Musandam Governorate مُحَافَظَة مُسَنْدَم | |
|---|---|
 Musandam Governorate of Oman. The exclave ofMadha is indicated in red below the Musandam Peninsula. | |
| Coordinates:25°55′N56°17′E / 25.917°N 56.283°E /25.917; 56.283 | |
| Country |  Oman |
| Capital | Khasab |
| Government | |
| • Sultan | Haitham bin Tariq Al Said |
| • Governor | Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidy |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,800 km2 (690 sq mi) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
• Total | 49,062 |
| • Density | 27/km2 (71/sq mi) |
TheMusandam Governorate (Arabic:مُحَافَظَة مُسَنْدَم,romanized: Muḥāfaẓat Musandam) is agovernorate ofOman. Except for theexclave ofMadha,[1] it is located on theMusandam Peninsula, which juts into theStrait of Hormuz, the narrow entry into thePersian Gulf, from theArabian Peninsula. The governorate is also an exclave, separated from the rest of Oman by theUnited Arab Emirates. Its location gives Oman partial control, shared withIran, of the strategic strait. In the northern section of Musandam, aroundKumzar, the language isKumzari, which is asouthwestern Iranian language closely related toLarestani andLuri. The Musandam Peninsula has an area of 1,800 km2 (690 sq mi) and, at the 2020 census, a population of 49,062.
Access to the peninsula was formerly difficult, with the only options being limited flights or a ten-hour drive through four immigration posts. TheShinas fast ferry service betweenMuscat and Musandam was launched in August 2008 to alleviate this problem and make the region more accessible.[2] The governorate is accessible by land only from theUnited Arab Emirates. Mainland Musandam can be accessed byRas al-Khaimah near Al-Jeer viaRoute 2, and anexclave of Sharjah,Dibba Al-Hisn.Oman Air provides an air link between the capital of the country, Muscat, and the main administrative town of the governorate,Khasab.
Isolated from surrounding powers bymountainous terrain and a rocky coast,[3] the Musandam peninsula was historically self-ruled by local tribes including theShihuh[3] andHabus.[4] By the early 20th century, Musandam was claimed by theSultan of Oman who stationed a representative inKhasab.[5][3] The Sultan did not exert effective control over the area, neither collecting tax[5] nor establishing a military presence,[6] and the peninsula continued to be ruled by local tribes. In 1970–71, following the British-backed1970 Omani coup d'état, British andTrucial Oman Scout[7] forces invaded Musandam ending local rule[8] and establishing a permanent Omani military force.[6]
Musandam Governorate consists of fourprovinces:[1]
The area has great strategic importance owing to its proximity to theStrait of Hormuz. The administrative head of the Governorate is the governor, who is also the Minister of State. The current governor is Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidy (الـسَّـیِّـد ابراهيم بن سيد بن ابراهيم الْـبُـوسَـعِـيـدي).[9]
The rugged coastline resembles theglacier-carved coasts of polar regions, but in this case, the coast was shaped by the movement ofEarth's crust. TheArabian Plate is slowly pushing under theEurasian Plate, creating the earthquake-prone mountains of Iran. On the leading edge of the Arabian Plate, theMusandam Peninsula is sinking. The higher elevation mountains remain above the water, but the sea has rushed in to fill the valleys with fingers of water.[10] The highest point in Musandam is Jebel Harim, with an elevation of 2,087 meters (6,847 feet) above sea level.
| Census year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 28,727 | — |
| 2003 | 28,378 | −0.12% |
| 2010 | 31,425 | +1.47% |
| 2020 | 49,062 | +4.56% |
| Source: Citypopulation[11] | ||
Places adjacent to Musandam Governorate | |
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| Governorates | ||
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| Former regions (abolished in 2011): | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
