Misfat al Abriyeen مسفاة العبريين | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 | |
  Misfat al Abriyeen Location inOman | |
| Coordinates:23°8′15″N57°18′31″E / 23.13750°N 57.30861°E /23.13750; 57.30861 | |
| Country |  Oman |
| Governorate | Ad Dakhiliyah |
| Wilayah | Al Hamra |
| Population (2020) | 962[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (GST) |
Misfat al Abriyeen orMisfah al Abriyyin (Arabic:مسفاة العبريين,romanized: msfā ālʿbryyn) is a village in thewilayah ofAl Hamra inOman.
Located in anoasis at 900 metres (3,000 ft) above sea level in the WesternHajar mountains, it has an extensivefalaj water canalization system which dates back more than 2,000 years.[2] It is still in use nowadays to supply the village with water from a local spring, and to irrigate the terraced fields where crops such asmangoes,pomegranates,figs, andolives are grown.[3]
The settlement is perched on a rock, which acts as a natural fortification, and is characterized by narrow stone-paved roads and houses built with mud, stone andsarooj. Several of the buildings that are still standing date back more than 200 years.[4] Its architectural style has been described as similar to that of theYemeni highlands.[5]
The village has undergone significant restoration work in the past years, with the creation of new hotels and heritage houses, and has been placed in theBest Tourism Villages list by theWorld Tourism Organization in 2021.[2][6]
The valley ofWadi Al-Saq can be reached from the village, and is a tourist destination for hiking andtrekking.[7] From Misfat departs the trekking route W9 along an ancient donkey path, leading to the junction with W8 toBilad Sayt and W10 to Sharaf Al Alamayn.[8]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 592 | — |
| 2010 | 696 | +17.6% |
| 2020 | 962 | +38.2% |
As of 2020, the village counted 962 inhabitants. Of these, 901 wereOmani nationals and 61 foreign residents (6.3%). 39.2% of the inhabitants (377) were 14 years old or younger, while only 44 residents (4.6%) were 65 or older.[1] Most of the inhabitants are ofBedouin descent.[4]
