Modern Times

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 reemerg...

There is a quote by Sultan Qaboos, in which he says: 'Uneducated women cannot raise free children, and neglected women can never properly care for others. If women are not trained for their roles, they can contribute nothing to the progress of this country.' This shows that in Oman, women are viewed in a completely different light than in most other Arab or Islamic countries. A merit of the Sultan, who has gradually opened the country for Western values and views over the past almost five decades, without betraying the identity and beliefs of his country. He merely pointed out that women also...

The Arabian oryx belongs to the subfamily of horse antelopes and is a distinct genus. Its natural habitat is traditionally found in semi-arid and arid landscapes, such as the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, Oman is also part of its natural habitat. In places where the sun shines year-round and it often exceeds 30 degrees even in winter, the Arabian oryx is native. Characteristic of both sexes are its very light, almost white coat and its spiral, slightly curved horns. The shoulder or body height is about 80-100 cm, while the horn length usually measures 50-70 cm. Another feature is the dark brown an...