Salalah

Salalah is the capital and seat of the governor or Wali of the southern Omani province of Dhofar. The population of Salalah is 197,169 as of 2009[1].

Salalah is the second largest city in the Sultanate of Oman, and the largest city in the Dhofar Provence. The coastal city of Salalah is a traditional stronghold and birthplace of the Sultan, Qaboos bin Said. The Sultan traditionally lives in Salalah rather than in Muscat, the capital and largest city in Oman; Qaboos has bucked this trend, and has lived in Muscat since he ascended to the throne in 1970. He does however visit Salalah fairly regularly to meet with influential tribal and local leaders; his last visit was in 2006 and before that he visited in 2002. In mid-2009 the massive Sultan Qaboos Mosque was opened in Salalah, 39 years after he had taken the throne.

History:

Salalah History shows that it gained prominence due to the Frankincense that was extracted from the Frankincense trees that are found in this region. Frankincense is an extract from these trees that are used for perfume and incense sticks. These perfumes are used for ritualistic purpose and are hence widely popular among the practitioners of Judaism. Belonging to the Boswellia family, these trees also have medicinal values.

In the 19th century Salalah was taken over by the sultanate of Omani. In the year 1932, it became the capital of both Muscat and Omani and the sultan, Said, settled there. Later in 1970 he was deposed and the capital shifted to Muscat, the largest town in Oman. Qaboos, the sultan was a good administrator and worked in tandem with the tribal chiefs. 1975 was the year when Salalah saw itself flourishing globally. The local Airport was turned to an international Airport and the government also concentrated on the construction of the roads.

The history of Salalah throws much light on the cultural aspects of the land, its political status quo and its importance in history. For detailed analysis on Salalah Overview you can browse through the link, Salalah Travel Guide.

Culture:

Transport in Salalah:

Salalah has an airport, mainly catering to domestic flights from Muscat and some regional cities such as Kuwait, Dubai and Doha. Seasonal flights, some from as far away as Sweden, operate during the Khareef, which is the peak tourism season. Salalah Airport (IATA:SLL, ICAO:OOSA) is the Sultanate of Oman's second gateway.It is located on the Salalah coastal plain, 5.5 kilometers northeast of Salalah's city centre. Oman Air operates five flights daily to Salalah Airport from Muscat. Air India Express operates three flights a week to Kerala, India: to Kozhikode via Kochi on Wednesdays and Sundays and to Thiruvananthapuram via Kochi on Fridays. Felix Airways operates flights to Aden, Al Ghaydah, Al Mukalla. Jazeera Airways operates seasonal flights to Salalah from Dubai and Kuwait.

Salalah does not have a public transportation system within the city limits. However long distance air-conditioned luxury coaches are operated daily from Salalah to Haima, Muscat, Nizwa, Buraimi, Dubai, Al-Ain, Al-Ghaydah, Al-Mukalla, Seiyun and PDO locations like Marmul.

Other forms of other public transport popular in Salalah like taxis and micro buses. They are locally called as "Baiza" buses, so named for the lower denomination of the Omani Rial, the baiza (an adaptation of the Indian and Pakistani lower denomination paisa). These are relatively inexpensive and service all major roadways, as well as a wide and loose network of smaller byways connecting smaller towns in Dhofar Governorate with Salalah city. These are mostly Toyota Hiace or Nissan Urvan. They operate from City Centre, locally called Chowk to places like Dhalkut, Rakhyut, Shahb As'eeb, Sarfait, Shaleem, Shuwamiyah, Sharbithat, Marmul, Al-Mazyounah, Mirbat, Taqah, Sadah, Tawi Ateer, Hasik, Hadbin, Thumrait etc.

Taxis are color-coded orange and white and provide semi-personal transportation in the form of both individual hire and the same opportunistic roadway service as Baiza buses. Baiza buses, also colour-coded orange and white, and like taxis are unmetered after several government initiatives to introduce meters were rejected. The fare is set by way of negotiation, although drivers usually adhere to certain unwritten rules for fares within the city. One should always find out the normally accepted fare for one's journey from one's hotel or host before looking for a taxi.

Demographics:

The city, like many other other Persian Gulf States' cities has a relatively large expatriate community, mainly from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as a Pakistani and an Indian community school in the Dahariz district.

99.9% of the Omani population in Salalah is Muslim. Like the majority of the Middle East, most people in Salalah follow the Sunni sect of Islam, unlike the majority of Omanis in Muscat which mostly follow the Ibadhi sect. There is also a significant amount of Hindus, along with a small population of Christians and Sikhs practiced by the Indian and Sri Lankian community.

The unofficial, unwritten, second most spoken language in Salalah, is Shehri, mostly known as Jeballi. As of 1993 there were 25,000 speakers of Shehri[2], and the numbers have more than doubled ever since.[citation needed] In Salalah it is very typical to see people speak Shehri to each other whether it be in the market place or the restaurant. In fact, Sultan Qaboos's mother, Mazoon Al-Mashani, was a native speaker of the Shehri language.

 

 Economy:

APM Terminals, part of the A. P. Moller-Maersk Group of Denmark, manages the Port of Salalah; one of the largest ports on the Arabian Peninsula which is an important transshipment hub for container shipping in the area. The Port of Salalah is also one of the most vital ports on the peninsula connecting together Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. It is also the largest private employer in the Dhofar region. The Salalah Free Zone, situated right beside the port, is emerging as a new center for heavy industries in the Middle East

Tourism

The city of Salalah is known as the "perfume capital of Arabia".[citation needed] The city is a popular destination for tourism due to the natural attractions of the nearby mountains and abundant stands of frankincense trees lining mountain wadi courses. Around the city and into the mountains the countryside is lush and green during the monsoon period with the vegetation supporting herds of cattle. The climate supports wildlife often more commonly associated with East Africa, such as leopards and hyenas. Also plants associated with Africa, such as the Baobab tree, are common. Salalah and its surroundings is one of the few ancient areas on the Arabian peninsula that have extensive coconut cultivation. In ancient times coir from the thick husk of the fruit of the local tall variety was used to stitch the planking of the traditional sewn boat of the Western Indian Ocean. Today, the immature fruit are mostly sold as tender coconut for drinking.

The beautiful beaches and coastline are also major attractions for scuba diving and bird watching.

Salalah is a city of antiquity, boasting both the ruins of the fortified town Sumharam (Khor Rori), an important port from 100 BC – AD 400. Modern Oman is also represented by the Port of Salalah, located approximately 15 km to the southwest of the city. The strategic location of this port has made it one of the major entry points to India, the Middle East, and Africa.

Sports in Salalah

Salalah has been known for homing some of the best football clubs in Oman. In total, Salalah has 4 sport clubs based in the city: Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nasr, and Dhofar.

Dhofar F.C. have been nicknamed as "Al-Zaeem", or "The Leaders", due to their enormous success in both the Omani League, and in the Sultan Qaboos Cup. Dhofar have also have an adequate amount of trophies in sports like volleyball, and handball. Al-Nasr have also been known for their great success in football, winning the Omani League 5 times, and the Sultan Qaboos Cup 4 times. Al-Nasr, like Dhofar, have also been successful in other sports such as hockey, basketball, volleyball, and handball.

Salalah currently has 2 stadiums, the Salalah Sports Complex (also known as the "Youth Sports Complex"), which is the only multi-purpose stadium in Salalah. The newer, Al-Saadah Stadium is the newly built stadium in Al-Saada district of Salalah devoted to football. Incorporated in the walls of the sports complex apart from the football stadium is a hockey field, tennis court, olympic swimming pool, and indoor volleyball/basketball court. Al-Saada Stadium is the venue where Saudi national football team, and the Omani national team first met in Salalah on August 12, 2009.

The most popular sport played among the youth is by far football. It is very normal to see a group of boys and young men from around the area playing in make-shift fields in parking lots, or in a large open area. Beach football is also a common site to see along the beach in the Al-Haffa district. Another popular sport in Salalah is volleyball. Although not as popular as football the game is frequently played.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salalah

Sohar city

Sohar is the most developed city in Sultanate of Oman outside the capital Muscat. It is about 200 kilometers north of Muscat and about 200 kilometers south of Dubai. Sohar was an ancient capital of Oman and many believe it to be the birthplace of Sinbad the Sailor. Having a rich sailing history, Sohar was traditionally a fishing town, but is more recently known as Oman's industrial hub due to the massive developments in the Sohar Industrial Port .

Industry:

Sohar is currently experiencing significant investment and economic shifts making it the focus of attention of many local and international investors and businessmen. This change is due to a series of investment projects and economic giant in Sohar industrial area where Sohar Port is. Located east of the Strait of Hormuz, Sohar Port was established in 2002 and it is operated by Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC). Sohar Port is considered a world class port. With current investments exceeding $12 billion, it is one of the world’s largest port development projects.

The Omani government has paid special attention to the city of Sohar, and placed it in the priorities of the future plan of the Omani economy in 2020. The goal of the Omani government is to make Sohar a business and industrial hub and help the Omani economy diversify away from oil. In order for the Omani economy to achieve this economic diversification, the Omani government is investing in a number of projects in the industrial area of Sohar. For example, it is investing more than 5 billion dollars in the steel industry in which Oman aims to be one of the Gulf Cooperation Council's leading producers. In addition to the steel industry, there is also the industry of aluminium in Sohar industrial area. Sohar Aluminium Company was established in 2004 and it is considered one of the leading projects that play a major role in the sultanate’s economic diversification strategy.

Education:

Sohar has three high educational institutes:

Sohar University - a private university in association with the University of Queensland. [2]
The College of Applied Sciences - a government owned college.[3]
Oman Medical College - a private university in association with West Virginia University School of Medicine

 

Parks:

Sohar has two main parks. The first is Sohar Park, which is located in Al Humbar. The second is the Silver Jubilee Park which is located in Sallan.

Shopping:

Sohar has a traditional Souk in the town center, and another traditional shopping market in Al Hujra near the Sohar Fort.

There are also a number of new modern shopping malls and hypermarkets, including Lulu, Safeer Mall, Safeer Hypermarket, Al Fair , and Centerpoint.

Hotels:

There are four hotels in Sohar:

Crowne Plaza Sohar - A 5-star business operated by the InterContinental Hotels Group hotel at the borders of the city near Al Buraimi. [5]
Sohar Beach Hotel - A beach resort in the heart of the city. [6]
Al Wadi Hotel - A mid-range hotel near Salan area.
The Green Oasis Hotel - a budget hotel near the Sohar Hospital and opposite the Oman Medical College on Al Muwaylah Road.
In addition to these hotels there are several touristic Hotel apartments around the city such as Butterfly Hotel Suites

Main Landmarks:

Sohar Gate
Bahjat Al Anthar (The Sultan's Palace in Sohar)
Sohar Fort
Bull Fighting Arena
Handcrafts Market
Fish Market

 

 

Oman

Oman is an Arab country in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates on the northwest, Saudi Arabia on the west and Yemen on the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam enclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman forming Mussandams coastal boundaries.
In November 2010, The United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) listed Oman as the most-improved nation in last 40 years from among 135 countries worldwide



Stone Age:
Wattayah, located in the governorate of Muscat, is the oldest known human settlement in the area and dates back to the Stone Age, making it around 5,000 years old.[citation needed] Archaeological remains have been discovered here from the Stone Age and the Bronze Age; findings have consisted of stone implements, animal bones, shells and fire hearths, with the latter dating back to 7615 BC as the oldest signs of human settlement in the area. Other discoveries include hand-moulded pottery bearing distinguishing pre-Bronze Age marks, heavy flint implements, pointed tools and scrapers.
On a mountain rock-face in the same district, animal drawings have been discovered. Similar drawings have also been found in the Wadi Sahtan and Wadi Bani Kharus areas of Rustaq, consisting of human figures carrying weapons and being confronted by wild animals. Siwan in Haima is another Stone Age location and some of the archaeological finds have included arrowheads, knives, chisels and circular stones which may have been used to throw at animals.




Oman before Islam:
Sumerian tablets refer to a country called Majan, a name believed to refer to Oman's ancient copper mines. Mazoon, another name used for the region, is derived from the word muzn, which means heavy clouds which carry abundant water. The present-day name of the country, Oman, is believed to originate from the Arab tribes who migrated to its territory from the Uman region of Yemen; many tribes settled in Oman making a living by fishing, herding or stock breeding and many present day Omani families are able to trace their ancestral roots to other parts of Arabia.
From the 6th century BC to the arrival of Islam in the 7th century AD, Oman was controlled and/or influenced by three Persian dynasties, the Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids. Achaemenids in the 6th century BC controlled and influenced the Oman peninsula, most likely exerted from a coastal center such as Sohar. By about 250 BC the Parthian dynasty brought the Persian Gulf under their control and extended their influence as far as Oman, establishing garrisons in Oman because they needed to control the Persian Gulf trade route. In the 3rd century AD the Sasanids succeeded the Parthians and held the area until the rise of Islam four centuries later



The arrival of Islam:
The Omanis were among the first people to embrace Islam.[8] The conversion of the Omanis is usually ascribed to Amr ibn al-As, who was sent by the prophet Muhammad around 630 AD to invite Jayfar and 'Abd, the joint rulers of Oman at that time, to accept the faith, in which he eventually succeeded. In accepting Islam, Oman became an Ibadhi state, ruled by an elected leader, the Imam. During the early years of the Islamic mission Oman played a major role in the Wars of Apostasy that occurred after the death of Muhammad and also took part in the great Islamic conquests by land and sea in Iraq, Persia and beyond. Oman's most prominent role in this respect was through the extensive trading and seafaring activities in East Africa and the Far East, particularly during the 19th century, when it propagated Islam to many of East Africa's coastal regions, certain areas of Central Africa, India, Southeast Asia and China. Since conversion to Islam Oman has been ruled by Umayyads between 661–750, Abbasids between 750–931, 932–933 and 934–967, Qarmatians between 931–932 and between 933–934, Buyids between 967–1053, Seljuks of Kirman between 1053–1154

Oman and Gwadar:
In 1783, Oman's Saiad Sultan, defeated ruler of Muscat, was granted sovereignty over Gwadar.[note 1][9] He was to continue this sovereignty via an appointed wali (or "governor"), after regaining control of Muscat and maintained close relations with the Emirs of Sindh. The Sultans of Muscat retained sovereignty over Gwadar until the 1950s. In 1955 Makran acceded to Pakistan and was made a district – although Gwadar, at the time, was not included in Makran. In 1958, Gwadar and its surrounding areas were returned by Muscat to Pakistan, and were given the status of Tahsil of Makran district.



Oman and East African Empire:
In the 1690s Saif bin Sultan, the imam of Oman, pressed down the East African coast. A major obstacle was Fort Jesus, housing the garrison of a Portuguese settlement at Mombasa. After a two-year siege, it fell to Saif in 1698. Thereafter the Omanis easily ejected the Portuguese from Zanzibar and from all other coastal regions north of Mozambique. Zanzibar was a valuable property as the main slave market of the east African coast, and became an increasingly important part of the Omani empire, a fact reflected by the decision of the greatest 19th century sultan of Oman, Sa'id ibn Sultan, to make it from 1837 his main place of residence. Sa'id built impressive palaces and gardens in Zanzibar. Rivalry between his two sons was resolved, with the help of forceful British diplomacy, when one of them, Majid, succeeded to Zanzibar and to the many regions claimed by the family on the East African coast. The other, Thuwaini, inherited Muscat and Oman.


Climate:
Annual rainfall in Muscat averages 100 mm (3.9 in), falling mostly in January. Dhofar is subject to the southwest monsoon, and rainfall up to 640 mm (25.2 in) has been recorded in the rainy season from late June to October.[citation needed] While the mountain areas receive more plentiful rainfall, some parts of the coast, particularly near the island of Masirah, sometimes receive no rain at all within the course of a year. The climate generally is very hot, with temperatures reaching 54 °C (129.2 °F) in the hot season, from May to September



Environment:
Drought and limited rainfall contribute to shortages in the nation's water supply, so maintaining an adequate supply of water for agricultural and domestic use is one of Oman's most pressing environmental problems, with limited renewable water resources; 94% of available water is used in farming and 2% for industrial activity, with the majority sourced from fossil water in the desert areas and spring water in hills and mountains. Drinking water is available throughout the country, either piped or delivered.
The soil in coastal plains, such as Salalah, have shown increased levels of salinity, due to over exploitation of ground water and encroachment by seawater in the water table. Pollution of beaches and other coastal areas by oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman is also a persistent risk.




Economy:
Oman's Basic Statute of the State expresses in Article 11 that, "The National Economy is based on justice and the principles of a free economy."
Omani citizens enjoy good living standards, but the future is uncertain with Oman's limited oil reserves.[18] Other sources of income, agriculture and industry, are small in comparison and count for less than 1% of the country's exports, but diversification is seen as a priority in the government of Oman. Agriculture, often subsistence in its character, produces dates, limes, grains and vegetables, but with less than 1% of the country under cultivation Oman is likely to remain a net importer of food.
Since the slump in oil prices in 1998, Oman has made active plans to diversify its economy and is placing a greater emphasis on other areas of industry, such as tourism.





soruce :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman