Photographer Page

Yulia Denisyuk

A villager in the 400-year-old town of Al Hamra in northeastern Oman shares his harvest of dates. An Arabic proverb says: ‘What is shared is blessed’. This tradition of hospitality is deeply ingrained in the Omani culture, and the practice of welcoming strangers stretches back to the seventh century. In a country where not inviting a stranger in for coffee is inconceivable, you’ll be treated to bitter kahwa (coffee with cardamom), a heaping of dates, and the famous Omani halwa (a traditional dessert). Location: Al Hamra

Dates are a major export crop in Oman, the world’s eighth-largest producer. Traditionally, date trees are planted to mark the birth of a son in the family, growing and providing nourishment as the child grows. Location: Birkat Al Mouz

Back in the capital, centuries-old traditions seamlessly intertwine with modernity. In Muscat, you won’t find any shining chrome-and-glass high-rises, so common elsewhere. Instead, every new development here must follow traditional architectural designs and not obstruct the view of the nearby mountains; an interesting and thoughtful path to follow into the future.

With a population that’s traditionally relied on agriculture and fishing, Oman has taken steps (such as banning trawler fishing) in the past few decades to allow fisheries to develop in a sustainable fashion. In the fishing town of Qurayyat near Muscat, fishermen showcase their daily catch, while some offer a few of their fish for lunch, free of charge. Although it’s not illegal to catch sharks in Oman, they must be sold whole. Location: Qurayyat

Oman is more than rugged mountainous terrain and sandy desert. With around 2,000 miles of coastline, there’s plenty of access to water, too. Mackerel, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, grouper, snapper and more can be found in the waters off Qurayyat year-round, making this fishing town a popular stop for Omani residents and travellers alike. Location: Qurayyat

Every Friday, a crowd gathers at the gates of the historic fort in Nizwa, Oman’s ancient capital. Here, just below the fort walls, the weekly Nizwa cattle market is a local institution that dates back centuries. Sellers and buyers around the country travel to Nizwa to buy and sell cattle, goats and camels. By mid-morning, the souk has already packed up. Location: Nizwa

The falaj, an ancient type of Omani irrigation canal, is used in several regions to this day to provide water to villages, date plantations and other crops. This important tradition, which dates back more than 1,500 years, involves man-made streams supplying water from several sources, including spring wells, rainwater pools and groundwater. The falaj systems in Jebel Akhdar, a spectacularly rugged part of the Al Hajar Mountains that runs along the east coast of the country, are included on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list. Location: Jebel Akhdar

Many families outside of the cities raise livestock such as sheep, goats and camels. Pointing perhaps to the strong pastoral tradition, one of the ways to exchange a polite greeting with an Omani would be to ask, ‘Kayfa hosh wa bosh?’ (‘how are your goats and camels?’). In the mountainous north east of Oman, home to the country’s highest mountain, Jebel Shams, it’s not uncommon to see goats grazing freely on the steep slopes of the mountainous terrain. Location: Jebel Shams

In Bahla, a traditional pottery stronghold, Zaid Abdulla Hamdan Al-Adawi uses methods dating back centuries to create earthenware in his 200-year-old pottery shop. Shops like this are a rarity now, but Zaid is working to preserve the craft through a number of workshops he’s organised for local children over the years. Location: Bahla

Omani men usually wear dishdasha, a traditional robe with a perfumed tassel that reflects Oman's unique culture in the region. Its colours and patterns identify a wearer's personality and identity. Here, a tour guide from local Omani company Nabeel Al Qasmi walks through the 17th-century Nizwa Fort amid the heat of midday. Location: Nizwa fort