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Musandam Peninsula
The isolated enclave of Musandam is the northern most region of Oman and could be described as the extension of the eastern coastline of UAE. Being the smallest area with an expanse of just a little over 3000 square kilometres, it juts out into the Strait of Hormuz like a rocky headland and hence is regarded as being one of the most strategic points in relation to the existent sea route.
There are regular flight services going between Musandam and Muscat and the location of the area is such that the only other alternative is to make an entry by road from the neighbouring UAE. While one road originates from the eastern side of Oman and enters Musandam after passing through Dibba in UAE, the other road starts from Dubai and snakes along the coast passing through cities like Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah to eventually end in Musandam. It’s a great coastal drive
You need an entry visa to visit Musandam and is now becoming the preferred holiday destination for many UAE expats who wish to take a weekend break away from it all.
While perched on the towering rocks of Musandam which form the elbow of the Gulf, the horizon dotted with ships and tankers carrying goods and oil to and from the ports in the Arabian Gulf and closer to land you can spot numerous fishing dhows and speedboats carrying a variety of goods on board ranging from seafood and goats to contrabands.
Prior to the 1980s’ Musandam did not even have roads and the only landmark which was visible from miles around was the Hajar mountain range extending unbroken for 640 kilometres between Ras Al-Hadd in the south and plunging dramatically into the sea at Ru’us Al-Jebal. Hence, most of the terrain here is mountainous comprising of gorges, hairpin bends and wadi beds while the sea has variety of marine life. Likewise, the lives of people is all about fishing and traditional handicrafts, the most prominent being manufacture of Musandam axe or Jirz. Commercialization is limited to the town of Khasab which serves as an administrative centre and is inhabited by a population of around 30,000.
In recent years, Musandam has acquired popularity due to its focus on eco tourism which is actively pursued by Oman in this isolated area. As a result, it is one of the best examples of environment conservation featuring among other species 130 varieties of birds and supporting another 372 which migrate annually.