Images of Oman in southern Arabia. Hover over a picture to see its caption and click on it to enlarge it.
Old Muscat
The Al Alam Palace was built in 1972 as the official Muscat residence of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. It is one of half a dozen palaces used by the Sultan, who has presided over Omani affairs for over four decades (photo © hidden europe).
Old Muscat
The Al Alam Palace was built in 1972 as the official Muscat residence of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. It is one of half a dozen palaces used by the Sultan, who has presided over Omani affairs for over four decades (photo © hidden europe).
Haramil
Even within the Muscat metropolitan region, it is possible to catch the flavour of old Arabia. The village of Haramil is just over the hill from the Sultan’s palace in Muscat (photo © hidden europe).
Haramil
Even within the Muscat metropolitan region, it is possible to catch the flavour of old Arabia. The village of Haramil is just over the hill from the Sultan’s palace in Muscat (photo © hidden europe).
Haramil
A novel approach to rubbish recycling in a fishing village just five minute’s drive from the heart of Old Muscat (photo © hidden europe).
Haramil
A novel approach to rubbish recycling in a fishing village just five minute’s drive from the heart of Old Muscat (photo © hidden europe).
Grand Mosque
One of just a handful of mosques in the Arabian Peninsula that allows non-Muslims to enter, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque at Azaiba was completed in 2001 (photo © hidden europe).
Grand Mosque
One of just a handful of mosques in the Arabian Peninsula that allows non-Muslims to enter, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque at Azaiba was completed in 2001 (photo © hidden europe).
Grand Mosque
Restrained elegance at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque at Azaiba (photo © hidden europe).
Grand Mosque
Restrained elegance at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque at Azaiba (photo © hidden europe).
Muttrah
Fish and Muttrah go together, nicely symbolised by the fish sculpture in the middle of a roundabout in Muttrah, a lively port just five kilometres west of Old Muscat (photo © hidden europe).
Muttrah
Fish and Muttrah go together, nicely symbolised by the fish sculpture in the middle of a roundabout in Muttrah, a lively port just five kilometres west of Old Muscat (photo © hidden europe).
Al Ghubrah
Omanis have traded encampments in the deserts and mountains for suburban comforts. I wandered the streets of a typical community in the Greater Muscat area and found an extraordinarily eclectic mix of architectural styles (photo © hidden europe).
Al Ghubrah
Omanis have traded encampments in the deserts and mountains for suburban comforts. I wandered the streets of a typical community in the Greater Muscat area and found an extraordinarily eclectic mix of architectural styles (photo © hidden europe).
Fins
Locals congregate on the beach at Fins in the Sharquiya region of Oman. The attraction is a fishing boat that has just returned with the day’s catch. Each fish is auctioned one-by-one (photo © hidden europe).
Fins
Locals congregate on the beach at Fins in the Sharquiya region of Oman. The attraction is a fishing boat that has just returned with the day’s catch. Each fish is auctioned one-by-one (photo © hidden europe).
Qanaha
Surely one of the remotest communities in Oman, Qanaha is home to just six families. It is located on the Musandam peninsula, an Omani exclave that juts north into the Strait of Hormuz (photo © hidden europe).
Qanaha
Surely one of the remotest communities in Oman, Qanaha is home to just six families. It is located on the Musandam peninsula, an Omani exclave that juts north into the Strait of Hormuz (photo © hidden europe).
Khasab
Headland northwest of Khasab in the Musandam peninsula. Amazing that anything grows at all in this arid and barren terrain (photo © hidden europe).
Khasab
Headland northwest of Khasab in the Musandam peninsula. Amazing that anything grows at all in this arid and barren terrain (photo © hidden europe).
Khasab
The fortress at Khasab is a legacy of the days when the Portuguese controlled sea traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. There is a similar fortress, also built by the Portuguese, on the other side of the Strait on the Iranian island of Qeshm (photo © hidden europe).
Khasab
The fortress at Khasab is a legacy of the days when the Portuguese controlled sea traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. There is a similar fortress, also built by the Portuguese, on the other side of the Strait on the Iranian island of Qeshm (photo © hidden europe).
Near Jebel al Akhdar
Cast back 50 years, and the camel was a mainstay of life in the interior of Oman. Today, owning camels is still a status symbol, though one probably no more highly regarded than a good sports car (photo © hidden europe).
Near Jebel al Akhdar
Cast back 50 years, and the camel was a mainstay of life in the interior of Oman. Today, owning camels is still a status symbol, though one probably no more highly regarded than a good sports car (photo © hidden europe).
Near Bahla
A Sufi graveyard in wild terrain on the road that runs west towards Ibri. Three abandoned mosques preside over the cemetery (photo © hidden europe).
Near Bahla
A Sufi graveyard in wild terrain on the road that runs west towards Ibri. Three abandoned mosques preside over the cemetery (photo © hidden europe).
Near Bahla
A long abandoned mosque northeast of Bahla. The area has many associations with the jinn, the supernatural creatures that according to the Qur’an are blessed with magical talents (photo © hidden europe).
Near Bahla
A long abandoned mosque northeast of Bahla. The area has many associations with the jinn, the supernatural creatures that according to the Qur’an are blessed with magical talents (photo © hidden europe).
Falaj Daris
Settlement in the dry interior of Oman was made feasible by Arab prowess in managing water resources. This falaj, still in perfect working order, provides fresh water to the city of Nizwa, a few kilometres further down the wadi (photo © hidden europe).
Falaj Daris
Settlement in the dry interior of Oman was made feasible by Arab prowess in managing water resources. This falaj, still in perfect working order, provides fresh water to the city of Nizwa, a few kilometres further down the wadi (photo © hidden europe).