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.
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.
Experts for your Oman trip
You might also like this
Geography
The Sultanate of Oman is located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. To the northwest, the country borders the United Arab Emirates, to the west Saudi Arabia, and to the southwest Yemen. The 1,700-kilometer-long coast in the east forms a natural border. There, Oman borders the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. The total area of the country is 309,000 square kilometers. Thus, the state is just slightly smaller than Germany. The territory includes the exclave Musandam at the Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates separate Musandam from the rest of the country. The...
Oil, Gas, and Industry in Oman
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...
Mountains in Musandam
The coastline of Musandam characteristic appearance is thanks to the limestone mountain range that rises there. No other region in Oman is as primitive, untouched, and natural as the mountainous world in Musandam. Those who set out to discover this mountainous world will find steep slopes, breathtaking gorges, dreamy small beaches, and overwhelming cliffs. The whole area is complemented by a few hotels in the mountain regions, which offer not only an excellent adventure holiday but also a wide range of options for families. By car from Khasab to Ras al Kaimah Anyone wishing to explore the mo...