Oman — books & literature

The story of Oman

Oman's roots run deep: Ibadi Islam, a distinct branch of the faith that elects its leaders by communal consensus, took hold here from around 751 CE and shaped a political tradition unlike its neighbours'. Coastal Oman fell under Portuguese occupation from 1507, but in 1624 Nasir ibn Murshid al-Ya'aribi was elected Imam and began a resurgence that drove the Portuguese out of Muscat by 1650 , one of the earliest expulsions of a European colonial power anywhere. In 1744, Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi founded the Al Said dynasty, which still rules Oman today, making it the oldest continuously independent state in the Arab world. In the 19th century, Omani sultans built a maritime empire stretching to Zanzibar and the East African coast. The 20th century brought decades of isolation under Sultan Said bin Taimur, ended abruptly in 1970 when his son Qaboos bin Said took the throne and launched what Omanis call the Renaissance , rapid modernization of roads, schools, and hospitals. Qaboos ruled until his death in 2020, when his cousin Haitham bin Tariq became Sultan, continuing Oman's path as a quietly influential regional mediator.

Timeline — key moments

1. circa 751

   Ibadi Imamate established in Oman, shaping a distinct political-religious tradition.

2. 1507

   Portuguese forces seize Muscat, beginning over a century of coastal occupation.

3. 1624

   Nasir ibn Murshid al-Ya'aribi elected Imam at Nizwa, founding the Ya'ariba dynasty.

4. 1650

   Omanis expel the Portuguese from Muscat, ending European rule on the coast.

5. 1744

   Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi founds the Al Said dynasty, still Oman's royal house today.

6. circa 1840

   Omani Empire's influence reaches its height, with Sultan Said bin Sultan ruling from Zanzibar.

7. 1970

   Qaboos bin Said becomes Sultan in a bloodless palace transition (23 July); the Renaissance begins.

8. 1971

   Oman joins the United Nations and the Arab League.

9. 1996

   Sultan Qaboos promulgates Oman's Basic Statute, the country's foundational charter.

10. 2020

    Sultan Qaboos dies (10 January); Haitham bin Tariq becomes Sultan.

Top 10 things to know about Oman

1. Oman is the oldest continuously independent state in the Arab world.
2. The Al Said dynasty has ruled Oman since 1744, one of the longest-reigning royal houses in the Middle East.
3. The Omani rial is one of the highest-valued currency units in the world.
4. Oman's Dhofar region has been a major source of frankincense for over 5,000 years.
5. Ibadi Islam, followed by most Omanis, is a distinct branch of the faith found almost nowhere else in the world at this scale.
6. Jebel Shams, the "Grand Canyon of Arabia", is a vast canyon and Oman's tallest peak.
7. Part of the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), the world's largest continuous sand desert, lies within Oman.
8. Oman controls the Musandam Peninsula, overlooking the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
9. At its 19th-century height, the Omani Empire ruled territory stretching to Zanzibar on the East African coast.
10. Omani novelist Jokha Alharthi became the first Arabic-language author to win the International Booker Prize, in 2019.

Famous people from Oman

Say it in Oman's language

Did you know?

• ★Frankincense trees still grow wild in Dhofar, and the resin has been traded out of Oman for more than 5,000 years.
• ★The Omani Empire once governed Zanzibar, and a 19th-century Sultan moved his capital there.
• ★Oman's Musandam Peninsula overlooks the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of the world's traded oil passes.

Oman culture

• The khanjar, a curved ceremonial dagger, is a national symbol that appears on the Omani flag and emblem.
• National Day, 18 November, marks Sultan Qaboos's birthday and the start of the modern Renaissance.
• Shuwa, meat slow-marinated in spices and roasted underground for up to two days, is served at major celebrations.
• Burning frankincense (bakhoor) as a gesture of hospitality is a daily custom in Omani homes.

Why read Oman's books

Omani writing blends a centuries-old oral and poetic tradition with a modern literary voice that only reached wide international attention in the last few decades , culminating in a historic Booker Prize win. Oman's shelf reflects that arc from oral heritage to global recognition.