A person dressed in traditional attire standing at the steps of an ancient architectural structure, viewed through an arched doorway, with warm lighting.

Modern Era

Written by: Luca Krohn Last updated at: May 21, 2025

The Portuguese began to establish small settlements, which were exemplary of the strategy in the Middle East. Yet even here, the Portuguese struggled to establish them long-term. Time and again, they had to defend themselves against the Ottomans, English, Persians, and Dutch. In 1650 AD, it was the Yaruba dynasty that initially unified Oman and expelled the Portuguese. This dynasty had a significant influence on East Africa, bringing great wealth through the slave trade and trade with India. A civil war, lasting about 25 years and resulting from power struggles, allowed the Persians to reemerge before Ahmad ibn Said successfully pushed them back. Since 1746 and until today, the Said dynasty has ruled with the current ruler Haitham ibn Tariq. In 1798, Great Britain gained influence in Oman through a treaty with the Sultan of Muscat and the East India Company. In 1840, Sultan Said decided to move his seat of government to Zanzibar. Despite British influence, this was a flourishing time in history, but after his death, there were disputes in the succeeding generation, leading to the division of the realm into Oman and Zanzibar in 1856. From that point on, the economy went downhill. Maritime trade collapsed, aided by the opening of the Suez Canal and the advent of steamships. Until 1970, the father of the current Sultan kept his country in isolation.

Discover Oman with experts who have called it their home

Your dream holiday, tailor-made by experts.

We don't just know Oman from books, we visit the country several times a year to experience the culture, landscape and people first-hand.

From your first enquiry to your return home, we are there for you personally - by phone, email or WhatsApp, whenever you need us. Our trips are as unique as you are: individually planned and provided with exclusive privileges and high-quality arrangements that will make your trip unforgettable.

You might also like this

An oil pumpjack silhouetted against a vibrant sunset sky.

Oil, Gas, and Industry in Oman

2 min read

Oil and gas are the two industries that still account for the largest part of the Omani gross domestic product. It was around 51% in 2013. This leads to the fact that still around 85% of state revenues come from the sale of oil and gas, which in turn leads to an enormous dependence on factors such as oil prices and the global demand for oil and gas. Coupled with the fact that Oman is a country that has comparatively few oil reserves that can be extracted without significant technical and financial effort, this poses a mammoth task for the political leadership. For relying solely on oil and gas...

Seating area with cushions on a boat overlooking a calm body of water with distant mountains.

Fjorde & Dhow

2 min read

One of the most famous images from Musandam is the fjord-like bays that can be found in many places along the steep coast; breathtaking cliffs that plunge into the sea and create pictures that inevitably remind some travelers of Norway. No wonder that Musandam has earned the nickname 'Norway of the Middle East'. These beauties can be experienced and learned about in various ways. Experience the fjords up close Anyone visiting Khasab will quickly notice that the capital of Musandam has quite a bit to offer, but is not necessarily suitable for a longer stay – unless one wants to use their acco...

Tourists swimming and relaxing in a rocky canyon with clear water under a blue sky

Oman Tourism

2 min read

The Sultanate of Oman on the Arabian Peninsula is continuously developing its tourism in a sustainable way. The philosophy here is fundamentally different from that of the neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates. In Oman, there are few hotels, which are, however, of very high standard. The image is shaped by a few luxury hotels while simple hotels or guesthouses are rarely seen. A study by the World Economic Forum (published in April 2017) ranks Oman ninth in terms of tourism growth. The character of gentle tourism remains, as the hotels adapt to the traditional image of Oman a...

Why book with the Oman specialist

On site

Own Canvas Club team with office in Muscat and Salalah. We know all tour guides for many years, all services on site come from us - from one source!

Expertise

Every travel consultant has already lived in Oman for several years. We know all the hotels and highlights of the country personally! And are several times a year on the spot.

Hotel product

Own luxury desert camp 'Canvas Club' in the Wahiba Sands desert with exclusive benefits for our clients

Network

Attractive prices and exclusive benefits through long-standing, trusting partnerships with local hoteliers and service providers.

Accessibility

Contactable 7 days a week via all common communication channels - 24h emergency number on site.

Personal

Each trip is individually worked out and 100% tailored to your needs!