Sohar

Sohar (Arabic: صُحار‎, also Romanized as Sohār and Suhār) is the capital and largest city of the Al Batinah North Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman. An ancient capital of the country that once served as an important Islamic port town, Sohar has also been credited as the mythical birthplace of Sinbad the Sailor.

According to the 2010 census, Sohar's population was 140,006, making it Oman's fifth most-populated settlement. The development of the Sohar Industrial Port during the 2000s has transformed it into a major Omani industrial hub.

History

As the largest town in the region, it has been argued that Sohar is identified with the ancient town called Omana mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History. This settlement is believed to have given Oman its name.

A large majority of the people of Sohar come from the tribe known as Al-Alawi. The oldest person known to be of this tribe is Sheikh Ahmad Saeed Msallam.

Climate

Sohar has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with very hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is low; more than half of the year's total rainfall falls in February, and summers are almost completely dry.