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Oman Hotels - Information, Reservation in Oman Hotels Online |
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| History: |
| In the early 3rd millennium BC, Oman was a society that possessed cultural and trade ties with ancient Mesopotamia. |
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| In 1507, the Portuguese André Pereira dos Reis attempted to capture Muscat. Sultan bin Saif defeated the Portuguese in 1649 and drove them away to Goa, India. |
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| With the captured warships, the Sultan was able to expand the empire which spanned from Zanzibar in the south to Gwadar, Pakistan, in the east. |
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| Upon the death of the Imam in 1679, the empire began to collapse. The Persians invaded Muscat in 1737 but only briefly; they were overpowered by Admad bin Said, who was thereon elected imam. |
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| The next attempt to take over Oman was in 1803 by the Wahabis of Saudi Arabia, but Said bin Sultan was able to keep them out of the area. Fifty years later, the sultan declared Zanzibar the capital of Oman. Not long after that, the decline of the empire began. |
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| Sultan Taimur bin Faisal became the reigning sultan in 1913, and the territory was named the “Sultanate of Muscat, and Oman;” the sultan ruled Muscat, and the imam ruled Oman. |
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| In 1959, Sultan Said bin Taimur (aided by the British) was able to impede the imamate, thus unifying most of Oman. The 1960’s were not happy years for this sultan though, as his inability to economically and socially develop Oman with the oil income stirred up a rebellion against him; the Dhofar War began in 1964, led by the Marxist state of South Yemen. The rebellion was opposed by Omani, British, and Iranian forces, and was thus thwarted. |
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| In 1970 Sultan Qaboos deposed his father Sultan Said, and replaced him. The country’s name was changed to the “Sultanate of Oman”. |
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| Qaboos was a crucial reformer of the country. He effectively developed the country’s transportation, communications, and other infrastructure; he also increased spending on health, education and welfare. |
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| Although his power over the country can be considered almost absolute, he has liberalised Oman’s government, and he’s quite well-liked by the Omanis. |
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| Oman has gone through many glorious and culturally different eras. The Persian and Portuguese characters it acquired throughout the ages were phased out when they were replaced by its Arab character during the 1st century AD, when Oman accepted Islam as a religion just before the death of Prophet Muhammad in 632. However, the 500 forts, towers and castles in the country remain till today, solid evidence of the diversity Oman witnessed. |
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| To gain valuable knowledge and understanding of Oman’s history, you should definitely make time to visit some of those sites, as well as Al Khuwair’s Natural History Museum. To be able to do that, you must secure a safe stay somewhere. Some of the good oman hotels scattered throughout Oman are Salalah Hilton, Radisson SAS Oman, Sheraton Oman, Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Oman, Oman Hotels...etc... |
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| Climate: |
If you’re a devout fan of the sun, this country’s climate will definitely suit you. Summers are pretty hot; coastal temperatures can reach up to 46°C, while inland highs are even higher! You can experience warmth even during the winters; Muscat’s annual average temperature is 29°C.
If you’re going to Oman for touristic purposes, then best time to visit would be the period between October and April, as during these months the cool air makes these days enjoyably warm with an average temperature of around 25°C; the evenings are also quite cool. An added plus of planning your trips during this high season is a slight reduction in your expenditure, because you will be able to split the tour costs with other visitors heading to the same sites you might be interested in.
Although water is kind of scarce in the country, some monsoons deposit around 30 inches of rain on the mountains of Dhofar during the rainy season of June to September, and sometimes result in flash floods when the rain runs from the mountains into the valleys. During this period, many Emiratis visit Dhofar; its greenery - as opposed to the desert surroundings - is quite an attraction.
Around 6 inches of rain are deposited along the coast per year. Muscat, however, usually receives less than 4 inches annually.
During the summers, sandstorms and periodic droughts take place. |
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| Time And Place: |
Oman spreads over a 309,500 sq km desert occupying the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Where it is not enveloped by land, it is surrounded by the Arabian Sea (to the east) and the Gulf of Oman (to the north).
At the far north, it has a few miles of Persian Gulf coastline.
The Sultanate is sovereign over 293 islands which are frequented by a diversity of birds, fish, turtles, and rare animals. Five of the islands are inhabited: Al Hallaniya, Mahout, Um Al Ghanam, Dhodmar, and Masirah, the largest and most populated island, usually frequented during the fall. It is a major windsurfing spot.
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| Crossing Borders: |
| If you’ve lived in a Gulf Cooperation Council country for at least a year, and you have a valid residence permit and/or labour card, you might be able to obtain a tourist visa upon arrival. Residents and citizens of other countries should check with their embassies. For more details on Oman visa requirements, click here. |
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| Government: |
The sultan of Oman is an absolute ruler, making Oman an absolute monarchy. The sultan’s position is hereditary, and he is the chief of the state and the government. He appoints the "Diwans," which is the cabinet that assists him. The Majlis al Shura, which is an elected advisory council, was instituted by the sultan in the 1990s, but few people were eligible to vote.
The 4th of October 2003 was a significant date in Omani suffrage; those over 21 were granted the right to vote. That same year, two women were also elected to seats.
Although Oman’s oil production is not as large scale as that of its neighbouring countries, it is the main source of income. Other important economy boosters are agriculture and fishing. Tourism has recently begun flourishing, and Oman is certainly not at a shortage of interesting tourist attractions.
The country is divided into 4 governorates and 5 regions as follows:
Four governorates: Musqat (which contains the capital city, Muscat), Musandam , Dhofar (Zufar), and Al Buraymi.
And 5 regions: Al Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Al Sharqiyah, Al Zahirah (Al Dahirah).
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| Transportation: |
A lot of the transportation in Oman takes place by car, as the roads and highways are very well developed; there is even a major highway connecting Muscat with Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Taxis are coloured orange and white, and they go through major roadways, as well as within a loose network of smaller byways throughout Muscat, picking up passengers. This route is similar to that of the inexpensive Baiza buses. They provide semi-personal transportation, and are unmetered. It is advisable to ask your hotel or host about your destination’s taxi fare, because negotiating a fare with cab drivers will show your unfamiliarity with the area. Taxis also take passengers to areas outside the city, including Sohar, Buraymi, and Dubai. Unlike other Gulf countries, taxi and bus drivers in this country are solely Omani nationals.
The international airport of Oman, Seeb International Airport, is found in the suburbs of Muscat, in the area of Seeb, located 25km from Muscat’s business district of Ruwi. Its major airline is Gulf Air, which operates with Bahrain, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Oman has two modern deepwater ports, as well as an oil terminal for supertankers (ships with a capacity of 275,000 – 300,000 tonnes or more).
You can also use the domestic air service that travels between the major cities. |
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| Culture and Society: |
The Oman Sultanate is quite traditional, and follows conservative Islamic laws. Islam is the sultanate’s only recognised religion. Non-Muslims are allowed to practice their religions, provided they do not proselytise or give out religious literature and propaganda.
Family is very important for Omanis; and a lot of importance is given to the extended family, which is headed by the eldest male. Marriages are arranged between first cousins when possible, but they are almost always within the same castes (ethnic and social groups play a major role).
Although men and women are usually segregated in society, females have entered the workforce, and can now work alongside men.
The national holiday, November the 18th, is a celebration of Sultan Qaboos’s birthday. Besides that, the two most important celebratory events are Eid al Fitr (the 3 day conclusion of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting) and Eid al Adha (the conclusion of the hajj season, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia).
The architecture in the country is affected by the Portuguese culture that dominated Oman prior to its independence in 1651. Many obvious Indian twists are also visible.
Omanis are known for their traditional skills in building ships and working with metal, especially silver. A prominent product of the metalwork is the “khanjar” (a curved dagger), which is part of the male ceremonial attire.
Traditional clothing is widely worn throughout Oman. Conventionally, women wear colourful “abayas,” a variation of the dishdasha, with ankle-length trousers beneath. They wear a scarf, the “hijab,” to cover their heads. A small percentage of women also cover their faces and hands.
As for men, the standard dress code is the “dishdasha,” which is an ankle-length collarless robe that buttons at the neck with a tassel (that can be dipped in perfume) hanging down. The dishdasha is usually white. It is accompanied by an embroidered skullcap or a turban on the head.
Hospitality is a major part of the country’s culture. As in all Arab societies, coffee, to which cardamom is added, is an important beverage, and “the focus of daily social interaction.” Guests in Omani homes are offered dates, and fruit, as well as coffee (“qahwa”) in a small cup, which you should shake after 3 servings to signify that you’ve finished.
Alcohol is restricted to some restaurants and hotels.
Although a major pastime is storytelling – which is not surprising, given the vast range of popular Omani literature – musical expression is limited due to the conservative Ibadi Muslim laws.
Not too long ago, soccer joined the list of major popular activities in Oman. Other sports for which you’ll be able to find indoor facilities or specified clubs/complexes are bowling, cricket, darts, ice skating, diving, golf, motor sports, rugby, running, sailing, surfing, shooting, softball, squash, and tennis.
Generally, if you have some spare time on your hands, here is a list of what you can do in Oman: scuba diving, camel racing, bull-fighting (bloodless), photography; you will find picture-worthy scenery whether you’re an amateur or a pro, rock climbing; mountains with peaks of up to 3000m stretch for over 300km, camping; valleys (“wadis”), sandy beaches, and desert safaris are highly targeted campsites by adventure-seekers.
Finally, before heading back home, pay the local shops or souks a visit and stock up on souvenirs such as the previously mentioned “khanjars,” and silver handcrafts, rugs, bags, camel straps and saddles, frankincense and incense burners, and jewellery. |
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| Human Rights: |
For the human rights situation in Oman, click here for the Amnesty 2007 report. |
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