« Your Budget Tips When Visiting Las Vegas. | Home | Cruise the Rhine »
Celebrating National Day in Oman
By CruiseDirector | November 19, 2009
The celebration of Oman’s National Day takes place every year on November 18 as a celebration of independence from the Portuguese in 1650. The event is shortly followed by the Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s birthday, so it’s a very important date in the Omani calendar.
History of National Day in Oman
In 749, the tribes of Oman chose an Imam, a Muslim spiritual leader, marking its first ruler after the influx of Islam into the region. The country’s people remained relatively independent until 1507, despite some pressure from neighbouring Iran and other Arab countries.
The Portuguese demonstrated their formidable naval tactics and superior technology to take control of the ports of Muscat and Sohar, and then rest of the coast of Oman in 1507. The ports were important due to their location as important trading points along the spice route.
Spice trading became a lucrative and important source of income for the Portugese, as well as the British and Dutch who were performing similar commercial operations at the time. However, not satisfied with the conditions imposed under the Portugese, the Al-Ya’ribi persuaded the British East India Company to take over in 1646. The British signed an agreement with Oman which effectively reduced Portugese power in the area. The agreement guaranteed certain legal and religious rights to Oman, in exchange for the East India company to hold trading positions.
However in 1650 there was an uprising: Imam Sultan Bin Saif and his followers effectively expelled the Portugese from their position of occupancy. Since then, Oman has been relatively independent and is certainly one of the longest continually independent Arab states.
Oman’s National Day Traditions, Customs and Activities
Today, people celebrate both Oman’s independence from the Portuguese and the Sultan’s birthday on November 18. Fireworks displays, images of the sultan, and Oman’s flag can be seen during celebrations that focus on the progress the current sultan, Qaboos bin Said, has made for the people of Oman.
Are you looking for a customized calendar? Why not get your company a customized calendar printed with over 200 countries’ holiday date this year? Find out more on aglobalworld.com.
Topics: Best Caribbean Cruise | 1 Comment »
November 21st, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Oman celebrates National Day on 18th November because it is the birthday of HM Sultan Qaboos, ruler since a coup displaced his father in 1970.
HM Sultan Qaboos is praised for the ‘Renaissance’ of Oman, bringing it firmly into the 21st century