marble and granite, and more recently tourism. With this wealth, Oman has smoothly modernized the country without the show of conspicuous excesses as shown by its neighbor, the United Arab Emirates.

Oman is made up of 6 regions and 2 governorates. From north to south they are: Musandam Governorate, Al Batinah Region, Muscat Governorate, Dhahrah Region, A’Dakhiliyag Region, Al Wusta Region, Al Sharqiyah Region and Dohfar Region

Musandam Governorate

Remote and rugged, it is little explored and yet for divers, nature lovers and explorers who make the effort, they will be rewarded with an unsurpassed opportunity to immerse themselves in the impressive diversity of fjords, hidden coves, coral reefs. and a lot of birds. . For history buffs, there are many ancient watchtowers and mosques worth exploring and in Madha there is evidence of human settlements dating back to 3500 BC. Cave paintings and other ruins also date back to the Iron Age. Musandam has just woken up and a number of impressive eco-resorts are developing.

Al Batinah region

Nestled between the Gulf of Oman and the northern Hajar Mountains, the Batinah Coastal Plain is the most fertile in the country and also the most densely populated. It is in this plain where most of the crops are grown for the demand of the country. Dating back 5 millennia, Sohar is the main city on the coast and is worth a visit for its famous fort dating back to the 13th century. Nearby is Rustaq, once the capital of Oman and known for its many ancient and strong watchtowers, the most notable of which is Fort Rustaq. Being primarily a plain, there are numerous wadis offering lush date plantations.

Muscatel Governorate

The gateway to Oman is generally through Muscat, the capital. Overall, Muscat features a relatively homogeneous appearance of low-rise buildings (rarely more than five stories), generally white, with residential, government, and commercial architecture often reminiscent of historic regional styles. Despite the fact that this city is on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula with extreme climate, it is remarkably green and the main streets are lined with trees, lush grass, flowers and shrubs that link the districts and public areas.

Muttrah, the old port exudes a charming old world charm, with a bustling souk of historical importance, set back from the famous Al Bahri Street (Muttrah Corniche). Here one can easily stroll along the promenade and watch old-style dhows loading and unloading cargo as shark fins cut the surface of the sea in pursuit of fish. The best time to visit is in the late afternoon, when diffused sunlight softens the majestic tapestry of color.

Before leaving Muscat to explore the rest of Oman, time should be spent visiting the many museums, art galleries, beaches, and in particular the Grand Mosque and Sultan Qaboos Palace, two visually stunning architectural masterpieces.

Dhahirah region

This inland region on the border with the United Arab Emirates is primarily an arid desert strip interspersed with huge mountainous landscapes. There is little reason to visit here except to see one of Oman’s most treasured archaeological treasures – the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Beehive Tombs at Bat. Several ancient forts and citadels can be found in the region that were used to protect water resources in the wadis from invaders.

A’Dakhiliyah region

More commonly known as the “Interior”, the Dakhiliyah region is the center of Islam in ancient Oman. With so much history, it’s no wonder the abundance of fortifications and historic buildings. With rugged mountain ranges, rugged gorges, and vibrant traditional crafts, this region is a very popular tourist destination within Oman. In particular, the ancient city of Nizwa stands out as a must-see, with its formidable ancient fort completely restored. Nizwa was once a walled city and former capital of Oman. Today, visitors can walk through the small streets and souks that make up the old town in the walled interior. Around the city are date palm orchards and farms that make the area visually lush. Another poplar site is the Al Jabal Rose Gardens, where in April thousands upon thousands of blooming rose bushes cascade down terraces cut into a mountain to the gorge below.

Al Wusta region

Rich in oil, Al Wusta stretches from the Arabian Sea in the east to the Empty Quarter in the west. For tourism, the region is best known for its flora and fauna, a haven for specialized study groups. Here, the world famous Arabian Oryx Sanctuary occupies 25,000 square kilometers of desert expanse. Stunning sandy beaches with spectacular headlands are rarely visited on the east coast of Duqm.

Al Sharqiyah region

Distributed throughout the northeastern part of Oman, this region encompasses the huge Sharqiyah sands, more commonly known as the Wahiba sands. The ancient city of Sur is the most important in the region, famous for its centuries of trading and building dhows. Nearby are the Majlis al Jinn Caves, one of the largest cave systems in the world. A single cave can hold the equivalent of 6 jumbo jets! Another big draw are the green turtles that come to spawn during the summer, whose area is now being turned into a conservation site. However, perhaps the biggest attraction is Wahiba Sands, a splendid region of extremely fine reddish brown sand dunes and desert life. A very popular area for 4×4 ‘raiding the dunes’, camping or camel trekking.

Dhofar Governorate

Dhofar, at the southern tip of the Sultanate, with its unique monsoon season, is climatically far from the rest of the country. With mist-shrouded mountains, lush landscapes, stunning beaches, historical treasures, and an abundance of flora and fauna, many tourists flock here to possibly immerse themselves in Oman’s showcase. In ancient times, Dohfar was known for its incense and today this has not changed, since it supplies almost 90% of this aromatic gum not only to Oman but to the world. Salalah is the regional capital and the gateway to Dhofar. This picturesque historic city, famous for its ancient sanctuaries, is the ideal base to base yourself on exploring all the treasures of this region. Unlike other countries where the monsoon is a season to avoid, the monsoon in Dhofar is the peak tourist season where thousands of visitors (mainly from nearby Arab countries) travel to the region for its spectacular mist-covered mountains, streams, lush vegetation and rich heritage. And while the interior is so visually stunning, the coastline is a destination unto itself with mile after mile of barren, unpopulated, and pristine white beaches and turquoise sea.

Final note

With Oman’s new oil and tourism wealth, the Sultanate is taking rapid steps to become the next “new frontier” in soft adventure and cultural tourism. Many beautiful but tasteful Arabic-style resorts are being planned that will bring all the tourist mansions to Oman. There is also the development of wetlands for migratory bird sanctuaries, in addition to the expansion and improvement of the Jiddat al Harasis Oryx Sanctuary. However, the time to see Oman in its simplest and purest state is now, before tourism changes the face of this country forever.