Sur
Sur is the capital city of Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate, and the former capital of Ash Sharqiyah Region in northeastern Oman, on the coast of the Gulf of Oman.
History of Sur
By the 6th century, Sur had emerged as a prominent hub for trade with East Africa, becoming a bustling center of commerce. Ibn Battuta, a renowned traveler, described it as a “roadstead of a large village on the seashore” during his visit.
During the 16th century, Sur fell under Portuguese rule, but its liberation by the Omani Imam Nasir ibn Murshid sparked an economic revival. It once again thrived as a vital trade center, facilitating trade routes with India and East Africa. This prosperity continued until the mid-19th century when the British outlawed the slave trade. Furthermore, the opening of the Suez Canal dealt a significant blow to Sur’s trade activities, leading to a decline in trade with India.
Sur City port, one of the oldest ports globally, played a crucial role in facilitating trade, with over one hundred and fifty sailing ships visiting daily during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
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