Interesting Facts About Oman

‘Marhaban’ with a cup of Qahwa and a plate of dates is how they would welcome you in Oman, the oldest independent Arab State.

Oman lies at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and is surrounded by three gulf countries and the Arabian Sea.

With an estimated population of 48.3 lac, Oman is believed to be one of the oldest places on the planet having human residents for at-least 1,06,000 years.

The Sultanate of Oman has been ruled by the powerful Al Said family since 1744.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said was in power from 23rd July 1970 until his death on 10th January 2020. Having served as the longest-serving ruler, it was his leadership behind the modernization of Oman.

The Khanjar (dagger) is the national symbol of Oman and also has its presence on the national emblem.

The Omani flag consists of 3 stripes - white, red & green and a red bar on the left which has the national emblem.

White stands for peace, Green stands for abundance, Red stands for the native residents and has a presence on all the Gulf States’ flags.

Spread across 3,500 sq km the capital city of Muscat lies on the Arabian Sea along the Gulf of Oman and is dominated by the rocky Western Al Hajar Mountains.

Planning to visit Oman? Alone? Be rest assured that your trip is going to be safe as Oman has ‘extremely rare’ crime scenarios.

Interestingly, as per the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), Oman is a terrorism free country.

Oman boasts of having the only cave in the Arabian Peninsula, which is spread across 4.5 kms. This two million year old cave, Al Hoota is located at the foot of Jabal Shams Mountain and is home to a variety of rare animals.

‘Bu Naseh’ is one such species, which has adapted to the internal conditions of the cave. These rare fish are blind and have lost their pigmentation and are transparent such that you can see their skeletons.

Frankincense the aromatic resin which is used in the making of incense and perfumes grows naturally in Oman.

The Frankincense trees in Oman are now listed under the UNESCO World Heritage site under the name of ‘Land of Frankincense’.

As Oman is covered by water on three sides, ship building came naturally to the locals. They mastered the art so well that even today, they are known as the greatest ship builders in the world.

Omanis are also famous for breeding of the Arabian Stallion which is one of the most easily recognizable breeds owing to its distinctive features.

Just a 2 hours’ drive from the capital city of Muscat lies ‘Ibra’, one of the oldest cities in Oman.

Ibra is the only city in the world to have a Woman-only Souq. It is an open-air marketplace where women traders sell everything from spices to jewelry to women buyers on every Wednesday. Now who’s going to stop you from shopping??

When in Oman, one must surely try the ‘Omani Alcohol’ which is the most selling beverage in the country. Even a teetotaler can enjoy this beverage as it contains ‘no alcohol’. Surprised? Well, the beverage is nothing but Mountain Dew a product from Pepsico.

And if you want to consume the actual alcohol, then you need a License. As per the rule, an Omani can spend 10% of his monthly income on alcohol. So, if you wish to drink more, earn more.

Oman has 4 UNESCO declared world heritage sites - Bahla Fort, the archaeological sites of Bat, Al Khutm and Al Ayn, the irrigation systems of Al Aflaj and the land of Frankincense. After going through these interesting Facts, am sure you will surely go, O(h)Man!!