Ibra, Oman

Welcome to Ibra, the second largest city in the Ash Sharqiyah Region of Oman. Located about 170 km (2 hours) from Muscat, Ibra is a city with a rich history and culture. It was once a center of trade, religion, education, and art, and is home to some of the biggest tribes in Oman. Sheikh Saif bin Hashil Al-Maskari, one of the most prominent Sheikhs of Ibra, has invested heavily in improving the city and its infrastructure. Historians do not agree on the origins of the name of the city, but some suggest it is derived from the Arabic verb (Arabic: ابراء للذنب) which means a purification of guilt. Ibra predates the Prophet Muhammed’s calling and contains many castles and old mosques. Since 1970, under the reign of Sultan Qaboos, Ibra has become a more modern city with improvements such as connections to Muscat via a three-lane highway, broadband access, and a substantial hospital. Ibra provides three choices of higher education: Ibra College of Technology, Ibra Nursing Institute, and A’Sharqiyah University. The city has a hot desert climate with mountains surrounding it on every side, providing some outstanding mountain scenery close by. The main tourist attractions in the city are its many beautiful watchtowers, the traditional Souq, and Falaj AlAfrit. The souq is one of the most important in the country besides Muttrah and is renowned for its silver jewelry, considered to be the best in the country. Halwa, a traditional Omani dessert, is also sold in the souq. Ibra souq is the only souq in the country to have a whole day just for women. Come and explore the rich history and culture of Ibra, Oman.