The Dhahirah province, comprising the northwest shoulder of Oman, is wedged between the western Hajar Mountains and the Empty Quarter. It extends from Mahdah in the north via Bureirmi and lbri to Fahud in the south, and is largely made up of desert terrain. The principal town of the Dhahirah is lbri, some 100 kilometers west of BahIa. The Dhahirah is linked to the Batinah coast by two routes: the wadi Jizzi from Bureimi to Sohar, and the wadi Hawasina from lbri to Al Khaboura.
The Dhahirah area is the heartland of the Duru tribe, one of the four main Beduin tribes in Oman. Tanam, near lbri, is their capital. The Duru occupy a very large area, with their main activities of herding camels, goats and sheep, centered around the wadis Al Ayn, Aswad and Amairi. As the first major oil discoveries - the Fahud, Yibal and Natih fields - are located in their land, the Duru have benefited more than most from the oil, particularly in terms of employment. Efforts to resettle the Duru and other Beduin into new housing areas are being actively pursued by the government, but some still opt for a truly nomadic lifestyle. |
