Oman’s maritime history is woven throughout Muscat. Everywhere you look in the capital, from its roundabouts to the Royal Opera House, there are photos, paintings and murals depicting the country’s seafaring heritage.
It’s hardly surprising when you consider that the Sultanate anchors the Arabian Peninsula to the Indian Ocean, its 1,700km of rugged coastline extending from the border of Yemen to the rocky enclave of Musandam in the north. And this is the home of Sinbad, after all.
Twenty years ago, Dubai’s rising sun was all but eclipsing Oman’s ambitions as a tourist destination. Thanks largely to Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Muscat retained its identity and avoided the kind of untethered development that saw its glitzy neighbour swamped by shopping malls and offshore projects.
The capital relied on a handful of…
You're reading a preview of
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 2019