Middle East
Oman
vital statistics
- Muscat
- 3.6 million
- Arabic
- Omani rial
With a Sultan keen on green and a law that forbids any garish skyscrapers, Oman is the antithesis of its northerly neighbour, Dubai. The capital Muscat sits on a lovely harbour, with the corniche housing the Old Mutrah Souk, one of the best traditional markets in the Middle East.
The harsh geography is extraordinary, with sheer rock mountains jutting straight out of the Arabian Sea and protected secluded beaches dotting the coastline in between some of the more classy five-star hotels in the region. Head out into the countryside and things are even more spectacular.
From the vast desert dunes of Wahiba Sands and grand canyons like Jebel al Akhdar to the many wadis and the extraordinary Musandam Peninsula, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re after adventurous rock climbing or camping beneath the stars in the desert, Oman is a country to discover.