Khasab

Khasab (Arabic: خصب‎) is a city in the northwest Omani exclave of Musandam and home to about 18,000 inhabitants. It is the state capital of the Musandam peninsula on the coast of the Hormuz Strait between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Understand
Khasab was isolated from the rest of the region for a long time. In the 16th century Portuguese troops conquered the peninsula and established colonial structures. After Oman regained control, Khasab was controlled tightly due to its strategic position. The construction of the new road from the United Arab Emirates was started by the city to develop its infrastructure and encourage more tourism and investment. It is most popular to spend a weekend off from Dubai or to visit on your way to Muscat, taking the twice a day ferry-boat along the deserted and arid rocky coast of Musandam.

The city is the starting point to explore the little-known Musandam Peninsula and its special and unique traditions and culture. Travellers can enjoy great sights in and around the city that can be seen in two or three days cruising the region.

Climate
Khasab has a hot desert climate with very hot and humid summers and mild winters. Precipitation is low, and mostly falls from December to March.

Khasab is best visited in the winter, as it is one of the hottest places in Oman, with summer temperatures regularly climbing over 45°C. The world's highest minimum temperature (41.2°C, since broken) was recorded on the airport in 2011, and in 2017 the highest nighttime low temperature recorded (44.2 °C) was recorded.

Get in
Khasab is not easy to access, although you have a few transportation options, including daily morning flights from Muscat, a weekly ferry from Muscat or semi-weekly ferry from Dibba, or driving from the UAE through the Al Darah border post.

By cruise ship
Passengers disembarking at the will find free shuttle buses to take them to the city centre, as well as tour operators who charge considerably less than the cruise line for organised excursions.

By road
You can easily drive from Dubai or any of the other emirates by heading north on the E11 motorway towards Ras al Khaimah, and then on to the, after which the road becomes the very scenic 02, or the 'Khasab Coastal Road'. The road is in very good condition on the Omani side and the UAE RAK part is being upgraded.

If driving a hired car, be sure to inquire whether the company permits their cars to be driven into Oman, and if so which specific border crossings may be used, as not all crossings may be permitted. You should let the rental agency know at least a day beforehand, so that they can prepare the necessary documentation for the border officials. If you are driving your own car and do not have coverage for Oman, you can usually purchase third-party liability insurance on the Omani side of the border. This situation may change with little notice.

For the very adventurous, it is possible to take a taxi from Ras al Khaimah to the Al Darah border, but there are no taxis on the Omani side. Many trucks pass through this border daily, however, so you can ask an Omani police officer to get you a ride in one of these trucks and then hitchhike all the way to Khasab.

Get around
There are no taxis in Khasab; however most hotels offer free minivan transportation within the city. To go further afield, you'll have to have your own car, or hire one. Additionally a number of travel agencies in Khasab offer organized minivan city tours, for half- or full-day visits.

During the cooler months, it's possible to explore the city by foot, and to hike around nearby villages and the mountains. If by chance you live in the UAE and are visiting Khasab with your own car, you can bring along your bicycle. Dress conservatively if entering Bedouin or remote fishing villages.

Tour agencies
For exploring the coastline, or for those without a vehicle, there are a half-dozen agencies in town which offer tours with English-speaking guides. Excursions include dhow cruises, kayak tours, mountain safaris, and camping trips. The most established are listed below.

Several tour operators offer day-long or overnight dhow trips to the very isolated village of, where inhabitants speak Kumzari, the only Persian language native to the Arabian peninsula. Visitors to Kumzar must have a permit, which can be arranged in advance by the tour company.



Buy
There are quite a few options of different supermarkets full with normal groceries, bottled water etc. LuLu Market is by far the biggest and offers the biggest variety, but small supermarkets have local products and niche products.



Eat
Most supermarkets have freezers with several types of ice cream, which is very welcome in the extreme heat.

Unsurprisingly the local cuisine is based primarily on grilled meats and seafood, with some Persian influences. Although most hotels have their own onsite restaurants, it is worth seeking out the handful of local establishments listed below.



Drink
As elsewhere in the Gulf region, fruit juices and smoothies are a popular drink served in some restaurants. They are generally made with real fruit and often mixed with ice cream.

Black tea is the traditional tea from the region, served in all local restaurants; however nowadays it is usually Lipton Black Tea.

Alcohol is served only in a couple of licensed restaurants and bars attached to the Atana Khasab and the Atana Musandam Resort, and as it is imported, rather expensive (e.g. beer RO 3-4).

Sleep
Khasab has six hotels and limited capacities for travellers, and during the weekend hotels are usually sold out.

Bassa Beach (Bossa Beach), which is very popular with families, is an option for a single night of camping. The beach has only a toilet and no other facilities. It's directly on the road between Atana Khasab Hotel and Khasab and is very lively during the weekend. Non-Emirati/Omani travellers should expect to be seen as a tourist attraction with unwanted attention from kids or youths from the area.

Cope
Khasab city centre has a growing number of bank branches due to trading activities. Near the New Souq roundabout in the direction of the main square several banks operate ATMs, including, , and for international debit and credit cards.

Any of the banks in the city centre can exchange money during weekdays, and Western Union has a few agents in the city, most of them open daily.



Respect
When visiting nearby villages, it is especially important to dress appropriately and behave respectfully (i.e. do not photograph villagers without their permission). This is not Dubai! For most of the 2010s all visits to Kumzar were suspended following villagers' complaints about outsiders' behaviour; the village been reopened to visitors, but a special permit required (see details above under 'Tour agencies').

Go next
Twice weekly ferry-boat from Khasab to Muscat. Minivan service to the border with United Arab Emirates from where you can call a taxi to pick you up and take you to Ras al Khaimah.