The selection of Sur, Oman as the capital of Arab tourism for 2024 marks a significant honor, signifying the city’s rich maritime, breathtaking landscapes, and eco-tourism attractions. This distinguished recognition was conferred during the 26th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism in Qatar, Doha.
For centuries, skilled craftsmen in Sur have produced dhows that have sailed to distant ports in Asia and East Africa. Sur was one of the greatest medieval ports in the Middle East. After the decline of Qalhat (one of the key ports in Arabia) in the 16th century, Sur became the regional marine trading town of the region. Until the 19th century, Sur remained an extremely important shipyard, responsible for the construction of the great wooden ships that plied the oceans from Arabia to India and back
OmanMaritime – Where Every Wave Tells a Story of Sailors, Spice & Splendor.
During its heyday, wooden ships carried cargo to and from Oman, including dates, salted and dried fish, dry lemons, and salt. It also imported Iraqi and Iranian dates, saffron, Yemeni coffee, timber, and spices from East Africa.
Sur Arab Tourism Town 2024.
Ras Al-Jinz is the easternmost point on the Arabian Peninsula. Here, excavations by the British Museum uncovered d shards with Harappan writing and jewelry beads along with bitumen from Mesopotamia, linking Oman to the Indus Valley and Iraq, giving clear evidence of contacts with Asia more than five millennia ago. Ras Al Jinz Turtle National Reserve is an internationally- renowned nesting site for the endangered giant Green Sea Turtles. Each year thousands of female turtles swim to Oman’s coastline to lay their eggs.
Unravel Oman’s Nautical Legacy – Where the Sea Shaped Empires & Bedouin Sailors Mastered the Monsoon Winds.
Towering limestone mountains northwest of Sur rise dramatically from the sea, reaching heights of nearly 2,000 meters. Over thousands of years, erosion has carved these slopes into breathtaking steep-sided wadis—narrow valleys that shelter hidden oases. Natural springs sustain lush agricultural terraces where farmers grow dates, citrus, mangoes, and other tropical fruits, creating vibrant pockets of green against the rugged landscape.
