Dhofar, known as Muhafazah Zafar in Arabic, is one of the eleven Governorates in Oman, and has 10 wilayat. The largest city and the capital of Dhofar is Salalah, which hosts university, airport, a large sea port, and modern shopping malls.
Indeed, the landscape of this region is amazing and has a variety of attractions that includes nature, beaches, historical sites, caves, mountains, sinkholes, and others.
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The Southern Part of Oman
The Governorate of Dhofar is on the southern part of Oman. It is separated by a thousand kilometer of desert from the capital Muscat in the North.
Dhofar borders with Yemen on the western side, while Saudi Arabia on the North. Due to the close proximity with Yemen, the history and culture of Dhofar is influenced by its western neighbor.
Rich History
Dhofar has one of the oldest cultures in Arabia, mainly due to Frankincense trade and the prophets in the past. The remains of the history can be found in the archeological sites, which have been excavated and unearth. Al Baleed Archeological site, the ruins of ancient Sumhuram, and the Lost city of Ubar are some of the discovered and well known sites. In addition to these, some ruins that are spread across the region are unnamed.
The Tombs of Prophet Ayub (Prophet Job), Prophet Hud, Prophet Saleh, and Prophet Imran are in Salalah and nearby. Some other tombs are also present but the historical link cannot be found and are not named.
The famous travelers of modern era, Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta also visited Zafar (the forerunner of modern Salalah).
An Amazing Diversified Landscape
Numerous attractions can be found in Dhofar, which are of interest to both the local, Arab and western travelers.
Firstly, the enormous dunes of the Rub al Khali desert (The Empty Quarter), on the norther part of the Governorate, offers sand bashing, and overnight stay in the bedouin tent.
Secondly, the Dhofar Mountains, which spread in the shape of an arc in the center, offers variety of the attractions, like valleys, springs, waterfalls, gorges, sinkholes, and caves.
Thirdly, the large, pristine coast in Dhofar offers white sand beaches in the Arabian Sea. The tides are high during the monsoon season. In contrast to this, the beach is crystal clear on the remain part of the year, and Dolphins can be spotted on the sea. Some of the beaches are hidden, which can be accessed in a guided tour with a professional 4×4 driver.
Forthly, Dofar has many Archeological sites and the museums. In the museums, the artifacts unearth from the ancient ruins are displayed. Notable Archeological sites are Al Baleed Archeological site, Sumhuram Old City and The Lost city of Ubar.
Moreover, Salalah has many Tombs of the Prophets. For instance, that of Nabi Ayub, Nabi Imran, Nabi Saleh and Nabi Hood. Also, Dhofar has other religious sites. The footprint of Prophet Saleh’s camel and the spring of Nabi Ayub, for example.
Last but not the least, the fishing ports, where you can find local fishermen and the traditional dhows, showcase the conventional way of fishing. One can buy the fresh sea food for eating from these ports.
The Largest Governorate in Oman
Dhofar, or Muhafazah Zafar, is the largest of the eleven Governorates in Sultanate of Oman. Its area is 99,300 square kilometer.
The other ten Governorates of Oman, in alphabetical order, are as follows:
- Ad-Dakhiliyah
- Ad-Dhahirah
- Al-Batinah North
- Al-Batinah South
- Al-Buraymi
- Al-Wasta
- Ash Sharqiyah North
- Ash Sharqiyah South
- Muscat
- Musandam
The Wilayat in Dhofar
Dhofar is divided into ten wilayats, which are as follows – in alphabetical order:
- Al-Mazyūnah (Arabic: ٱلْمَزْيُوْنَة)
- Ḍalkūt (Arabic: ضَلْكُوْت)
- Mirbat (Arabic: مرباط)
- Muqshin (Arabic: مُقْشِن)
- Rakhyūt (Arabic: رَخْيُوْت)
- Sadah (Arabic: سدح)
- Salalah (Arabic: صَلَالَة)
- Shalim and the Hallaniyat Islands (Arabic: الحلانيات)
- Taqah (Arabic: طاقة)
- Thumrait (Arabic: ثمريت)
Salalah – The Capital of Dhofar
Salalah, the largest city and the most developed one, is the capital of Zafar. It is a coastal city, with its own uniqueness. For instance, monsoon season and the horticulture.
The weather in Salalah is very pleasant in the mid of year (from late June to early September). This season is locally known as the Khareef season. During which the mist and rain turns the mountains greener. In addition to this, many waterfalls and springs gushes out. But they vanishes after the season. It is the time of the year when many tourists visit Salalah, especially from within Oman and other Gulf States, where the temperature is very hot.
Inside the city, it’s a common sight to find white coconut palm and banana plantation, which is a contrast to the other places in the Arabian peninsula, where dates trees are in abundance. During the drive on Sultan Qaboos Street, one can see a lot of coconut and fresh fruit huts, made of wooden canopy, sell these local fruits in Salalah.
Airport and Sea Port in Dhofar
Salalah Port is the largest employer in Dhofar region. It is one of the largest sea ports in the Middle East. Salalah Port has a unique advantage of being the only one in Arabian peninsula that is directly on the Indian Ocean. The port has more than twenty Ship to Shore Cranes in its Container Terminal, while it also has a General Cargo Terminal.
The new Salalah Airport is located on the 18th November Street. This international airport started its operation on 15th June 2015, and replaced the old terminal near Burj Nahdah (Clock Tower).
Guided Tour in Dhofar Region
There are couple of sightseeing tours, which can cover the amazing landscapes and must visit places in Dhofar.
For booking the tour, you can contact Beautiful Salalah Tours, which is the leading online tour operator in Salalah. The company arranges the tour with the licensed guide, who are Omanis and know Salalah pretty well.
Booking the memorable tour with professional team of Beautiful Salalah is very easy. Just drop a Whatsapp message to our 24/7 customer support numbers +968 9120 6678 or +968 9012 3004 and book the trip.
Alternately, you can drop an email to info@beautifulsalalah.com or book via TripAdvisor.
Beautiful Salalah Tours has 4.5 star review in TripAdvisor and is operating in Salalah since 2018. You can read all the reviews on TripAdvisor before making a decision.
Recommended Place to Stay in Dhofar
For a memorable and comfortable family vacation, the best place to stay in Dhofar is in the city of Salalah. There are Over 100 Hotels and Apartments on Booking.com for Salalah, which you can consider for your comfortable and memorable stay.
Below are our recommendations:
Luxury: Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara
There couldn’t be any better choice of staying in Salalah other than Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara. This is the finest and premium resort in the city with private pool villas, which are not available in other resorts.
The location of Anantara is excellent. It is next to the famous tourist location of Al Baleed Archeological Site, Frankincense Land Museum and is on the white sand beach of the Arabian Sea.
Indeed, it is a great place to have a fun filled family vacation. Check prices, reviews, and availability here
Mid Range: Fanar Hotel and Residences
Although Fanar Hotel and Residences is a 5 star resort, its price is almost equal to that of a 3 star hotel in the center of the city. It is located at Hawana Salalah Marina, and is by far the largest resort in Salalah.
The only drawback is that this hotel a little away from the city. But hotel will arrange the airport transfers, so there is nothing to worry about. Also if you have rent a car, or are planning to book guided tours by Beautiful Salalah then it’s an ideal pick. Check prices, reviews, and availability here
Budget: Star House Elite
There are many apartments by the name of Star House, but this one is preferred as it is a nice apartment in the center of the city. There are many restaurants, including Indian cuisine and local food, at walking distance. It’s right opposite of the largest mosque in Salalah – Sultan Qaboos Mosque.
The most unique feature of this apartment is that its on the bus route of Mwasalat public transport and you can arrive here from airport using the bus. Also Star House Elite is at walking distance from the bus station of Mwasalat, GTC, GLT, and other intercity buses. Check prices, reviews, and availability here