Sur, Oman

By the 6th century, Sur was an established centre for trade with East Africa.

Ibn Battuta commented on his visit to this "roadstead of a large village on the seashore."[2] In the 16th century, it was under Portuguese rule but was liberated by the Omani Imam Nasir ibn Murshid and underwent an economic revival, as a trade centre with India and East Africa. This continued until the mid-19th century, when the British outlawed the slave trade. The city was further ruined by the opening of the Suez Canal, which saw it lose trade with India.

The main college in Sur is the Sur College of Applied Sciences. The college has over 4000 students and offers degrees in Business, Communication, Information Technology and Design and Applied Biotechnology. It is considered one of the better institutions of higher learning in Oman. The second college is Sur University College. There is an Indian school, Indian School Sur which offers classes up to Grade 12.[3]

The springs and aflajs represent tourist attractions in Sur, where there are some small springs in the mountainous areas. Additionally, there are 102 flowing channels used by the residents of the governorate for various livelihood purposes.

In the past, this city witnessed a rich Omani civilization, as it was the first capital of Oman before Islam. In the 13th century, it served as the main commercial port connecting the interior with the outside world. This city stands as a testament to a grand and ancient civilization, yet it has been forgotten in history and geography. Over time and due to harsh natural conditions, it has been transformed into scattered piles of stones that extend for kilometers along the shoreline. Old houses that collapsed on their inhabitants, defensive walls designed to fortify the city, and stories of an earthquake in the 14th century that led to its destruction, as well as the Portuguese invasion until their expulsion in the late 16th century AD, all contributed to shaping its history.

The history of the city of Qalhat dates back to the Bronze Age. Qalhat captured the world's attention at that time due to its status as the first capital of Oman before Islam. Its unique and distinguished location, along with its importance as an important city and prominent port, made it an attractive destination for travelers, explorers, and knowledge seekers.

Among the city's historical relics is the tomb of Bibi Maryam (Bibi meaning "the free woman"). It is said that she was an elderly woman who contributed to the construction of a mosque. Some historical sources suggest that she was a ruler of Qalhat during the reign of King Hormuz (Qutb al-Din Yamutahin). At the entrance of the tomb, there is an underground passage that leads to corridors beneath the tomb.

Sur is considered one of the oldest ports and maritime cities in the world. It is located on the eastern coast, approximately 310 km from the capital, Muscat, making it the largest city in the Eastern Governorate. The Portuguese occupied Sur in the 16th century until it was reclaimed during the reign of the Ya'aruba dynasty, thanks to Imam Nasser bin Murshid, in the 17th century AD. The city of Sur played a vital role in trade exchanges between Oman, East Africa, and India through its port, which served as an import and export station for various goods. It was also an important center for boat and ocean-crossing ship manufacturing, such as the "baghla" and "ghunja".

Fishing, weaving, blacksmithing, metalwork, palm weaving, carpentry, and traditional sweets production represent some of the important traditional crafts in Sur.

Among its traditional industries are the construction of traditional sailing ships. There is also the craftsmanship of Omani traditional doors with their intricate designs, as well as wooden windows. The crafting of daggers and both old and modern women's jewelry, as well as textile manufacturing like "izar" (a traditional cloth), "sabaya" (striped cloth), and Omani "hasar" (a type of headscarf), are also prominent traditional industries.

Notably, It is one of the famous cities in the Persian Gulf region in building wooden ships. Its historical location gives it the hand to monitor the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. the traditional sailing ships, in all their sizes and types, stand out as well. Many ships have been built in this city, like the sambuk and ghanjah.[8] They formerly went as far as China, India, Zanzibar, Iraq and many other countries. These vessels were also used in pearl fishing. The "ghunja" ship, in particular, has become a symbol of the Sur Governorate.

To preserve these inherited industries, the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in the governorate has established workshops for creating models of various types of old Omani ships.

Additionally, there is the craft of making Omani traditional doors with their distinct known patterns, along with wooden windows.

Sur experiences a hot desert climate with very little rainfall and high temperatures. Because of its coastal location, Sur's night-time temperatures are never very low. There is no distinct wetter season, but March tends to be the wettest month, and September the driest.

Occasionally, Sur gets battered by cyclones. In 2007, Cyclone Gonu battered the city, and in 2010, Sur was hit by Cyclone Phet.[11][12]

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  A street along the beach of the Gulf of Oman, with the Eastern Hajar Mountains in the background
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  Sur Lighthouse
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  A docked dhow with Al-Ayjah Watchtower on top of the hill in the background
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  Watchtowers on hills overlooking the Arabian Sea
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  Hanging bridge at Sur city during the night

• Suhail Bahwan (born 1938/39), Omani billionaire businessman
• Salim Rashid Suri (circa 1910-1979), Omani musician
• Ahmed Mubarak Al-Mahaijri (born 1985), Omani footballer

• List of cities in Oman

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sur.

• World66
• (in Arabic) http://www.surcity.net
• (in English) http://www.surcity.net/en
• (in English) Sur in Oman, overview of a ship building town