Introduction
The following is a useful insight into Oman, which you won’t read in any guidebooks!
I first visited the Sultanate of Oman (Oman) on business during the late 90’s through to the early 2000’s. Of all the places that I have worked in the Gulf, Oman always stood out for me as being the most fascinating and welcoming to a foreigner.
Its ruler for some 25 years, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, recently passed away. So, I thought it was an opportune time to reflect on my time there and key observations.
In Oman, I had the opportunity to do business with the Government and local businesses as well as meet some influential people. Being a foreigner in Oman, I was lucky to be taken under the wing of an important local. He taught me much about the people, trading history and culture. He also encouraged me to explore the ‘interior’ of the country – which I dutifully did.
It’s fair to say much has changed since I was last in Oman. But the people, its rich history, divergent culture and landscape haven’t.
About Oman
So, what is it about the people, history and culture of Oman that still fascinates me to this day and makes it stand out from the rest of its Arabian Gulf neighbours?
The Sultanate of Oman long served as a hub on the Indian Ocean trade routes, and it has ancient ties that reach from Pakistan to the island of Zanzibar. Today, Oman is one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, despite not having extensive oil reserves.
In 1498, the Portuguese discovered Oman and you can see their influence in some of the architecture.
The people of Oman are very distinctive, in both dress and character as opposed to other Arabs across the Gulf. In fact, I would argue that Omanis are the most friendliest and laid back of all the other Arabs I encountered in my years working in the Gulf.
I was told that Omanis don’t consider themselves officially as ‘Arabs’. Oman, while it’s officially part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has more in common with Pakistan, Iran and India given it’s historic trading connections. As an example, most Omanis can speak fluent Hindi, Urdu and English.
Oman is also considered as the ‘honest’ broker’. By that, I mean they often find themselves brokering peace or facilitating meetings between other Arabic countries – even Israel in the past.
While Oman’s economic prosperity has hinged on oil revenues, much has been done to diversify its economy. Tourism plays a big part in this. Some of the best diving and cultural sites in the world can be found in Oman. It’s also a unique location for rock climbing.
Being in close proximity to the likes of the United Arab Emirates, by both road and air, lends itself to both expats and locals visiting both countries on a frequent basis – even just for a weekend.
Top places to visit
- Muscat – the capital of Oman, is home to forts, palaces, museums and markets. While you can’t visit the interior of the Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace, you can head to the harbour to get a close view of the amazing structure.
- Nizwa Fort – built in the 17th century, it’s a large castle located in Nizwa. Some parts of this historic fort date all the way back to the ninth century.
- Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque – built in 2001, non-Muslim’s can visit this breathtaking Mosque on most mornings, except Friday. It features an enormous crystal chandelier and marble wall panels.
- Other historic forts – Al Rustaq Fort and Nakhal Fort. They are much older, dating back to the 13th century and pre-Islamic times with very few visitors.
- Muttrah Souq – located very close to Muscat, this Souq is a traditional market located on the Muttrah Corniche. It consists of several small shops that sell Omani products such as colourful fabric, traditional clothes, silver and gold jewellery, plus souvenirs.
- You can find more on tourism in Oman on their official website
A book that I would recommend reading, ‘Don’t They Know It’s Friday’, written by Jeremy Williams’. This book helped me immensely in conducting business and successfully gaining the trust of the local Arabs across the Gulf.