The Governorate of Muscat lies on the Gulf of Oman at the southern end of the One of many parks in

Batinah coast. It borders on the Eastern Hajar mountains and the Sharqiyah region Muscat Governorate
to the east, the Batinah region to the west and the Dakhiliyah region to the south.
With a population of 632,073, according to the latest available census figures,
Muscat governorate comprises six wilayats – Muscat, Mutrah, Bausher, Seeb, al
Amerat and Quriyat. Each wilayat is administered by a wali appointed by the
Governor of Muscat. The governorate is responsible for providing essential public
services within its administrative borders.
The governorate’s affairs are administered by the Minister of State and
Governor of Muscat, appointed by His Majesty the Sultan.

The Governorate of Dhofar

The Governorate of Dhofar in the south of the country continues to play an
important role in Omani history –as it did in ancient times.
As well as being the Arabian Peninsula’s ‘Land of Frankincense’, Dhofar was
also Oman’s gateway to the Indian Ocean and the crossroads of southern Arabia’s
caravan routes.
Salalah, the Dhofar region’s main city, is around 1,000 kms from Muscat. It
borders the Wusta region to the north-east, the Arabian Sea to the south-east and
south, the Republic of Yemen to the west and south-west and the desert known as
the Empty Quarter, to the north and north-west.
Dhofar, with a population of 215,690 according to the 2003 census figures,
had ten wilayats – Salalah, Thumrait, Taqah, Mirbat, Sadah, Rakhyut, Dhalkut,
Muqshin, Shaleem and the Hallaniyat Islands. Since then, Royal Decree No.
13/2006 accorded wilayat status to al Mazyounah, previously a niyabat (sub-

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The unspoilt coast at wilayat), on 6/3/2006.
Bandar Nuss, near A variety of development projects have provided populated settlements in
Hasik, Dhofar Dhofar’s urban, mountain and desert areas with all essential services including
local development centres.
Modern utilities are up and running at the al Mazyounah border, along with
a free trade zone, and a modern highway now runs between al Mazyounah and
Ghaidha, linking Oman with the Republic of Yemen.
Port Salalah is a major economic enterprise with a range of amenities
including a free trade zone. There are also a number of tourist development
projects underway to accommodate the ever increasing number of annual visitors
to this lush and temperate region.
The governorate’s affairs are administered by the Minister of State and
Governor of Dhofar, appointed by Sultan Qaboos.

The Governorate of Musandam

The Governorate of Musandam is of immense strategic importance because of
its position overlooking the Strait of Hormuz – the most important international
shipping lane for oil exports and trade between the Gulf region and the outside
world. Some 90% of all the Gulf’s oil is exported through the Strait, which also
forms the eastern gateway for trade and shipping to and from the Gulf littoral
states.
Musandam governorate lies at the extreme northern end of the country, where
the Strait of Hormuz links the region with the open seas of the Gulf of Oman

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Wadi Dham known and the Indian Ocean. It has four wilayats: Khasab, Bukha, Daba al Bay’ah and
for its unusual rock Madha. Its population is recorded as 28,378.
formations and huge Musandam has seen numerous development projects under the Renaissance,
boulders, near Ibri particularly in the fields of health, education, water, electricity, roads, sewerage
and ports. Ongoing economic and investment projects to establish and develop an
industrial zone will make use of locally available resources, not least manpower.

The Governorate of Buraimi

Royal Decree No.108/2006, issued on 15/10/2006, established the Governorate
of Buraimi and awarded it priority status in the Seventh Five-year Plan (2006-
2010), granting approval for a number of new road, electricity and other service
projects, as well as plans to develop an industrial estate.
Historically, the area of Buraimi occupied a vital strategic and trading location
in the north-west of Oman. Because of an abundant supply of water from wadis
Khasab lies in a natural and aflaj (irrigation channels), it became an important station on a major trade
harbour at the foot of route, as well as a significant producer of wheat, dates and other fruit.
Wadi Khasab
There are the remains of castles in the governorate, as well as numerous forts,
including those of al Khandaq, al Hillah, Bait al Nadd and al Khabib.
Buraimi has three wilayats – Buraimi, Madha and al Sinainah. Al Sinainah,
previously a niyabat (sub-wilayat), became a wilayat under Royal Decree No.
107/2006, issued on 15/10/2006. According to the 2003 census the governorate
has a population of 76,838.
A traditional date
auction takes place in a The Batinah region
Batinah souq The Batinah region – a strip of land between the sea and the mountains is also

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 known as the Batinah Coast. It is the region with the largest number of wilayats
– 12 - and occupies an important geographical and commercial location along the
southern shore of the Gulf of Oman.
The Batinah has for centuries been a major sea trade and transport link between
Oman and other countries of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Its extensive economic
resources include the country’s largest agricultural plain – the Batinah Plain – as
well as numerous mineral deposits, currently being commercially exploited as the
basis for a number of major heavy industry projects.
Port Sohar, which is now nearing completion, is one of Oman’s mega-projects
on which the concept of de-centralised development hinges. The port is part of the
Sohar Industrial Estate, easily as big as a town, that has attracted a large number of
heavy industrial and manufacturing enterprises such as fertilisers, petrochemicals
and aluminium. The area, already well served by an efficient road and highway
network will receive a further boost with the opening of a new airport being
planned to serve the area.
With a total population of 653,505, according to 2003 census figures, the
Batinah region has the largest population concentrations in Oman. With its 12
wilayats - Sohar, Rustaq, Shinas, Saham, Liwa, al Khabourah, al Suwaiq, Nakhal,
Wadi al Ma’awil, al Awabi, al Musana’ah and Barka - it extends along the coast
of the Gulf of Oman from Khatmat Malahah in the north, to the wilayat of Barka
Nizwa Fort, built in in the south, enclosed between the Gulf of Oman to the east and the slopes of the
1668, opened up new
Western Hajar mountains to the west.
attractions for the
visitor in January 2008
Numerous road, communications, urban development and other service projects
have been implemented in the region, with particular attention being paid to town
planning and the development of public parks and tourist sites; these include two
of the Sultanate’s most famous natural hot springs at Ain al Kasfah in Rustaq and
Ain al Thuwwarah in the wilayat of Nakhl.

The Dhahirah region

The Dhahirah is rich in history, agricultural resources and tourist potential.
It consists of a semi-desert plain that slopes southwards from the Western Hajar
mountains towards the Empty Quarter desert, which borders its western side. The
mountain of Jabal Kawr marks its eastern boundary with the Dakhiliyah region,
while the Wusta region lies to the south.
The Dhahirah region has three wilayats - Ibri, Yanqul and Dhank – and, at
the 2003 census, a population of 130,177. Its most distinctive features are its
agricultural production and its location on the crossroads of the old Arabian
caravan routes.
It also boasts numerous oil and gas fields and has benefited from a generous
share of Oman’s development projects.

The Dakhiliyah region

With its rich history, cultural heritage, location and topographical features, the
Dakhiliyah is the Sultanate’s strategic hinterland. It comprises the large upland
area in the centre of Oman, including the Jabal al Akhdhar mountain range, the
foot of which slopes gradually southwards towards the desert.
The Dakhiliyah region forms a pivotal communications link with the other
Occasionally the Jabal
al Akdhar, at 3,000
regions. To the east it borders on Sharqiyah region, to the west the Dhahirah, to
metres, sees a fall of the south the Wusta region and to the north the Governorate of Muscat and the
snow Batinah region.
The Dakhiliyah is one of the Sultanate’s foremost agricultural regions. It has

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