Qatar and Oman

Short distances and good roads make it possible to travel from the Emirates to such neighboring states as Qatar and Oman. For residents of the UAE, the border crossing regime is as simple as possible; the rest need to take care of a visa not only to enter these countries, but also to leave them.

Qatar

This absolute monarchy is located on the eponymous peninsula the size of the Karelian Isthmus. About 700 thousand people live here; more than a third of the population is concentrated in the capital Doha. Arabs make up only two fifths of the number of citizens, the rest are natives of Pakistan, Iran and India.

The basis of the local economy is the extraction of oil and natural gas sent for export. Today Qatar is like Dubai five to seven years ago. This direction of tourism is developing very dynamically; but since it is inferior in popularity to the Emirates, the prices here, with a similar quality of service, are surprising in their availability. (By the way, the local rial is equal to the UAE dirham, which greatly facilitates comparisons and calculations).

Russian tourists here are treated with great friendliness. The country is absolutely safe; late in the evening you can walk quite calmly through the streets.

The best time to relax in Qatar is from September to May. You will find sandy beaches and beautiful hotels of renowned international chains, including Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton, Marriot, InterContinental and Movenpick. The Persian Gulf is considered to be an excellent place for diving. One of the most popular entertainments offered to tourists in Qatar is a safari, after which they will enjoy a barbecue on the Persian Gulf under the canopy of a picturesque tent.

Due to its climatic features, Qatar is not rich in historical and natural monuments. Tourists visit this country mainly because of the softer norms of Islamic traditions, the magnificent products of local artisans and artisans, as well as due to the increasingly intensive archaeological excavations that reveal new and new traces of ancient civilizations on the peninsula.

Fans of ancient forts can be advised to go to the towns of Zubar and Umm-Salal-Mohammed, which are located north of Doha. Do not be surprised if you suddenly feel that they are in a different world and space - the contrast between the azure sea, the white desert from heat and the ancient brick walls of the fortress will be so amazing.

In the town of Umm-Salal-Ali, 40 km from Doha, there are mounds and barrows dated to the third millennium BC. Now they are actively studied by archaeologists to the great joy of all lovers of antiquities. Al-Khor, 65 km from the capital, is fascinating with a small museum, ruins of mosques and many old fire towers scattered throughout the city, some of which have been restored to their original form. From here a huge and extremely picturesque panorama of the ocean opens.

Oman

Recently, the combined tourism of Dubai - Oman is developing very actively. Many Dubai tour operators organize similar mixed tours. In this case, the issue of visas to enter Oman is decided by the travel agencies themselves. Combined fjord and skerry tours in the northern part of the Musandam Peninsula are especially recommended.

These meone hundred amaze with their beauty no worse than the Norwegian coast. Travel agencies will also help you organize an excursion to the homeland of frankincense - the mountain resort of Salalah, as well as swimming on the dhow along the green strip of the coastal Battina valley, lying between the spurs of the mountains and the ocean. The flight to Muscat from Dubai takes 40 minutes. By car, the same distance can be covered in 5-6 hours.

The guests of the sultanate are struck by the atmosphere of antiquity created by the ruins of ancient cities and preserved pristine nature. The variety of landscapes in Oman ranges from mysterious mountains reaching 3300 m above sea level and hiding amazing caves, to the sands of the white desert and snow-white beaches, ocean expanses and exotic greenery.

This is one of the few places in the world where you can see sea turtles laying their eggs in anticipation of future offspring. Mysterious mountain gorges, magnificent waterfalls, flowering valleys, palm, date and coconut gardens, papaya and banana plantations, as well as deserts with mysterious oases and traditional Bedouin settlements, will charm you.

The history of Omani civilization goes back thousands of years. Many facts indicate that it was from here that the legendary Sinbad the Sailor came from. Several times since the 13th century, the sultanate became the center of the union of the Gulf countries. (By the way, until 1971, the territory of the present UAE was also part of Treaty Oman).

Several hundred forts, palaces and towers built in various architectural styles testify to those legendary times. The rich and highly developed culture of Oman has given rise to the natural friendliness of residents who are proud of their hospitality and sincerity.

They still manage to maintain a balance between past and future. The country remained closed to foreigners until 1970, when Sultan Qaboos came to power. Now his image flaunts on all banknotes (Omani bytes is approximately equal to the filament of the UAE, one thousand bytes make up one rial). Over the past quarter century, Oman has become a modern state with magnificent roads, skyscrapers, sports facilities and luxury hotels. Here you will find all the hotels you are used to in Dubai and Doha, including Hilton, Radisson, Crowne Plaza and Grand Hyatt. But while enjoying all the benefits of civilization, you will still be imbued with the spirit of peace and tranquility, making sure that the Earth and people are one.

Watch the video: History of the Persian Gulf explained, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE (March 2024).