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Ash-Sharqiah
Region
Overview
The surface features of AL Sharqiyah
region vary in nature, and are made
up of sandy plains and Wadis flowing
from the inner side of the eastern
Hajr mountains chain which, runs
for 200 Kms. from the peripheral
zone of the Wilayat of Sumail in
the interior to Jabal Khamis in
the east.
The Region has the longest coastline
in Oman that extends from Qurayyat
on the south of the Governorate
of Muscat on the gulf of Oman to
the Wusta region on the Arabian
Sea passing through the easternmost
part of the Arabian peninsula before
it diverts to the south in the renowned
area known as Ras Al Had.
Al Sharqiyah Region offers visitors
a series of excursions into a rich
and diverse past. Historical and
cultural attractions are found across
the region, most notably the tombs
of Al Gielah and AL Munzafah, the
town of Qalaht plus a varied set
of castles, forts and towers. It
also has lots of natural features
including the Sharqyiah sands, Wadi
Shab, Wadi Tiwi, Wadi Dayqah and
Wadi Beni Khalid.The region accounts
for 13.2% of the total population
of the country and comprises 11
Wilayat, namely: Sur , Ibra, Bidiyah,
AI Qabil, Al Mudhaybi, Dima Wa At
Taiyyin, Al Kamil Wa Al Wafi, Jaalan
Bani Bu Ali, Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan,
Wadi Bani Khalid and Masirah.
Biddiyah
The Wilayat of Bidiyah comprises
15 towns and villages. A great portion
of pleasures can be derived from
the mere beauties of nature in Bidiyah
on the edge of the Al Sharqiyah
sands. With dunes more than fifty
meters high overlooking various
oases, Bidiyah provides a unique
setting for discovering the desert.
Walking in the sand and sightseeing
in the desert require stamina, but
can be an enjoyable experience specially
for children. Visiting the area
in a four wheel drive vehicle can
add more falvour to the trip.
The Wilayat is famous for organizing
Arabian horse and camel racing events
usually held at the weekends. It
incorporates AI-Mintrib castle and
the Wasil fort which is surrounded
by four watchtowers and three castles
: Al Shariq, Al Hoyah and Al Ghabi.
Dima W’Al-Tayeen
The Wilayat of Dima and Taaiyin
comprises 51 villages and several
historical places including forts,
towers and old mosques. The forts
are found in Al Hamaam, Khabah and
Al Husun. There are also 87 towers
scattered in various parts of the
Wilayat.
A falaj and caves in the Wilayat
of Dima and Taaiyin provide outstanding
tourist attractions, including Wadi
Daiqah, Wadi Dima and the magnificent
Wadi Tayeen which extends 80 Kms
on the foot of Al Hajr AL Sharqi
mountains over gravel plains rich
in acacia trees. After a 17 Km stretch
there are ruins of an old tower
at the first part of the inhabited
area with thick palm plantations
and some ruins of an ancient fort.
Sur
Sur is an ancient port and seafaring
town located on the east coast of
Oman 327 Km from Muscat at the easternmost
point of the Arabian peninsula,
thus the sun rises here first in
the Arab world. The harbour of Sur,
one of the oldest in the world,
played a major part in the formation
of cultural and commercial ties
between Oman, East Africa, and India.
Sur has always been famous for shipbuilding
of trans-ocean vessels like al baghala
and al ghanja.
It boasts several historical sites,
notably the forts of Bilad Sur,
.AL Senaislah and Ras Al Had, in
addition to spectacular natural
features including 102 aflaj, springs,
Wadis such as Wadi Shab and Wadi
Tiwi. Of particular touristic interest
is the Niyabat of Ras Al Had, where
the Turtle Sanctuary is the most
significant nesting ground in the
Indian Ocean for green turtles,
as well as the stunning Ras ALjinz
beach. Sur has the first port in
Oman for exporting LNG and fertilizers.
Wadi Bani Khalid
It is 203 Km away from Muscat. A
road that branches from the main
Muscat-Sur road leads to Wadi Bani
Khalid, then to the higher Eastern
Hajar mountain before it reaches
Budhah village in the heart of the
mountains with sudden, swift vista
of peaks and valley, running water
and greenery.
Scrambling up the Wadi bed is a
plateau flanked by the mountains
where water cascading down the gorgerin
waterfalls forming a turquoise green,
good for swimming, pool on the way
to Moqel village and its famous
cave which, one will have to crawl
and creep to explore the cave, so
discretion is advised.
It boasts a number of historical
sites, including Husn AI Muwalik
in the village of Al 'Awina, which
dates back to the 4th century A.H.,
the biggest fort in the Wilayat
and in the past was the base of
the Wali and the Judge, and also
the fort of Al 'Adafin in the village
of Qaswah, and the fort of Al Raziqiyeen
in the village of Al Husun.
Al Qabel
Al Qabil is surrounded by the Wilayat
of Ibra in the north, the Wilayat
of Badiya in the south, the Wilayat
of Dima and Al Taaiyin in the north
east, the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid
in the south east and the Wilayat
of Al Mudaibi in the west. It encompasses
about 21 villages and 69 heritage
sites, most eminent of which are
the two forts of Al Qabil and Al
Mudirab.
The Wilayat has about 50 Falaj including
the widely known aflaj of: Al Mudirab,
Al Qabil, Al Direez and Al Nabaa.
It is also famous for a number of
villages which are located between
the high, golden sand dunes. The
most important of these villages
are Al Sakaa, Al 'Aqida, Al Kharis
and Al Jufaa. There are also a number
of springs in the Wilayat, most
notably, 'Ain Marzuk, famous for
its mineral water, 'Ain Wadi Barka
and 'Ain Al Washal.
The Afalaj, springs and villages
located on the desert among several
sand dunes as well as Beit Al Turath
(The heritage home) at the village
of AL mudhireb and the relics of
Kabib in the village of Shanah at
Wadi Nam district make notable tourist
attractions.
The people of the Wilayat engage
in the practice of a number of vocations
including traditional manual industries
and handicrafts, but farming remains
the mainstay of most people in the
Wilayat. The most important produce
include: dates, seasonal crops and
citrus. Spinning, weaving, knitting,
palm fond and metal workings are
also widely practiced. Bildat Al
Mongara'd, in Wadi Naam, is particularly
famous for the work of silversmith
such as Khanjar and ornaments, pottery,
Halwa preparation and making gypsum
products.
Al Kamel Wa Al-Wafi
The Wilayat is located approximately
… Km away from Muscat on the way
to Sur. It comprises 40 villages
and around 80 castles. It is also
home to famous mosques, distinctly
Al Jam'aa Mosque, in the village
of Al Waafi, and Al Sharia’h Mosque
in Al Kamil, in addition to the
mosques in the village of Saiq.
Al Kamil and Al Waafi encompasse
a picturesque landscape with running
waters, Wadis, sand dunes and mountains
that constitute important tourism
attraction.
Al Mudheibi
Al Mudhabi is the largest Wilayat
in AL Sharqiya region and is about
80Km from Ibra. It comprises about
80 villages and several historical
sites such as the castle of Al Jawabir
in the town of Al Rawdha, the two
forts Kabeeb and Khazam in Samad
Al Shaan, the fort of Al 'Aqir in
the town of Al Akhdar.
It also has a number of tourist
attractions including , natural
springs, falaj, caves and modern
parks in addition to the renowned
Mudhaybi wall and Wadi Andam.
Ibra
Ibra is the gateway to Sharqiya
region and lies 147 Km from Muscat
on the main Muscat-Sur road.
It has 70 towns and villages and
a number of historical sites including
Al Dhahir castle, five forts and
Al 'Aqaba Mosque with its mihrab
looking towards Jerusalem. Perhaps
the most prominent historical site
in the Wilayat is Al Manzafah village
in the southern part of Ibra. The
village still maintains its old
identity and stands as a witness
to a glorious past with its fancy
decorations, embossed ornamentations
and edifices built of Omani gypsum
and traditional Omani cement.
The Wilayat is endowed with a host
of tourism attractions, including
springs, Aflaj and caves. Of particular
touristic interest are the fresh
water springs of Abu Saleh, Al Dhayan
and Shbehat. The salt spring of
Ain Al Maleeh is renowned for its
pharmaceutical properties in curing
skin diseases. Other attractions
comprise cave Rajeeb and the scenic
spots in Faj Magazah in Al Haimah,
Al Hadmah in Al Yahmadi and Qasiba
to the south of Qafifah.
Jaalan Bani Bou Ali
The Wilayat comprises 137 villages
and clusters of settlements along
a coastal line that stretches 170
Kms from Al Dafah in the north to
Ras Al Ruwais in the south. With
the cool breeze blowing inward from
the Arabian sea and the Indian Ocean
bringing clouds and drizzle, the
weather is fine almost all the year
around. The Al Kawus winds blowing
in from the sea, particularly, towards
the beachfront town of Al Ashkhara
is in itself a touristic attraction.
Other tourism attractions include
lushly green Wadis such as: Wadi
Saal, Wadi Al Rawidha, Wadi Abu
Fashigha, Wadi Al Labida and Wadi
Jarif. Moreover, there are several
monuments including forts, castles,
towers and vintage mosques. Al Hamoodah
fort and Al Hamoodah mosque, both
built in the 11th century, are the
most prominent landmarks in the
Wilayat in addition to the most
eye-catching fort built about 260
years ago in Al Badi'ya and named
."Husn Al Badi'ya”.
Jaalan Bani Bou Hassan
The Wilayat encompasses 160 villages
and several historical sites, prominently
the castle of Awlaad Murshid, the
castle of Faleej, the fort of Al
Mahiyul which, was once the seat
of rule and of course the fort of
Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan with its four
towers, the most obtrusive monument
in the Wilayat. The Wilayat also
incorporates 40 ancient mosques
and 60 towers .
Other attractions in the Wilayat
include Afalj, caves and some fifteen
springs.
Masirah
The serenity and the beauty of the
sandy shores of Masirah, where sea
turtles can be viewed breeding in
their natural habitat, are in themselves
irresistible attractions to any
visitor. There are also a number
of natural springs, notably : Al
Qatara and other springs near Jabal
Al Hulm in the south of the Wilayat.
The island has no Afalaj, but there
are a number of ancient forts, mainly
Marsis and Dafiyat forts, in addition
to an old cemetery believed to date
back to 3000 B.C.
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