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Sultanate of Oman

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Regions & Governorates

Muscat || Dhofar || Musandam || Al Buraimi || Al Batinah ||The Dakhiliyah || Al Sharqiyah || The Dhahirah || Al Wusta

The Dhahirah Region

It is a semi desert plain which slopes from the southern fool of Al Hajr AI Gharbi Mountains towards the Empty Quarter. It is separated from A’Dakhliyah Region by AI Kur Mountain to the East; it joins the Empty Quarter from the West and Al Wusta Region from the south. A’Dhahirah Region consists of three wilayats: Ibri,Yanqul and Dhank. Ibri town is one of the regional centers located some 279 kilometers one of from the capital Muscat. Wilayat Ibri is distinguished for its unique location which joins the Sultanate with other areas in the Arabian Peninsula. Furthermore, it was a crossing for the commercial convoys since long. It has a lot of historical places such as forts, fortresses among which are Al Salayf Fort, Ayn Al Hadith and Ayn Al Janah.

Tourist Attractions:

Wilayat Ibri

     Ibri's northern neighbours are the wilayats of Saham and Rustaq in the Batinah Region, while the wilayats of Yanqul, Dhank and Buraimi lie to the north-west. To the south are the Wilayats of Adam, in the Dakhiliyah Region, and Haima, in the Wusta Region. Saudi Arabia, the Empty Quarter and the United Arab Emirates lie to the west.

       In the past trading caravans used to pass through it, as did several major land routes linking the Sultanate with the other Gulf States. It may have acquired its name - Ibri - from the Arabic root "a-b-r", which conveys the connotation of "crossing" or "traversing".

      Ibri today is known for its oil and gas fields - which provide one of the country's main sources of income. The Wilayat of Ibri is also well-known for its ancient sites, including forts and towers as well as the ruinsa Bat - the second Omani site to be listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site after Bahla Fort in the Dakhiliyah Region.

      Bat lies in the eastern part of the Wilayat of IV Bat's historical importance lies in its location at the crossroads of the old trade routes, along which caravan passed laden with merchandise destined for otha regions. It was here that a Danish archaeological tear - in co-operation with he Ministry of National Heritage and Culture's Department of Antiquities – carried out a survey in 1976 and discovered a number of tomb about two kilometres to the north of the present-0 village. The southern area of the site contains tombso the "beehve" type, which is well-known in the region.

      Another area was found to contain a hundred stone tombs, which showed signs of being more advanced than the 'beehive tombs', but less so than the Umm Al Nar tombs. The 'beehive tombs' contain between two and five graves, while the later type - twenty of which were found - are communal graves. In both types of tombs pieces of red pottery were found similar to the "Jumdat Nasr" pottery in Iraq. Other discoveries included high-grade red pottery decorated with black lines and items that appear to be 'framed' and designed to be hung. Objects of this type were common in the settlements and tombs of the Umm Al Nar civilization in the region and neighboring areas.

      Another discovery in Bat was a round structure surrounded by a wall of square-cut rocks. A "mint" was found on the south-eastern side of its entrance. The archaeologists also discovered a well that divided the building into two halves. Each half contained a row of rectangular rooms without entrances or connecting passages or connections with the outer wall. This suggested that the rooms were not designed for living accommodation. After exhaustive archaeological study it was decided that these structures - the six rooms - performed the function of watch-towers for the area.

      Inside the fort there is a large Friday Mosque. The fort also has two wells, a stable and two towers. One of these overlooks the old souk, which lies to the north, while the other has a view to the south. Ibri Fort has a square keep and a massive outer wall.

      Jabal Al Shahshah Fort was the real town centre inancient times. The traces of a mud-brick well have been discovered beneath its ruins.

      Al Aswad Fort's history dates from the year 972 of the Hegirah. It is a tall, formidable building with four towers - Burj Al Rih, Burg Al Muraqabah, al Sabah and Burg Sulaiman.
One of the most important towers in the Wilayat is Burj al Shari'ah - a sentry tower.
The citadel of al Sulaif was built by Imam Sultan bin Saif Al Yarubi. It consists of a number of buildings, including houses and a mosque, and has an outer wall with several high towers. It also has a well and a falaj flows beneath it.

      Other tourist attractions in the Wilayat of Ibri include a number of springs and falajes. In the village of Muqniyat lies al Haidith spring and, surrounded by date and mango groves, al Jinah spring. Falajes include Falaj al Mafjoor in Ibri, as well as the falajes of al Mab'ooth, al Iraqi, al Ainayn, al Dareez and al Qurwan.

      Another tourist landmark is the village of Dhamm in Wadi al Ain, which is a popular picnic site with Omanis and residents, particularly in rainy weather, when the rains cascade down in waterfalls from Jabal Al Kawr and al Jabal al Akhdar. Al Dareez Fort - a major defensive fort - has two towers and several gates.

     Other places of interest including Al Ghabbi Fob another ancient building with several towers - al Ainay Fort, al Sulaimi Fort and Bait al Sarooj. Bait al Sarooj is an old house, not a fort. The Wilayat of Ibri has numerous traditional arts, crafts and occupations. The main occupations are pasturing, stock-rearing, weaving and agriculture. The area's major crops include fruit (particularly dates and citrus fruits), wheat, vegetables and animal fodders.

Wilayat Yanqul

      Situated between the sea and the mountains south west of Muttrah, its population is 149,506 persons spread over its 43 towns and villages. The most noteworthy of these are: Al Khoweir, Sultan Qaboos City, Al Ghubra, Al Adheeba, Ghala, Al Aa'lam (Information City), Al Sarooj, Bowshar Al Qadima (Old Bowshar) Bowshar Bani Umran, Al Ansab Sanab, Al Hamam, Al Awabi and Al Misfah.

      Its archaeological remains and the ancient narratives suggest a history going back to the second millennium BC. It is also said –and it is likely to be true – that the name Bowshar is derived from the unrest witnessed by this district in the past, causing it to be called Abu Sharr (the Iniquitous One); until, when matters settled it was shortened to Bowshar.

      The Beit Al Kebir (Great House) is amongst its most significant monumental remains. This monument of many names is also known as Beit Al Sayeda Thoraya. Whatever its title it stands as a splendid historical testament, with its unique engravings and feats of design. It is composed of several lobbies and colonnaded galleries and is three storeys high.

      Also here are the stronghold and citadel of Al Fatah and the towers: Al Hammam, Sanb, Harat Al Awraa and the tower and Rawla and Sabla of Falaj Al Sham; the Al Sayed Barghash Wall, the two Bouqa of Al Ansab and Al Hammam, the old stone the old suq of Bowshar and Al Khab
Foremost among the old mosques are the Al Najar Mosque in the Bowshar Bani Umran Municipality which was erected in the thirteenth century AH, and the nearby Al Aweina Mosque, as well as the Sanb Mosque and 56 other lesser mosques scattered throughout the Wilayat.

Wilayat Dhank

      Dhank lies at the centre of the Dhahirah region. Its neighbours are the Wilayats of Buraimi to the north and west, Ibri to the south and west, and Yanqul to the east.

      The wilayat has a distinguished history. It has 16.622 inhabitants and 48 villages. The imams of earlier times took an interest in Dhank, as can be seen today in Falaj al Bazili in the west of the Wilayat and the "Imam's Fort" in its central area. Falaj al Bazili was constructed by Imam Saif bin Sultan AI Yarubi, who cultivated extensive areas around it, while the "Imam's Fort" was renovated by Imam Azzan bin Qais. Ibn al Rumtha built Al Oud Fort in Safalat al Wahshi. Other forts in the Wilayat include al Shiraya', al Subaikha, al Marqu', al 'Aqr, Doot, al Jafrah, Balat, al Khilli and al Fath. There are also six towers: al Saghar, al Taff, al Ghafah, al Khilli, Abu Kariyah and al Qala'ah.
Wadi Dhank is one of the Wilayat's main tourist sites. Other popular spots are Wadi al Fath and Wadi Qumaira.

      The Wilayat is well endowed with falajes underground water resources and springs. Its falajes include al Sadd, al Sima, al Muhaidith, al Taff, Salalah, Qumaira, al Rahbah, Balat, al Fath, al Janbi, al Khilli and Khamat. Its two springs are al Musaifiya and Bani Saa'idah.

Traditional Occupations:

Wilayat Ibri

Traditional handicrafts include cloaks, decorated saddle-bags, palm-weave items, leather work, pottery, wicker-work, traditional building materials and Omani halwa.

Willayat Yanqul

      Agriculture is the principal livelihood of the inhabitants of the villages of Bowshar, utilizing the waters of the aflaj which descend from the foot of the mountains to irrigate the scattered farms on the plain. This district has some 43 aflaj, most of them tarrying warm water.

      It has dozens of varieties of dates, these being he most significant crop of the district, along with citrus fruits, in particular lemons, seasonal crops and fodder.

      Fishing and herding are also major livelihoods sere, and traditional crafts practised include silver and gold jewellery and basket weaving.

Willayat Dhank

The Wilayat's traditional occupations include carpentry, blacksmithing, farming and stock-rearing. The main crops are fruit, mainly dates, as well as indigo, vegetables, and animal fodders.
Local crafts include wickerwork, palm-weave productions, traditional Omani building materials and indigo.