How Oman is divided

This is a small description of how Oman is devided.

The Sultanate of Oman is administratively divided into four Governorates and five Regions:

Governorates:
-Governorate of Muscat
-Governorate of Dhofar
-Governorate of Musandam
-Governorate of Al Buraimi

Regions:
-Al Batinah Region
-Al Dakhiliyah Region
-Al Sharqiyah Region
-Al Dhahira Region
-Al Wusta Region

Each Governorate/Region is formed of Wilayats (totalling 61); further divided into Niyabats. Additionally, each Region has one or more Regional Centres totalling 12 overall.

I will post more about each region in the coming days. I will place a list of all the regions in one of the sidebars so that you can get quick access to the information you need.

Musandam Region

Musandam is the smallest and most northerly region of Oman, covering an area of around 3,000 square Km. Its rocky headland juts out into the Straits of Hormuz, giving it strategic dominion over one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

The magnificent Hajar mountain range dominates Musandam landscape. It extends about 640 Km from R'as Al-Hadd in the south up to Khasab, and ends with Ru'us Al-Jebal plunging dramatically and dizzily into the sea creating long fjords and inlets. Jabal Harim is Musandam's highest mountain at 2,087m.

The entire interior is basicly mountainous, with a graded track stretching from Daba to Khasab that snakes through narrow gorges, up hairpin bends and down into wadi beds. The seas are rich with wildlife and breathtaking scenery readily overwhelms visitors.
Musandam has a population of approximately 30,000 largely concentrated in Khasab; the administrative centre. They earn their living mainly through fishing, boat building and crafting a number of traditional handicrafts, such as the axe of Jerz; the symbol of Musamdam that dates back to the Bronze Age.

The isolated and harsh environment of the region has instilled hardiness and resourcefulness in the people of Musandam, many of whom migrate to the coast in summer to fish and harvest dates.

Dhufar Region

The Governorate of Dhofar lies at the farthest southern part of the Sultanate and is bounded by the Wusta Region in the East, the Empty Quarter in the North, the Arabian Sea in the South and the Republic of Yemen in the South West.

The Governorate occupies one third of the Sultanate’s area and accommodate about 9.4% of the sultanate population. It consists of 10 Wilayats with Salalah being the administrative capital, some 1040 Km from the City of Muscat.

Dhofar climate dramatically differs from the Gulf region due to the effects of the monsoon winds which arrive in summer, forming rains and dropping temperature to around 25 C° in the plains and below that on the hights, which turns the area lush and green, with waterfalls and floods feeding surrounding pastures and springs.

Dhofar has long been characterised by its significant location and prosperous commercial activities throughout the ages, being the chief source of Frankincense, Incense and Myrrh.
For about 4,000 years, the frankincense trade was Oman's economic backbone, affecting directly or indirectly, the lives of all the inhabitants of the South. It was exported in huge quantities to Egypt, Greece and Rome in ancient times either by sea or by camel caravan.
Along the ancient overland route, kingdoms and cultures grew up relying for their very existence on the taxes and trade brought by the frankincense caravans. Aknowledging the role it played in mankind history, UNESCO added the Frankincense Route commencing from Dhofar to its World Heritage List.
Dhofar is currently undergoing tremendous development, aimimg to strengthen its economical role in the country and future significance as both a Free Trade Zone and a major Tourism Attraction. In addition to the natural and cultural opulence on offer, Religious Tourism is ordinary in Dhofar, as it hosts Al-Ahqaf area, tombs and religious shrines.

Muscat Region

Muscat is the heart of the Sultanate, the political and administrative hub of the nation, providing its main source of economy, tourism and commercial activities.

Sayyed Hamad bin Said Al-Busaidi took Muscat as Oman's capital from Rustaq between 1779–1792, and this has never since been contested. Today, under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Muscat has improved beyond recognition, but has never lost its pride in its heritage and culture. The capital area is a prime example of intelligent and aesthetic development, amalgamating modernity with tradition.

Muscat was known as the "Governorate of the Capital" from 1960–1970, before it was declared in 1988 as the Governorate of Muscat, uniting Wilayats of Muscat, Muttrah, Bausher, Seeb, Qurayyat and Al-Amerat.

The Governorate which is the most populated in the Sultanate, confines between Gulf of Oman and Eastern Hajar mountains, bordering Al-Batinah and Al-Dakhiliyah to the West and Al-Sharqiyah to the South.

Muscat Governorate is home to many luxury hotels, upmarket restaurants and a multitude of service companies, in addition to an array of magnificent beaches and breathtaking creeks such as Qurum Beach, Al-Jissah, Yitti, Al-Khairan and Al-Bustan.

A number of forts, museums and traditional Souqs are popular attractions not to be missed.