My knowledge of Oman was—admittedly—rudimentary when I first visited Viola and Michael during their stay in Dubai. Still, the experience offered an unplanned but welcome opportunity to broaden my understanding of the UAE’s neighbouring country on the Arabian Peninsula.
Preparations came together quickly: I rented a car and mapped out a route that would offer a glimpse of Oman’s deserts, mountains, and coastline. Given that Oman’s borders with the Emirates and Saudi Arabia run through the Rub al Khali, I expected—thanks in part to tourist brochures—a landscape dominated by desert and sand. That impression, while not entirely inaccurate, was far from complete.
Oman is also home to mountains that truly live up to the name: towering, rugged, and formidable. They pose ongoing challenges to local communities and agriculture. Terracing has helped to tame the steep slopes, but the effort required for cultivation remains immense.
Road construction is no less demanding—engineers must devise intricate solutions to link isolated mountain villages to each other and to the valleys below.
While many impressive routes have been achieved, it’s bittersweet: countless buildings and entire villages along them now lie abandoned, a development that—though regrettable—is not altogether surprising.
In contrast, the major roads are a testament to modern planning: well developed, thoughtfully engineered, and clearly built with the future in mind. Even the smallest villages along these routes have their own 555pedestrian tunnels, anticipating traffic volumes that may only justify such measures decades from now.
Muscat, the capital, was equally impressive, with its Sultan’s Palace and Government District showcasing elegant architecture that would feel at home in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Yet, its aesthetic speaks with considerably less ostentation, instead radiating a quiet grace and soothing restraint. I was especially moved by the many cannons embedded upside down in the ground — a striking symbol of the nation’s commitment to peace, and a powerful statement in this part of the world.
Ultimately, it was the people who made the trip a pleasure: everywhere I went, I encountered openness instead of fear of contact, and despite the language barrier, there was a warm willingness to engage in dialogue.
So captivated was I by Oman’s contrasts and character that I returned for a second trip—this time with my brother Erwin. Together, we explored the Arabian side of the Strait of Hormuz. Along the way, we also caught glimpses of the less affluent emirates within the UAE—a perspective that added yet another layer to the journey.