An unusual country with ancient history - the Sultanate of Oman, a vacation in which will become a real oriental tale, today is gaining more and more popularity among tourists around the world. It perfectly combines high-level service, excellent conditions for a beach holiday and an interesting excursion program.
History
The Sultanate of Oman, whose history dates back more than one millennium, as a place of human settlement has been known since the days of the Paleolithic. Here the path of people from Africa to Asia passed. In the 4-3 millennium BC, the territory of Oman was inhabited by people who were engaged in trade with Mesopotamia, Hindustan, Egypt and Ethiopia. In the 6th century BC the territory was captured by the Persians and for many centuries remained under their control. In the 7th century A.D. this region became part of the Arab caliphate, Islam is established here. Until the 16th century, this land was dominated by Arabs. Later, the country was dominated by the Portuguese, who were periodically expelled by the Persians.
Only in 1650 did Imam Sultan ibn Saif liberate the territory and create an independent state. From this moment, the country begins to develop and expand. Until the mid-19th century, Oman was part of the most powerful Oman Empire. At this time, there is a division of the territory between the sons of the Sultan. The territory of modern Oman falls under the British protectorate.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the struggle between individual tribes and the separatist movement in the internal territories of the country begins. In 1938, the new Sultan Said bin Taymur, who was able to subjugate the inner parts of the country, returned the state to a medieval level of development and management. This inevitably led to unrest, and not without the support of the British came to power in July 1970, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who gradually establishes life in the country. He is modernizing the economy and social structure of the state. In 1987, opens the country for tourists, begins to build a new infrastructure.
Geography
Oman today covers an area of 300 thousand km² in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula. The length of state borders is 3400 km. The country is adjacent to Iran (through the Strait of Hormuz), the UAE and Yemen. A separate part of the state is the Musandam Peninsula, which is cut off from the main part of the country by the United Arab Emirates, the island of Masira and the Curia-Muria archipelago.
The relief of the country is mostly flat, in the north are the Hajar mountains with the highest point - Mount Al-Sham (3000 m). Oman is a dry country, there is not a single permanent river here, temporary water flows can appear as a result of rains.
Looking at the map of the country, one may wonder which of these cities is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman: Muscat, Salalah, Suweyk, Ibri or Barca? Officially, the capital is Muscat, the rest head their own administrative units and, in fact, are also capitals, but on a smaller scale. In total, the country stands out 11 provinces. About 730 thousand people live in Muscat, the rest of the country's settlements number from 80 to 130 thousand people.
Climate
The Sultanate of Oman is located in the tropical desert climate zone. Here the temperature never drops below 20 degrees. But overall, the climate in the country varies greatly. The coastal zone usually warms up to 40 degrees on a summer day, at night the temperature drops by 10 degrees. But the northern and inner regions in the spring and summer are influenced by desert winds and warm up to 50 degrees. The amplitude of temperature fluctuations here is much larger, sometimes it can reach 30 degrees. On a winter day, average values are 25 degrees, and at night they can drop to 10-15. In desert regions during the day the average temperature in winter can be 30-40 degrees, and at night even up to 2-5. The water temperature in the bay never drops below 24 degrees, so the bathing season lasts all year.
Oman's arid climate leads to rain in some desert areas only a few times a year. On the coast, precipitation occurs more often in winter, their level is not more than 200 mm. Most of the rains (up to 500 mm per year) occur in the mountainous regions of the country. The best time for tourism is the period from October to April, when the most pleasant weather is.
Government structure
The Sultanate of Oman in its political system is an absolute monarchy. The Sultan acts as the country's leader, supreme commander, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Defense, chief imam and supreme judge. The Cabinet of Ministers, who is also appointed by the Sultan, is directly subordinate to him.
The basic law in force in the country is approved by the Sultan himself, who relies on his wisdom and the Qur'an. Any political parties and trade unions are prohibited in the state. Power in the country is inherited, no elections are held here.
Until the 1970s, Oman was a closed state. Today, the foreign policy of the Sultanate of Oman has changed, he seeks to gain greater authority in the international arena. The state is a member of the League of Arab States, the UN, the Islamic Conference. The country has a small professional army and spends on its content about 11% of GDP.
Economy
The basis of the country's economy is the production and sale of oil. In recent years, the sultanate is aimed at diversifying the economy, seeks to develop other industries, in particular, a lot of resources are devoted to the development of tourism. Today, a new type of state is beginning to form in the Persian region — the Sultanate of Oman. Information about a possible depletion of oil reserves and a decline in black gold prices are forcing the country to actively seek new ways of development.
Before the rapid development of the commodity sector, Oman's economy was based on the production of agricultural products. The country today is a major supplier of dates. The extraction of fish and seafood allows the state not only to satisfy domestic needs, but also successfully export these products. Convenient location at the intersection of sea routes allows Oman to profit from shipping. The Sultanate is on the list of 100 countries with the highest GDP per capita, but lower oil prices pose a significant threat to economic stability. Therefore, today all efforts are devoted to the development of their own industries and the creation of high-quality tourist infrastructure.
Population
The Sultanate of Oman has a population of about 4 million people, almost half of which is concentrated around the capital. Density is 15 people per km². In recent years, mortality has steadily yielded to fertility. The average age of an Oman is 24 years. The dominant ethnic group is Arabic (about 80%). Among them are distinguished primordial tribes (Arab-Ariba), who once came from Yemen and mixed ethnic groups (Musta-Ariba). In coastal areas, mulattoes predominate. In the province of Dofar there are many people who call themselves "Kara." In their blood there is more of a negroid component and speech is close to the dialects of the Ethiopian tribes. Also in the country live Indians, Persians, tribes of nomads.
The state religion of Oman is ibadism. This is a branch of Islam that is different from Sunnis and Shiites.
Tongue
The official language of the country is Arabic, but in many provinces they speak such dialects that are difficult to compare with the usual version. In addition, many nomadic tribes continue to use their languages of mixed origin. But in all tourist regions, the level of English proficiency is high. Almost all of the capital of the Sultanate of Oman speaks the language of Great Britain, so communication in a hotel, restaurant or store is not difficult.
Culture
The Sultanate of Oman, whose thousand-year history is reflected in traditions and customs, is distinguished by a unique culture in which you can see Arab and Yemenite features, as well as echoes of the cultures of Britain and Portugal, a large layer of Muslim features. All the charm of local life can be seen by visiting the market. Here you can see national clothes, utensils, jewelry, see how local residents communicate with each other, and try real national food. It is also easy to see the endless variety of oriental spices and buy great coffee home.
Oman as a Muslim country is quite strict in the requirements of everyday life, but the time of celebrations here is very interesting and beautiful. Ramadan is one of the main holidays, which is widely celebrated for several days. At this time, people put on the best clothes, sing, dance, cook holiday dishes.
In this country you can still touch the original life of the East, untouched by civilization. Guides take tourists to authentic workshops of artisans, where they make products from leather, fabric, metal. These items will be great souvenirs for friends.
sights
Today, one of the most interesting and safe countries in the Arabian Peninsula is the Sultanate of Oman. The sights of this country keep its long history. The main places of the state include:
- the forts of Jalali and Mirani, inside of which you can’t get inside, but their appearance is impressive;
- the third largest mosque in the world of Sultan Qaboos is amazing in scale and beauty;
- Al Mattrah Market - a classic oriental bazaar;
- Sultan's palace in indian style.
In addition, the sights are unique natural places: the Sabhan mountains, lagoons, the Wahida Sand desert, the mangroves in Dofar, the land where incense is grown. In this country you can see many wonders, but the atmosphere itself is calm, measured, traditions.
Customs and Norms
The Sultanate is a Muslim country, and drinking alcohol is not welcome here. Therefore, strong drinks are sold only in special stores with special permits issued by the police. Tourists can drink alcohol in restaurants and hotel bars.
The Sultanate of Oman, in which photos of police and military are prohibited, does not allow foreigners to enter the mosque. In general, tourists here are softer than the locals, but still you need to be polite and calm.
In Oman, it is not customary to take food with the left hand, this offends the hosts. Women are not recommended to wear open and tight clothing in the city, as well as drive a car and walk around the city alone.
Kitchen
To try the original Arabic cuisine, you should go to the Sultanate of Oman. Tours to this country are often built in such a way as to conduct a gastronomic tour of the best points of catering. The national cuisine is simple, but sophisticated and very interesting, thanks to the use of a variety of spices.
The menu is based on dates, barley and wheat cakes, vegetable stews, boiled rice, lamb, beef and fish dishes. They are fried on charcoal, on a skewer, make dishes of minced meat and stew with vegetables. A sauce of salute vegetables is served to all dishes, many tomatoes and legumes, especially beans, are added. Of particular importance in the meal is given to bread - hus, which every housewife and cook make according to their own recipe. You can eat bread with gravy, with meat, special sandwiches with chicken or fish are made from it. Desserts are most often made from dates and dried fruits. In Oman, they make their own kind of halva - halua. The country uses a lot of coffee, which is prepared very strong, sugar-free, with spices.
Interesting Facts
The Sultanate of Oman is an excellent place for diving. Along its shores, in absolutely clear water, you can see not only corals, turtles, numerous colorful fish, but also sharks, barracudas, moray eels, and whales.
Unlike the capital of the UAE, Muscat is a small city in which low-rise buildings predominate; buildings of 10 or more floors can rarely be found.
Oman is a country of beautiful roads. There are no railways, but about 35 thousand km of high-quality highways. There are practically no traffic jams. In the capital, the length of which is about 30 km, you can get to anywhere in 20-30 minutes.
Almost all fresh water in the country is the result of desalination, so it is highly regarded here. This is necessary to know when going to the Sultanate of Oman.
Relaxation
Reviews of tourists say that the state today is rapidly catching up with the United Arab Emirates in terms of service and comfort. The hotel base is mainly composed of 4-5 star hotels. Beaches with clean fine sand, clear sea water and the sun almost all year round - these are the advantages of Oman. All conditions have been created for tourists in the country: in the capital there are many shops, restaurants, tours to the desert are offered. For lovers of diving, it’s just a paradise: you can not only rent all the equipment, but also get training.
In addition, the Sultanate of Oman, a holiday in which today is becoming more diverse, provides great opportunities for curious tourists. You can get acquainted with the ancient culture, study the monuments of Muslim culture and the era of colonization by buying a tour in numerous agencies.
Practical information
There is no public transport in Oman, there is an analogue of our marching jacks, but only Indians and poor emigrants ride them. Therefore, all tourists use a taxi, which can always be taken at the hotel.
The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Russia, located at: Staromonetny per., 14, building 1, helps the Russians to travel to the country and is ready to answer many questions.
There are no direct flights from Russia to Oman, so you have to use the nearest airports: Dubai or Doha.
The time difference with Moscow is +1 hour.
Oman is a fairly safe country, robberies and attacks here are a rarity. But theft is quite commonplace, especially among tourists. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor your belongings at the airport, hotel, on the beach.