An unusual country with an ancient history - the Sultanate of Oman, where rest will become a real oriental fairy tale, is gaining more and more popularity among tourists from all over the world today. It perfectly combines high-level service, excellent conditions for a beach holiday and an interesting excursion program.
History
The Sultanate of Oman, whose history goes back more than one millennium, has been known as a place of human settlement since the Paleolithic. It was here that people traveled from Africa to Asia. 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 remained under their control for many centuries. In the 7th century AD this region became part of the Arab Caliphate, Islam is established here. Until the 16th century, this land was dominated by the Arabs. Later, the country was dominated by the Portuguese, who were periodically expelled by the Persians.
Only in 1650, Imam Sultan ibn Saif liberates the territory and creates an independent state. From thismoment the country begins to develop and expand. Until the middle of the 19th century, Oman was part of the powerful Omani Empire. At this time, the territory is divided between the sons of the Sultan. The territory of modern Oman falls under the British protectorate.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a struggle begins between individual tribes and a separatist movement in the interior of the country. In 1938, the new Sultan Said bin Taimur, who was able to subjugate the interior of the country, returned the state to a medieval level of development and administration. This inevitably led to unrest, and Sultan Qaboos bin Said came to power, not without the support of the British, in July 1970, who gradually established life in the country. It modernizes the economy and social structure of the state. In 1987, he opens the country for tourists, begins to build a new infrastructure.
Geography
Oman today occupies an area of 300 thousand km² in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula. The length of the state borders is 3400 km. The country neighbors with Iran (through the Strait of Hormuz), with the United Arab Emirates 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 Masirah and the Kuria-Muria archipelago.
The country's relief is predominantly flat, in the north there are the Hajar mountains with the highest point - Mount Ash-Sham (3000 m). Oman is a dry country, there is no permanent river, temporary water flows can appear as a result of rains.
Looking at the mapcountry, one might wonder which of these cities is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman: Muscat, Salalah, Suwaik, Ibri, or Barka? Officially, the capital is Muscat, the rest head their own administrative divisions and, in fact, are also capitals, but on a smaller scale. There are 11 provinces in total in the country. 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 zone of tropical desert climate. Here the temperature never drops below 20 degrees. But in general, the climate in the country varies greatly. The coastal zone in the summer day usually warms up to 40 degrees, at night the temperature drops by 10 degrees. But the northern and inland regions in spring and summer are influenced by winds from the desert and warm up to 50 degrees. The amplitude of temperature fluctuations here is much greater, sometimes it can reach 30 degrees. In winter, during the day, the average figures 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 swimming season lasts all year.
Oman's arid climate means some desert areas can only rain a few times a year. On the coast, precipitation falls more often in winter, their level is no more than 200 mm. Most of the rains (up to 500 mm per year) occur in the mountainous regions of the country. The best times for tourism are consideredthe period from October to April, when the weather is most pleasant.
Government
The Sultanate of Oman is an absolute monarchy in its political system. The Sultan performs the functions of the head of the country, the supreme commander, the minister of foreign affairs, finance and defense, the chief imam and the supreme judge. The Cabinet of Ministers, who is also appointed by the Sultan, reports directly to him.
The basic law in force in the country, approved by the Sultan himself, who relies on his wisdom and the Koran. 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, it seeks to gain greater prestige 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 about 11% of GDP on its maintenance.
Economy
The basis of the country's economy is the production and sale of oil. In recent years, the sultanate has aimed at diversifying the economy, seeking to develop other industries, in particular, a lot of resources have been devoted to the development of tourism. Today, a new type of state is beginning to form steadily in the Persian region - the Sultanate of Oman. Information about the possible depletion of oil reserves and the reductionprices for black gold force the country to actively look for new ways of development.
Before the rapid development of the raw material sector, Oman's economy was based on the production of agricultural products. The country is still a major supplier of dates today. The extraction of fish and seafood allows the state not only to satisfy domestic needs, but also to successfully export these products. The convenient location at the intersection of sea routes allows Oman to profit from maritime transport. The Sultanate is on the list of 100 countries with the highest GDP per capita, but the decline in oil prices poses a significant threat to the stability of the economy. Therefore, today all forces are thrown into the development of our own production facilities and the creation of a high-quality tourist infrastructure.
Population
The Sultanate of Oman has a population of about 4 million, almost half of which is concentrated around the capital. The density is 15 people per km². In recent years, the death rate has been consistently inferior to the birth rate. The average age of a resident of Oman is 24 years. The dominant ethnic group is Arabic (about 80%). Among them, there are primordial tribes (Arab-Ariba), who once came from Yemen, and mixed nationalities (Musta-Ariba). In coastal areas, mulattoes predominate. In the province of Dhofar, there are many people who call themselves "kara". There is more negroid component in their blood and speech is close to the dialects of the Ethiopian tribes. Also Indians, Persians, nomadic tribes live in the country.
The state religion of Oman is Ibadism. This is a branch of Islam that is different from Sunnis and Shiites.
Language
The official language of the country is Arabic, but in many provinces they speak dialects that are difficult to compare with the usual version. In addition, many nomadic tribes continue to use their languages, which are of mixed origin. But in all tourist regions, the level of English proficiency is high. The capital of the Sultanate of Oman almost entirely speaks the language of the UK, so communication in a hotel, restaurant or shop is no problem.
Culture
The Sultanate of Oman, whose thousand-year history is reflected in traditions and customs, is distinguished by a unique culture in which one can see Arab and Yemeni 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 the locals communicate with each other, try real national food. It's also easy to see the endless variety of oriental spices and buy great coffee to take 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 their best clothes, sing, dance, prepare festive dishes.
In this country, you can still touch the original life of the East, untouched by civilization. Tour guides take tourists to authentic artisan workshops, where they makeproducts made of leather, fabric, metal. These items make great souvenirs for friends.
Attractions
Today, one of the most interesting and safe countries of the Arabian Peninsula is the Sultanate of Oman. The sights of this country keep its long history. The main places of the state include:
- Jalali and Mirani forts, which cannot be entered, but their appearance is impressive;
- the world's third largest mosque of Sultan Qaboos is stunning in scale and beauty;
- Al Matthrah market - a classic oriental bazaar;
- Indian-style Sultan's Palace.
In addition, unique natural places are attractions: the Sabhan mountains, lagoons, the Wahida Sand desert, the mangroves in Dhofar, the lands where incense is grown. In this country, you can see many curiosities, but the very atmosphere of calmness, regularity, and traditions attracts.
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 bars at hotels.
The Sultanate of Oman, where photos of police and military are prohibited, does not allow foreigners to enter mosques. In general, tourists here are treated softer than locals, but you still need to be polite and calm.
In Oman it is not customary to take food with the left hand, it offends the hosts. WomenIt is not recommended to wear open and tight clothes in the city, as well as to 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 catering outlets. The national cuisine is simple, but refined and very interesting, thanks to the use of various spices.
The menu is based on dates, barley and wheat cakes, vegetable stews, boiled rice, lamb, beef and fish dishes. They are fried on coals, on a spit, they make dishes from chopped and stewed meat with vegetables. All dishes are served with a saloon vegetable sauce, many tomatoes and legumes, especially beans, are added. Of particular importance in the meal is given to bread - khuza, which each housewife and cook makes according to their own recipe. Bread can be eaten with gravy, with meat, special sandwiches with chicken or fish are made from it. Desserts are most often made from dates and dried fruit. In Oman, they make their own kind of halva - halua. The country consumes a lot of coffee, which is prepared very strong, without sugar, with spices.
Interesting facts
The Sultanate of Oman is an excellent place for diving. Near its shores, in absolutely clear water, you can see not only corals, turtles, numerous colorful fish, but also sharks, barracudas, moray eels, whales.
Unlike the capital of the UAE, Muscat is a small city dominated by low-rise buildings, rarely seen buildings of 10 or more floors.
Oman is a countrywonderful roads. There are no railways here, but there are about 35,000 km of high-quality highways. There are practically no traffic jams here. In the capital, which is about 30 km long, you can reach anywhere in 20-30 minutes.
Practically all fresh water in the country is the result of desalination, so it is highly valued here. This is a must-know when traveling to the Sultanate of Oman.
Rest
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 made up of 4-5 star hotels. Beaches with clean fine sand, clear sea water and sun almost all year round - these are the advantages of Oman. All conditions have been created for tourists in the country: there are many shops, restaurants in the capital, tours to the desert are offered. For diving enthusiasts, this is a paradise here: you can not only rent all the equipment, but also get training.
In addition, the Sultanate of Oman, where holidays are becoming more diverse today, 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 an excursion in numerous agencies.
Practical information
There is no public transport in Oman, there is an analogue of our minibuses, but only Indians and poor emigrants use them. Therefore, all tourists use a taxi, which can always be taken from the hotel.
The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Russia, located at the address: Staromonetny per., 14, building 1, helpsRussians to travel to the country and 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.
Time difference with Moscow is +1 hour.
Oman is a fairly safe country, robberies and attacks are rare here. But theft is quite common, especially among tourists. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor your belongings at the airport, hotel, on the beach.
