Laila Stock

About Laila – How Oman conquered my heart

My enthusiasm for the Orient has its roots in my childhood. At three years old, I was in Dubai for the first time, and at six in Doha – since then, I have traveled to many regions of the Orient with my family and grown up with its colors, sounds, and smells. Oman came later, almost casually: On my way to Zanzibar, I had planned a stopover in Muscat with Oman Air. Two days in the capital were enough for me to fall in love with the sultanate – and to ensure that I have been happily returning ever since for longer and more extensive stays.

What fascinates me most to this day is the balance that Oman maintains between modern development and preserving the traditional. Other oriental destinations often rely entirely on one or the other. Oman manages to be both at the same time: modern and down-to-earth, cosmopolitan and true to its roots. You can feel it in the streets of Muscat as well as in the small villages in the hinterland, where little has changed for generations. This peculiarity clearly distinguishes Oman from other countries in the region for me – and is the reason why I always find my way back here since my first stopover in Muscat, preparing you for your own journey through this country with just as much passion.

Places that particularly fascinate me

Muscat

Muscat enchanted me from the very first moment with its cityscape: bright, low-built houses, artistically decorated mosques, and the immediate proximity of mountains and sea that meet in this small space. I particularly enjoy walking along the promenade of Al Mouj or in front of the Mandarin Oriental, Muscat where local life is showcased away from the hotel complexes. I also enjoy strolling through the Muttrah Souk – preferably together with my colleague Luca, when we calmly choose small gifts for our Omani colleagues. This mix of urban life, craftsmanship, and hospitality makes Muscat a place where I love to arrive again and again.

Dibba – Six Senses Zighy Bay

When I imagine what paradise could feel like, the Six Senses Zighy Bay comes very close to that image. The beach there even overshadows the well-known coastal areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi for me, and the resort immediately immerses you in its own, remote world. The deceleration begins here not only at the pool, but already at the reception during check-in. Even just a few nights have been enough for me to fully arrive – a feeling that I have hardly experienced anywhere else in Oman with such intensity.

Wahiba Sands

When I first traveled to the Wahiba Sands on a business trip, my first thought was: What will I do if I can’t be reached until tomorrow afternoon? Today, I understand that this is exactly what makes the desert so appealing. No reception, no obligations – just pure silence and a focus on the here and now, which I have experienced so intensely nowhere else in Oman. This feeling of living completely in the moment is what has stayed with me most strongly from the Wahiba desert.

Salalah

I visited Salalah during the Khareef season, when a unique, contrasting climate sweeps over the region – so different from the rest of Oman. Among the warm raindrops, I noticed how fresh and well-maintained the hotels there are presented, almost as if they reinvent themselves a little every year. Sometimes a new beach bar awaits, sometimes the villas appear in fresh colors – you can almost feel how much care and love the facilities are maintained with. Every visit feels a little different because of that, even though the place remains familiar.