Know about oman
Where is Oman located
Location[edit] Oman is located in the southeastern quarter of the Arabian Peninsula and covers a total land area of 309,500 square kilometers. The land area is composed of varying topographic features: valleys and desert account for 82 percent of the land mass; mountain ranges, 15 percent; and the coastal plain, 3 percent. The sultanate is flanked by the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, and the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) of Saudi Arabia, all of which contributed to Oman's isolation. Historically, the country's contacts with the rest of the world were by sea, which not only provided access to foreign lands but also linked the coastal towns of Oman. The Rub al Khali, difficult to cross even with modern desert transport, formed a barrier between the sultanate and the Arabian interior. The Al Hajar Mountains, which form a belt between the coast and the desert from the Musandam Peninsula (Ras Musandam) to the city of Sur at Oman's easternmost point, formed another barrier. These geographic barriers kept the interior of Oman free from foreign military encroachments. Geographic coordinates: 21°00′N 57°00′E Geographical regions[edit] Map of Oman Detailed map of Oman Natural features divide the country into six distinct areas: Ruus al Jibal, including the northern Musandam Peninsula; the Al Batinah plain running southeast along the Gulf of Oman coast; the Oman interior behind the Al Batinah coast comprising the Al Hajar Mountains their foothills, and desert fringes; the coast from Muscat-Matrah around the Ras al Hadd point and down the Arabian Sea; the offshore island of Masirah; and finally the barren coastline south to the Dhofar region in the south. Except for the foggy and fertile Dhofar all of the coast and the lowlands around the Al Hajar mountains are part of the Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert ecoregion, while the mountains themselves are a distinct habitat. Musandam Governorate[edit] The northernmost area, Musandam, extends from the tip of the Musandam Peninsula to the boundary with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Hisn al Diba. It borders the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, and is separated from the rest of the sultanate by a strip of territory belonging to the UAE. This area consists of low mountains forming the northernmost extremity of the Al Hajar al Gharbi (Western Al Hajar) Mountains. Two inlets, Elphinstone (Khawr ash Shamm) and Malcom (Ghubbat al Ghazirah), cleave the coastline about one third of the distance from the Strait of Hormuz and at one point are separated by only a few hundred meters of land. The coastline is extremely rugged, and the Elphinstone Inlet, sixteen kilometers long and surrounded by cliffs 1,000 to 1,250 meters high, has frequently been compared with fjords in Norway. Al Batinah[edit] Main article: Al Batinah Region The UAE territory separating Ruus al Jibal from the rest of Oman extends almost as far south as the coastal town of Shinas. A narrow, well-populated coastal plain known as Al Batinah runs from the point at which the sultanate is reentered to the town of As Sib, about 140 kilometers to the southeast. Across the plains, a number of wadis, heavily populated in their upper courses, descend from the Al Hajar al Gharbi Mountains to the south. A ribbon of oases, watered by wells and underground channels (falaj), extends the length of the plain, about ten kilometers inland. Muscat-Matrah coastal area[edit] South of As Sib, the coast changes character. For about 175 kilometers, from As Sib to Ras al Hadd, it is barren and bounded by cliffs almost its entire length; there is no cultivation and little habitation. Although the deep water off this coast renders navigation relatively easy, there are few natural harbors or safe anchorages. The two best are at Muscat and Matrah, where natural harbors facilitated the growth of cities centuries ago. Al Sharqiyah Region[edit] Al Sharqiyah is the northeastern region of the Sultanate of Oman and overlooks the Arabian Sea to the east and includes the inner side of the Eastern Hijr Mountains. The region consists of the following states: South Al Sharqiyah - The state of Sur is its administrative capital in addition to the states of Jalan Bani Bu Ali and Jalan Bani Bu Hassan, Kamel and Alwafi and Masirah. North Al Sharqiyah - The state of Ibra is its administrative capital in addition to the states of Bidiyah, Al-Mudhaibi, Qabil, Wadi Bani Khalid, Damma and Al-Tayyeen. Coastal tract, and island of Masirah[edit] The desolate coastal tract from Jalan to Ras Naws has no specific name. Low hills and wastelands meet the sea for long distances. Midway along this coast and about fifteen kilometers offshore is the barren Masirah island. Stretching about seventy kilometers, the island occupies a strategic location near the entry point to the Gulf of Oman from the Arabian Sea. Because of its location, it became the site of military facilities used first by the British and then by the United States, following an access agreement signed in 1980 by the United States and Oman. Oman Governorate[edit] West of the coastal areas lies the tableland of central Oman. The Al Hajar Mountains form two ranges: the Al Hajar al Gharbi Mountains and the Al Hajar ash Sharqi (Eastern Al Hajar) Mountains. They are divided by the Wadi Samail (the largest wadi in the mountain zone), a valley that forms the traditional route between Muscat and the interior. The general elevation is about 1,200 meters, but the peaks of the high ridge known as Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain), rise to more than 3,000 m. Jabal Akhdar is the only home of the Arabian tahr, a unique species of wild goat. In the hope of saving this rare animal, Sultan Qabus ibn Said has declared part of the mountain a national park. Behind the Al Hajar al Gharbi Mountains are two inland regions, Az Zahirah and Inner Oman, separated by the lateral range of the Rub al Khali. Adjoining the Al Hajar ash Sharqi Mountains are the sandy regions of Ash Sharqiyah and Jalan, which also border the desert. Dhofar governate[edit] Main article: Dhofar Dhofar region extends from Ras ash Sharbatat to the border of Yemen and north to the clearly defined border with Saudi Arabia. Its capital, Salalah, was the permanent residence of Sultan Said ibn Taimur Al Said and the birthplace of the present sultan, Qabus ibn Said. The highest peaks are about 2,000 meters. The coast of Dhofar is fertile, being watered by monsoonal fogs from the Indian Ocean and is part of the Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert ecoregion. Al Dharerah region consists of three parts:Dhank; Ibri; and Yanqul. Climate[edit] SeaWiFS captured this dust cloud blowing out over the Arabian Sea from Oman. March 12, 2000 According to Köppen climate classification Oman has three different climates (BWh, BSk, BSh) and is dominated by BWh. With the exception of Dhofar region, which has a strong monsoon climate and receives warm winds from the Indian Ocean, the climate of Oman is extremely hot and dry most of the year. Summer begins in mid-April and lasts until October. The highest temperatures are registered in the interior, where readings up to a maximum of 50.8 °C (123.4 °F) have been recorded. On the Al Batinah plain, summer temperatures seldom exceed 47 °C (116.6 °F), but, because of the low elevation, the humidity may be as high as 90 percent. The mean summer temperature in Muscat is 33 °C (91.4 °F), but the gharbi (literally, western), a strong wind that blows from the Rub al Khali, can raise temperatures from the towns on the Gulf of Oman by 6 °C (10.8 °F) to 10 °C (18 °F). Winter temperatures are mild and pleasant, ranging between 18 and 26 °C (64.4 and 78.8 °F). Precipitation on the coasts and on the interior plains ranges from 20 to 100 millimeters (0.8 to 3.9 in) a year and falls during mid- and late winter. Rainfall in the mountains, particularly over Jebel Akhdar, is much higher and may reach 900 millimeters (35.4 in). Because the plateau of Jebel Akhdar is porous limestone, rainfall seeps quickly through it, and the vegetation, which might be expected to be more lush, is meager. However, a huge reservoir under the plateau provides springs for low-lying areas. In addition, an enormous wadi channels water to these valleys, making the area agriculturally productive in years of good rainfall. Dhofar, benefiting from a southwest monsoon between June and September, receives heavier rainfall and has constantly running streams, which make the region Oman's most fertile area. Occasionally, a cyclone from the North Indian Ocean makes landfall, bringing with it heavy rain, such as Cyclone Kelia did in 2011. Oman was hit by Cyclone Gonu on June 6. Large areas in the capital area region in the Governorate of Muscat and in Amerat and Quriyat were severely affected. Gonu first hit the southern city of Sur late on June 5, 2007.[1] Area and boundaries[edit] Area: 309,500 km2 (119,500 sq mi) Border countries: Saudi Arabia: 676 km (420 mi), United Arab Emirates: 410 km (250 mi), Yemen: 288 km (179 mi) Coastline: 3,165 km (1,967 mi) Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nmi (13.8 mi; 22.2 km) contiguous zone: 24 nmi (27.6 mi; 44.4 km) exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (230.2 mi; 370.4 km) Resources and land use[edit] Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, Limited marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas Land use: arable land: 0.1% permanent crops: 0.12% other: 99.77% (2011) Irrigated land: 558.4 km2 (215.6 sq mi) (2004) Total renewable water resources: 1.4 km3 (0.34 cu mi) (2011) Environmental concerns[edit] Natural hazards: Summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in the interior during periodic droughts. Following rain, Wadis can fill with rainwater water and vast tracts of land can be flooded. A cyclone making landfall can severely flood large areas, or blow sand all over the place. Environment - current issues: Soil salinity is rising. There is beach pollution from oil spills. There are very limited natural fresh water resources. Geographical note: Oman is in a strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil. See also[edit] flagOman portal Oman References[edit] 1.^ Free the week This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/. This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html. Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs Open Environmental Data
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Restaurants in Oman
Top Choice Omani in Muscat Bait Al Luban You know you're somewhere unique when the complementary water is infused with frankincense. This delightful restaurant, housed in a renovated khan (guesthouse) that was built 140 years ago and which used to charge b… Top Choice Middle Eastern in Muscat Kargeen Cafe With a choice of open-air and majlis-style dining (on sedans in small rooms), this excellent restaurant has spilt into a courtyard of illuminated trees to create a thoroughly Arabian experience. Make sure you try Ka… Top Choice Seafood in Muscat The Beach This top-class restaurant, with superb Arabian ambience created by fire pits and subtle lighting, serves exciting, complex fare in a luxurious beachside location. The French pastry chef at the hotel’s indoor restaur… Top Choice Omani in Muscat Al Angham This exquisite restaurant next to the Royal Opera House offers just the kind of refined fare demanded of a special occasion, such as a night at the opera. From the silver napkin rings to the carved wooden ceiling, t… Top Choice Middle Eastern in Nizwa Al Mandi Al Dhahabi A popular venue with Western expats and visitors, this friendly restaurant serves standard Middle Eastern fare despite its billing as a specialist in Omani and Zanzibari food. That said the mandi (rice and meat) dis… Top Choice International in Salalah Dolphin Beach Restaurant One of the few places in Salalah to offer dining with a sea view, this open-air restaurant under the coconut palms offers a different themed buffet each night. Call ahead to reserve a beachside table if you want to … Lebanese in Muscat Zahr El Laymoun Bench seats with colourful cushions spill onto the pavement at this excellent Lebanese restaurant, inviting diners to make a night of it. That's easily done as there are lots of different hot and cold mezze on offer… Indian in Muscat Mumtaz Mahal Specialising in Northern Indian Mughlai cuisine, Mumtaz Mahal is more than just the best Indian restaurant in town – it is part of the landscape of Muscat. Perched on a hill overlooking Qurm Nature Reserve, with liv… International in Muscat The Cave This cave-like complex of seven different restaurants includes Al Manjur, an Omani restaurant with shuwa (slow-cooked, marinated meat dishes) on the menu. Smart-casual dress is expected in this Aladdin's cave of a r… International in Muscat Blue Marlin Restaurant With cheerful cloth-covered tables under brollies alongside the harbour, the Blue Marlin offers consistently delicious light bites at lunch time – perfect after a boat trip from the marina. Breakfast aficionados tak… Breakfast in Muscat D’Arcy’s Kitchen Next to the Omani Heritage Gallery in a sociable part of town, this friendly, award-winning establishment serves consistently good-value Western favourites at reasonable prices and is open when most other cafes are … Omani in Muscat Ubhar This Omani restaurant (with seating at tables rather than on the floor) offers an avante-garde menu. Camel features among other traditional meats. Leave room for dessert – the frankincense ice cream and halwa pastri… French in Muscat La Brasserie Serving delicious French food in a small wooden den of a restaurant opposite the fish market in Mutrah, La Brasserie is the perfect venue for coffee and a pastry on a walking tour of Muscat. Alternatively, try the e…
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Hotels in Oman
The sultanate's drive to promote tourism sees gains in travel trade sector, infrastructure improvements and hotel growth. Tue, Nov 20, 2018 - 5:50 AM AUDREY NG BT_20181120_ASOMAN3A_3620930.jpg In Oman, during the khareef, or monsoon season, the dry landscape is transformed into one teeming with lush greenery. The city of Salalah has long been a popular destination to witness this unique phenomenon. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF TOURISM OMAN BT_20181120_ASOMAN3A_3620930.jpg WITH sparkling turquoise wadis (valleys), stunning gorges, mountains and unspoilt beaches, Oman is bursting with nature, and the government is leveraging on its natural beauty to hit its goal of attracting 11 million tourists by 2040. Oman welcomed 3.3 million visitors last year, an almost 5 per cent increase from 2016, according to figures from the Ministry of Tourism. Nature seekers can easily access Oman's mountainous landscape in just two hours' drive from the capital to the country's highest mountain Jebel Shams at over 3,000m. Nearby, mountain plateau Jebel Al Akhdar is known for its cool climate, reaching only 22 deg C in summer. As a result of this unique weather, the area is ripe with a variety of fruits such as apricots and figs, as well as almonds, walnuts and saffron. For beach-goers, head for the Arabian Peninsula's easternmost point, Ras Al Jinz, also home to endangered green sea turtles. A unique attraction of Oman is the southern Dhofar region during the khareef, monsoon season, which transforms the dry landscape into one teeming with lush greenery. The city of Salalah has long been a popular destination to witness this unique phenomenon. In fact, the number of visitors to Salalah rose to more than 800,000 this year, with the annual Salalah Tourism Festival a huge crowd drawer. Within Muscat, the capital holds heritage treasures such as the architectural masterpiece that is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Muttrah Souq, among the oldest in Arabia. MAKING INROADS THROUGH MICE The sultanate is also scoring wins in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. Oman's Ministry of Tourism and ITB Berlin, the world's largest travel trade show, announced last month that the sultanate will be the official partner of ITB Berlin 2020. Tourism Minister, Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi said: "ITB Berlin is the leading platform for the global travel industry. With this partnership we will be able to draw major attention to our country as a travel destination. We are greatly looking forward to presenting Oman as a destination to such a wide audience in 2020." The two-year-old Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) has also boosted business tourism, hosting 291 events in the last two years. It has secured several large conferences that will bring more than 40,000 visitors till 2024. These include SICOT 2019, World Hospital Congress 2019 and World Cancer Congress 2020. TRAVEL MADE EASY At the same time, Oman has enhanced its infrastructure capabilities, its largest project thus far, the new Muscat International Airport, that began operations in March. The new airport is expected to handle passenger capacity of 20 million a year and will continue to undergo expansion to increase capacity. From January to September, the airport has seen more than 11 million passengers, a 9.8 per cent increase over the same period last year. National carrier Oman Air also launched new flights this year to Moscow, Casablanca and Istanbul. An e-visa portal launched last year and relaxed visa rules help facilitate ease of entry too. New tourist visas were introduced this year, allowing tourists to stay for up to 10 days, one month and one year. ROOMS FOR MORE To cater for more tourists, there are 55 hotels expected to begin construction or are currently being constructed within this year and next year, providing 4,763 hotel rooms, according to a report by the Ministry of Tourism. Established brands that opened this year include the luxury Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Fraser Suites Muscat and the Millennium Resort Salalah. Opening early next year is the 305-room JW Marriott at Madinat Al Irfan at the OCEC. It boosts MICE offerings with 1,200 sq m of function space, two grand ballrooms and six meeting and board rooms. Other hotel brands establishing a presence include the Hilton Garden Inn Muscat Al Khuwair, a modern 232-room hotel scheduled to open in January. Mandarin Oriental has also announced a 150-room Mandarin Oriental, Muscat and 155 residences at Mandarin Oriental, expected to open in 2021. oman national day tourism Hub The role of nonprofit boards in driving innovation BMW is in a serious fight. This is its secret weapon. Mercedes-AMG A 35 review: Beyond the hot hatch norm Can beauty earn big bucks for Mazda? Lexus ES review: Go hybrid or go home From professional golf to golf course design, Nick Faldo tells it all
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The advantages of Oman
Oman is a country in the Middle East bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Its strategic location on the Musandam Peninsula has helped the Omani people to prosper from the Indian Ocean trade for decades. Today the country is a vital world transit point for crude oil. Oman has traditionally been an isolated and conservative nation, but its current Sultan has been making tremendous efforts to make the country more open and modern. The strong Omani heritage, rich tradition and culture attracts an increasing number of visitors and foreign investors wanting to take advantage of its key location and growing economy. Understanding Oman’s unique culture and traditions is key to doing business effectively there. Attending Communicaid’s Doing Business in Oman programme will help individuals and organisations to maximise the benefits of doing business in Oman. Some of the key benefits of doing business in Oman are highlighted below. Strategic Geographic Location Oman has over 1,700 km of coastline which has allowed the country to enjoy the status of a marine country. Its distinct strategic geographic location controls one of the most important marine trade routes in the world, the route between the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. The Sultanate is considered the gateway to the Arabian Gulf and makes Oman the meeting place of the Asian and African continents, paving the way for a plethora of financial business opportunities. Natural Resources The discovery of oil drastically improved Oman’s economy. Sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped build Oman’s budget, trade surpluses and foreign reserves. However, in the last few years attempts have been made to diversify the economy to reduce Oman’s dependence on the oil industry, and investment in the private sector and foreign business are being encouraged. Fast Developing Economy Oman’s economy is future-oriented and continues to grow rapidly. Since the 1970s when a new Sultan came to power, Oman has made massive economic and social improvements. The last few years have brought phenomenal achievements to Oman such as multi-lane highways, modern hospitals, schools and universities. Oman is also shifting its economy significantly towards tourism which will bring tremendous profit due to the attractive location of the country and its rich traditions. Government Support to Develop New Business The development of Oman is encouraged by very favourable government policies that attract investors from all over the world. Oman is actively pursuing a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialisation and privatisation. The Omani government offers incentives to encourage local and foreign businesses such as tax exemptions, interest free loans, free trade zones and preference in allocation of government land. The benefits of foreign investments are mutual. Foreign businesses have opportunities to develop and invest in new areas, and Oman profits from economic development. Long-lasting Relationships with Business Counterparts Omanis are known for their generosity, friendliness and tolerance. Their hospitality towards foreigners attracts short-term visitors and also encourages businesses to set up in the area with support from local communities. Expats benefit from the open Omani society which includes freedom of worship and modern facilities. Omani culture emphasises the building of strong bonds and relationships in both social and professional contexts. Therefore, foreigners are advised to spend time with their Omani business counterparts and make an effort to establish good rapport with them. International organisations and investors doing business in Oman or planning to set up or develop business in Oman should consider participating in cross cultural awareness training such as Communicaid’s Doing Business in Oman training programme that will give them the skills required to work successfully in Oman.
