Royal Tunbridge Wells Lifestyle Dec 2019 / Jan 2020

Images, clockwise from top left: Bedrooms at
Sahab; amazing views from the Sahab pool
area; the infinity pool at Dunes; Dunes tent
interior; Abdul, Dunes' resident camel
with Oman and moved permanently. I asked
her about her thoughts on the way the modern
world is changing what is ostensibly a traditionled
country “the country is not virgin anymore,
in the respect of technology and infrastructure,
she is newly married though - growing a little,
finding her way, experiencing new things and
of course changing - but ultimately Oman is
not so changed from its core and that is what
makes it so magical.”
It is amazing that a country can have as peaceful
an existence as this, often called upon to be
the mediator of other political conflicts. The
Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said plays a part
in this prosperity, and his particular penchant
for aesthetically pleasing architecture has
seen Oman, and Muscat in particular, grow
gracefully and with tradition at its heart - you
won’t see the skyscrapers of Dubai here as all
buildings are limited to four storeys. There are
lots of excursions available from Dunes which
take in some of the city’s best sights - you can
meander through the nearby Matrah Souk or
visit the city’s architectural gem - Sultan Qaboo’s
Mosque. This mosque can accommodate
over 7,000 worshippers inside it’s cool marble
prayer rooms and at its heart it houses the
most dazzling chandelier I have ever seen - all 8
tonnes of it.
I have travelled fairly extensively in the Middle
East, but something about Oman really did
capture my imagination. It offers so much
to the traveller - world-class scenery, lots of
cultural sights, and of course that wonderful
Omani hospitality.
The Al Nahda Group too make the most of these
elements, amplifying them in their hotels to give
guests an authentic, but relaxing experience
and surely fond memories of a holiday filled with
adventure and discovery.
TRAVEL TIPS:
• 4 nights at Sahab and then three nights at Dunes, private transfers and
return flights with Oman Air
• Cox & Kings (0203 642 0861, coxandkings.co.uk) offers 4 nights at Sahab
Resort & Spa on a full board basis and 3 nights at Dunes by Al Nahda on a
half board basis from £2,395 per person (two sharing) including all private
transfers and return economy international flights with Oman Air.
• The currency is the Omani Rial - 2 rials is approximately £1
• The national language is Arabic - handy phrases include 'Shukraan' - thank
you, 'Salam Alaikum' - hello or peace be with you to which the response is
'Wa-Alaikum-Salaam' - and peace with you also
29