Khareef Special: The Land of Frankincense

Located in the coastal area of Salalah between Dhariz and Hafa, Al Baleed is one of the ancient cities of Oman and was known to be one of an important commercial port.The Land of Frankincense is one of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Oman and was once the centre of the ancient world’s thriving frankincense trade. Heaps of rubbles can be found scattered all around the main site where the excavation work is still under process.

According to UNESCO, “The frankincense trees of Wadi Dawkah and the remains of the caravan oasis of Shisr/Wubar and the affiliated ports of Khor Rori and Al-Baleed vividly illustrate the trade in frankincense that flourished in this region for many centuries, as one of the most important trading activities of the ancient and medieval world."

“The four components of the Land of Frankincense dramatically illustrate the trade in frankincense that flourished in this region for many centuries,” said the organisation. “They constitute outstanding testimony to the civilizations in south Arabia since the Neolithic era. The successive ports of Khor Rori (4th century BC to the 5th century AD) and Al Baleed (8th century to the 16th century AD) and an outpost close to the Great Desert Rub Al Khali, Shisr, about 170 km inland, represent in a unique way the distribution of frankincense which was produced in the wadis of the coastal hinterland.

The Museum of the Land of Frankincense is located in the region of Al Baleed in Salalah .One can see many artefacts displayed. These artefacts had been excavated from Al Baleed, Sumuharam and Ash Shisr. Several replicas of old boats and ships are also on display and one can learn the history of old Omani boats. The museum also houses various instruments along with the utensils that were widely used in earlier times.