The maritime empire that once stretched from the Arabian Peninsula to the Swahili Coast

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before modern borders, an alliance of traders transformed Muscat into a global port. The history of the Omani people is not just one of a single nation, but of a vast, diverse maritime network that shaped the economies of East Africa and beyond.

The identity of the Omani people is defined by deep ethnic and religious diversity. While the majority are Arabs speaking Omani Arabic, the population includes Lurs, Mehri, and Swahili speakers. This diversity is further enriched by South Asian groups like the Lawatis and Zadjalis, as well as Afro-Omanis in Muscat, Sur, and Dhofar, descendants of those brought from Africa centuries ago. Even the Baloch-descended population, comprising about 20% of Omanis, traces its roots back to ancestors who migrated to the region centuries ago.

Oman's historical influence was heavily maritime. In the late seventeenth century, the Imam Saif bin Sultan defeated the Portuguese in Mombasa, securing Omani presence in the Swähili Coast. This influence expanded significantly after 1832, when Sultan Said bin Sultan moved his court to Zanzibar, seeking economic opportunity. This era saw the growth of a financially successful Omani community in East Africa, a connection that lasted until the 1964 Zanzibar revolution. That upheaval, which saw the overthrow of Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah, led many Omanis to flee persecution and return to their ancestral homeland.

Religious life in the Sultanate is notably varied. According to 2023 estimates, the majority of Omani Muslims are Ibadi, making up 70.5% of the group. Sunni Muslims represent approximately 23%, while Shia Muslims constitute a 6.5% minority. This complex social fabric is led by figures such as the Grand Mufti, Ahmed bin Hamad al-Khalili, and has been shaped by long-standing dynasties like the Nabhani.

The reach of Omani influence even extended to the Indian subcontinent; the region of Gwadar in Balochistan, Pakistan, served as an Omani colony for over a century before being transferred to Pakistan in the 1960s.

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