Salalah

Salalah (صلالة in Arabic), is the capital and seat of the governor or Wali of the southern Omani province of Dhofar. The population of Salalah is 178,469 as of 2005 [3]. Salalah is located at 17.02°N, 54.09°E.

Salalah is the second largest town in the Sultanate of Oman and a traditional stronghold and birthplace of the Sultan, Qaboos bin Said. The Sultan traditionally lives in Salalah rather than in Muscat, the capital and largest city in Oman; Qaboos has bucked this trend, however, and he has lived in Muscat since he ascended to the throne in 1970. He does however visit Salalah fairly regularly to meet with influential tribal and local leaders; his last visit was in 2006 and before that he visited in 2002.

Salalah is served by an airport, mainly catering to domestic flights from Muscat and some regional cities such as Kuwait, Dubai, and Doha. Seasonly flights, some from as far away as Sweden, can be seen though during the Khareef season, the peak of the tourist season. Oman Air currently operates several daily flights to Salalah Airport from Muscat.

Salalah, despite lying in the Arabian desert, enjoys a temperate climate through most of the year. The town is also subjected to the south-east monsoons. This period (late June to early September) is known as the khareef season. Visitors from across the Persian Gulf flock to Salalah to enjoy the monsoons and avoid the harsh heat faced by the rest of the region during the same period. Also in this period, the town's population nearly doubles and various fairs are organized, such as those at Ittin.

The town has a large expatriate community, mainly from India, as well as a private Indian School, known as Indian School Salalah.

The city of Salalah is known as the “perfume capital of Arabia.” The city is a popular destination for tourism due to the natural attractions of the SMAHAN mountains (Jabal SMAHAN‚ in Arabic) and abundant stands of frankincense trees lining mountain stream courses. Around the city and into the mountains the countryside is lush and green with the vegetation supporting herds of cattle.

Al Baleed, the ruins of the medieval frankincense trading port of Zafar

The beaches and coastline are also major attractions for scuba diving and bird watching.

Salalah is a city of antiquity, boasting both the ruins of a palace reputed to have belonged to the Queen of Sheba and the resting place of the biblical prophet Job in the nearby Jabal al Qar. It is also the alleged resting place of Nabi Imran, father of the Virgin Mary. Modern Oman is also represented by the Port of Salalah, located approximately 15 km to the southwest of the city. The strategic location of this port has made it one of the major entry points to India, the Middle East, and Africa.