Modern Era
Modern Era
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.
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Khasab
In the port city of Khasab, the largest town in the small Omani enclave,Mussandam, more than half of the people who call this region home live. The official numbers fluctuate between 17'500 and 23'000 inhabitants. In any case, Khasab is a small and manageable town that has quite a lot to offer. Those who want to see all the sights and soak up the charm of the city will need two to three days. Khasab – the remote producer “The remote producer” is the approximate translation of the name Khasab into English. The name makes sense, as a significant portion of Oman’s date harvest is gathered in Kh...
Arabian Horses
As the name suggests, the origin of Arabian Horses lies on the Arabian Peninsula. However, among Arabian Horses, there are different breed groups such as purebred or half-bred Arabs and Shagya or Anglo-Arabs. They look different but share some common characteristics. Generally, Arabian Horses are spirited, enduring, and willing to work, but also sensitive and human-oriented. This makes them very popular as leisure horses. They are well-suited for longer trail rides and distances. High temperatures and humidity pose no problem for Arabs, as they served as mounts for the Bedouins for many hundre...
Wadi Shab
Not far from Wadi Tiwi, travelers who enjoy hiking can explore Wadi Shab. Particularly for sport and nature-loving tourists, a hike in Wadi Shab is interesting. The breathtaking rocks and dreamy waterfalls amidst a green and palm-fringed landscape impress every visitor. After a twenty-minute hike and a distance of fifteen kilometers, you will reach snow-white cliffs that are threaded with crevices and caves. A turquoise stream supplies small settlements and orchards with fresh water and flows into fantastic waterfalls. After an hour on foot, you can relax in a pool of crystal-clear mountain w...