The Dakhiliyah Region

With its rich history, cultural heritage, strategic location and topographical features, the Dakhiliyah region is Oman’s strategic hinterland. It comprises the large upland in the centre of the country, which includes the Jabal al Akhdhar mountain range and slopes down in a southerly direction from the mountains towards the desert. Bordering on the Sharqiyah region to the east, the Dhahirah to the west, the Wusta region to the south and the Governorate of Muscat and the Batinah region to the north, it forms a link between the Sultanate’s different regions.

As well as being one of the Sultanate’s foremost agricultural regions, the Dakhiliyah has also played a prominent role in the country’s history. It has 8 wilayats Nizwa, Sumail, Bahla, Adam, al Hamra, Manah, Izki and Bidbid and a population of 299,126, according to 2007 estimates.

The fertile terraces of the Jebel al Akdhar in the Dakhiliya region, famed for their cold climate fruit trees of pomegranate, walnut, almond, and apricot as well as seasonal roses

The Dakhiliyah region has made huge advances not only in health, education and urban construction, but also in roads, industrial development, telecommunications and numerous other fields. In addition to the opening of its referral hospital, the city of Nizwa and its services and utilities have been extensively streamlined. The main highways have been upgraded; work has begun on the further development of the industrial estate and the construction of Phase One of Nizwa’s nongovernment university, which is already in operation. The capacity of its Manah power station has also been expanded.

The Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences is located in Nizwa and the Higher Institute of Jurisprudence is being built there. The Institute, along with Sultan Qaboos University’s College of Law, will produce graduates in jurisprudence and specialist legal fields.