Sur, Oman

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Sur's dhow-building yard

Sur (Arabic: صور‎) is a capital city of Ash Sharqiyah Region, northeastern Oman, on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. It is located at around 22°34′0″N, 59°31′44″E, and is 93 miles (150 km) southeast of the Omani capital Muscat.

By the 6th century, Sur was an established centre for trade with East Africa. In the 16th century it was under Portuguese rule but was liberated by the Omani imam Nasir ibn Murshid and underwent an economic revival, as a trade centre with India and East Africa. This continued until the mid-19th century, when the British outlawed the slave trade. The city was further ruined by the opening of the Suez Canal, which saw it lose trade with India.

Today the city has retained its reputation as a major dhow-building town, the very same vessels that were used for trade two centuries previously.

One of the famous cities in the Gulf in building wooden ships, its historical location gives it the hand to monitor the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. Many ships been built in this city and went to China, India, Zanzibar, Iraq and many many countries.

Sur was battered badly by Cyclone Gonu in June, 2007.