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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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...
Infrastructure
The infrastructure in Oman is one of the factors that has contributed to the extreme economic growth and the upturn in the country in recent decades. The economic development of Oman goes hand in hand with the development in other countries that have benefited from oil discoveries in the Persian Gulf. In particular, the United Arab Emirates are comparable here, only with a significant difference: While each emirate is just a small country, Oman is almost the size of the Federal Republic of Germany. Developing a functioning infrastructure here,roads, railways and a public transport system is a...
Fjorde & Dhow
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...